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List of African American newspapers in Nebraska facts for kids

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SE Corner view of Omaha Star Building
The Omaha Star Building, home to the Omaha Star.

This is a list of African American newspapers that have been published in the state of Nebraska.

Most African American publishing has been concentrated in the city of Omaha, which was home to about half of the state's African American population in the 19th century, and 70-80% in the 20th century. Some have also been published in Lincoln, home to a much smaller African American community.

The state's first known African American newspaper was the short-lived Western Post of Hastings, founded in 1876. The first commercially successful newspapers were established in the 1890s. By far the most successful and longest-lived of Nebraska's African American newspapers has been the Omaha Star, which was founded in 1938 and continues in operation today.

Newspapers

City Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks
Hastings Western Post 1876 1877
  • "Nebraska’s first black newspaper for which evidence exists". In this period there were approximately 25 African Americans residing in Hastings. No copies survive.
Lincoln Colored People’s Advocate 1919 1920
  • No copies survive.
Lincoln Leader 1899 1899?
  • "The first black newspaper of which there is record" in Lincoln.
Lincoln The Review 1919 1920 Weekly
  • No copies survive. Briefly designated as the official organ of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Lincoln. Founded and edited by Trago McWilliams, who sold it in 1920 to the Omaha Monitor, where it briefly became the paper's "Lincoln Department."
Lincoln Review 1937 ? Weekly
Lincoln The Voice 1946 1953 Weekly
  • Last known African American weekly in Lincoln.
Lincoln Weekly Review 1933 1933 Weekly
  • Published and edited by Trago McWilliams.
Omaha Omaha Advocate 1923 1925 Weekly
Omaha The Afro-American Sentinel 1893 or 1896 1899 Weekly
Omaha American Record 1945 1948?
Omaha Omaha Chronicle 1934 1936
  • No copies survive. Edited by John Benjamin Horton, Jr.
Omaha The Enterprise 1893 1914 or 1911 Weekly
  • Editors included Ella Mahammitt. "[O]fficial journal of the Nebraska State Afro-American League".
Omaha Omaha Guide 1927 1958 Weekly
Omaha Omaha Journal 1930s 1930s
  • No copies survive. Edited by Ballard Dunn.
Omaha Metro Star Times 1990 ? Unknown
  • Extant through November 1991
Omaha The Omaha Monitor 1915 1929 Weekly
  • Marketed as a “national weekly newspaper devoted to the interests of Colored Americans.” Edited until 1928 by John Albert Williams.
Omaha The New Era 1920 or 1922 1926
Omaha The Progress 1889 1904
Omaha Progressive Age 1913 1915?
Omaha The Omaha Star 1938 current Weekly, currently biweekly
  • Founded by Mildred Brown, formerly of the Omaha Guide.
    Official site: https://theomahastar.com/
Omaha The Omaha Whip 1921 1921 Weekly
  • Founded by George Wells Parker, formerly of the New Era.
  • Published only two issues before dissolving.

See also

Elsewhere online

  • "A history of African American newspapers in North Omaha," by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.
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List of African American newspapers in Nebraska Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.