List of African American newspapers in Washington, D.C.

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Inaugural issue of the New Era, January 13, 1870.
Issue of The Washington Bee from 1886.
Former headquarters of the Washington Afro-American in the Fourteenth Street Historic District.
Washington Informer vending box in 2018.

This is a list of African American newspapers that have been published in Washington, D.C. It includes both current and historical newspapers.

Although Washington was home to abolitionist papers prior to the American Civil War (1861-1865), the first known newspaper published by and for African Americans in the District of Columbia was the New Era, which Frederick Douglass launched in 1870.

Notable newspapers in Washington today include the Washington Afro-American and Washington Informer.

Newspapers[edit]

Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks


The Washington Afro-American /
Washington Afro-American and Washington Tribune (1984–2015)[1] / The Afro-American		 1932[2] or 1937[3] current Weekly[3]
  • ISSN 0276-6523
  • LCCN sn92003332
  • OCLC 26136335
  • for others, see Washington Afro-American
The Anacostia Grapevine 1991[4] ?[4] Monthly[4]
  • Edited by Qevin Q. Weathersby.[4]
The Washington Bee /
The Bee (1882–1884)[5]		 1882[5] 1922[5] Weekly[5]
Black Land News 1971?[6] ?[6] Bimonthly[6]
Black Networking News 1989[7] ? Monthly newspaper[7]
  • Published by Donald Temple.[7]
The Capital Spotlight 1954[8] ? Weekly[9]
  • Extant through at least 1997.[8]
  • Billed as “Washington’s Oldest Black Weekly Newspaper.”[9]
Capital Times 1948[10] ?[10] Weekly[10]
  • Extant through at least 1950.[10]
The Grit 1883[11] 1884[11] Weekly[11]
  • Description based on: Vol. 1, no. 1 (Dec. 21, 1883); title from PDF masthead (Readex America's Historical Newspapers Web site, viewed Jan. 5, 2012).[11]
  • Latest issue consulted: Vol. 1, no. 12 (Mar. 22, 1884) (viewed Jan. 5, 2012).[11]
  • Published by W.B. Avery[11]
The Washington City Tribune 1964?[12] ?[12] Weekly[12]
The Colored American 1893[13] 1904[13] Weekly[13]
The Columbia Sentinel 1896[14] ?[14] Weekly[14]
The Common Denominator 1998[16] 2006[15] Biweekly[16]
The Commoner 1875[18] 1875[17] Weekly[18]
  • Edited by George W. Williams.[18]
The Communicator 1974?[19] ?[19] Bimonthly[19]
Washington Daily American 1918?[20] 1925?[20] Daily except Sunday[20]
  • Edited by Eugene Davidson.[20]
  • Billed as the “Oldest Colored Daily in the United States.”[20]
Washington Daily Sun 1968?[21] ?[21] Daily[21]
  • Published by Eugene M. Gardner.[21]
  • Billed as “Washington’s only daily Black newspaper.”[21]
  • Extant through at least 1969.[21]
Washington Eagle News 1993[22] or 1994[23] ? Bimonthly[23] or monthly[22]
  • Extant through at least 1997.[22]
Washington Eagle: National Negro Weekly 1913?[24] ?[24] Weekly[24]
  • Extant through at least 1927.[24]
The Exodus 1880[25] ?[25] Weekly[25]
  • Published by J.D. Bagwell and G.W. Hardmond.[25]
Washington Gaily News 1931?[26] ?[26] Weekly[26]
  • Billed as a “[r]eview of fads and follies - a social and pleasure guide.”[26]
  • Extant through at least 1958.[26]
Grass Roots News 1970s[27] 1974[27] Monthly newspaper[27]
Washington Grit[28] current Weekly[29]
The Leader /
The National Leader (1888–1889)[31]		 1888[30] 1894[30] Weekly[30]
  • Also the name of a national newspaper and magazine in the 1980s.[32]
The Metro Chronicle 1986[33] 1990[33] Weekly[33]
  • Followed by The National Chronicle.[33]
  • Billed as "[t]he weekly newspaper linking responsible black viewpoints."[33]
Naked City News 1985?[34] ? Unknown[34]
  • Published by Edward D. Sargent.[34]
  • Extant through at least 1996.[34]
National Black Register 1974[35] ?[35] Bimonthly newspaper[35]
  • Extant through at least 1976.[35]
The National Chronicle 1990[36] 1992[36] Weekly[36]
The National Forum 1910[37] ?[37] Weekly[37]
National Savings Bank 1868[38] 1800s[38] Monthly newspaper[38]
  • Published by Freedman's Savings and Trust Co.[38]
The New Citizen 1873[39] 1873[39] Weekly[39]
  • Followed by New national era. [volume]
  • Published by New Citizen Pub. Co.[39]
New Era (1870)[41] /
New National Era (1870–1874)[42] /
The New National Era and Citizen[40]		 1870[40] 1874[40] Weekly[41]
The Washington New Observer /
New Observer (–1984)[44]		 1958?[45] or 1960[44] Weekly[45]
  • Extant through at least 1992.
  • Published by J.H. Warren, Sr., and by J.H. Warren, Jr., from 1973 to 1983.[44]
News Dimensions 1992[46] Weekly[46]
  • Edited by Barry A. Murray.[46]
  • Extant through at least 1995.[46]
The Washington North Star 1981[47] ?[47] Weekly[47] or irregular[48]
  • Published by Ofield Dukes.[47]
The Northeast Star 1988[49] 1900s[49] Monthly newspaper[49]
Pan-African Roots 1991?[50] 1994[50] Quarterly newspaper[50]
  • Published by Bob Brown and Banbose Shango.[50]
  • Billed as “[t]he Independent and Progressive Voice of 1 Billion African People.”[50]
People’s Advocate 1876[51] 1886?[51] Weekly[51]
Washington Press 1961[52] ?[52] Unknown[52]
  • Extant through at least 1962.[52]
Prince Hall Masonic Digest 1973?[53] ?[53] Quarterly newspaper[53]
Washington Sentinel 1922?[54] ?[54] Weekly[54]
  • Published by West A. Hamilton. [54]
  • Extant through at least 1930.[54]
The Washington Sun 1914[55] ?[55] Weekly[55]
  • Extant through at least 1915.[55]
  • Published and edited by Julia P.H. Coleman.[55]
The Washington Sun /
The New Washington Sun (1975–1980s)[56]		 1968[57] current Weekly[56]
  • Official feed
  • Founded by Joseph C. Cooke. "Rejecting cigarette and liquor advertising, Mr. Cooke sought to put a positive light on local and national developments affecting his readers."[58]
Third World 1970[59] ?[59] Biweekly[59]
Washington Times 1980[61] or 1981[60] 1981?[60] Weekly[61]
Washington Tribune 1921[62] 1946[62] Twice weekly[62]

See also[edit]

Works cited[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About Washington Afro-American and the Washington tribune. (Washington, D.C.) 1984-2015". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  2. ^ Danky & Hady 1998, p. 601, ¶ 6283.
  3. ^ a b c "About Washington Afro American. (Washington, D.C.) 1937-1964". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  4. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 43, ¶ 444.
  5. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 601, ¶ 6284.
  6. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 87, ¶ 895.
  7. ^ a b c "About Black networking news. (Washington, D.C.) 1989-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  8. ^ a b "About The capital spotlight. (Washington, D.C.) 1954-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  9. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 134, ¶ 1389.
  10. ^ a b c d "About Capital times. (Washington, D.C.) 1948-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "About The grit. [online resource] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1883-1884". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  12. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 601, ¶ 6285.
  13. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 161, ¶ 1673.
  14. ^ a b c d "About The Columbia sentinel. (Washington, D.C.) 1896-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  15. ^ "The Common Denominator: Online Archive of Washington's Independent Hometown Newspaper". Retrieved 2020-01-17. Published 1998-2006
  16. ^ a b c "About The common denominator. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1998-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  17. ^ "About The commoner. [online resource] (Washington, D.C.) 1875-1875". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  18. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 166, ¶ 1733.
  19. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 167, ¶ 1737.
  20. ^ a b c d e Danky & Hady 1998, p. 601, ¶ 6287.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Danky & Hady 1998, p. 602, ¶ 6288.
  22. ^ a b c "About Washington eagle news. (Washington, D.C.) 1993-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  23. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 602, ¶ 6290.
  24. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 602, ¶ 6289.
  25. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 217, ¶ 2267.
  26. ^ a b c d e Danky & Hady 1998, p. 602, ¶ 6292.
  27. ^ a b c "About Grass roots news. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 197?-1974". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  28. ^ "About Washington grit. [online resource] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1884-1884". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  29. ^ "About The Washington informer. [volume] ([Washington, D.C.]) 1964-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  30. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 333, ¶ 3487.
  31. ^ "About The national leader. [online resource] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  32. ^ Earl g. Graves, Ltd (July 1984). "The Leader Returns". Black Enterprise. Vol. 14, no. 12. p. 23.
  33. ^ a b c d e "About The metro chronicle. [online resource] (Washington, D.C.) 1986-1990". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  34. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 385, ¶ 4021.
  35. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 390, ¶ 4062.
  36. ^ a b c "About The national chronicle. [online resource] (Washington, D.C.) 1990-1992". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  37. ^ a b c d "About The national forum. [online resource] (Washington, D.C.) 1910-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  38. ^ a b c d "About National savings bank. [volume] ([Washington, D.C.) 1868-18??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  39. ^ a b c d "About The new citizen. (Washington, D.C.) 1873-1873". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  40. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 410, ¶ 4271.
  41. ^ a b "About New era. [online resource] (Washington, D. C.) 1870-1870". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  42. ^ "About New national era. [online resource] (Washington, D. C.) 1870-1874". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  43. ^ a b Masur, Kate (2006). "New National Era". In Hodges, Graham Russell (ed.). Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass. Oxford University Press. pp. 441–442. ISBN 9780195167771.
  44. ^ a b c "About The New observer. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1960-1984". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  45. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 602, ¶ 6298.
  46. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 418, ¶ 4349.
  47. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 603, ¶ 6300.
  48. ^ "About The Washington north star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1981-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  49. ^ a b c "About The Northeast star. (Washington, D.C.) 1988-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  50. ^ a b c d e Danky & Hady 1998, p. 452, ¶ 4713.
  51. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 458, ¶ 4777.
  52. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 603, ¶ 6301.
  53. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 472, ¶ 4924.
  54. ^ a b c d e Danky & Hady 1998, p. 603, ¶ 6302.
  55. ^ a b c d e "About The Washington sun. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1914-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  56. ^ a b "About The new Washington sun. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1975-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  57. ^ "Washington Sun Newspaper". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  58. ^ "Washington Sun Publisher Joseph Cooke". Washington Post. 2008-01-20.
  59. ^ a b c "About Third world. (Washington, D.C.) 1970-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  60. ^ a b c Uschan, Michael V. (2013). James Foreman and SNCC. Greenhaven Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 9781420509205. Forman moved to Washington, D.C., in 1981 and started the Washington Times newspaper. The publication was only in existence a short time[.]
  61. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 603, ¶ 6305.
  62. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 603, ¶ 6306.
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