Black Press Celebrates 180 Years

March 16, 1827, 180 years ago, Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm created "Freedom's Journal," the first African American newspaper. Although the paper ended it's circulation in 1830, just three years after it began, it was the beginning of the black press, celebrated during Black Press Week, which is March 14-16 this year.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association foundation will host Black Press Week in Washington D.C. Although there are national newspapers of major cities and towns in the United States, there is a need for the Black press. A website with information about the black newspaper of Charlottesville, Virginia called: The Reflector, "The idea of an African-American newspaper was to give African-Americans the news through the lens of their own eyes."
According to BlackPressUSA.com, this year for the 180^th anniversary the United States Congress will give special recognition to the Black Press by giving NNPA Foundation Officials, Black Press Sponsors, and NNPA a congressional resolution that was introduced by the leadership pf the congressional Black Caucus.

The congressional resolution names the historic role of the Black Press as "the strong, influential voice of the Black Community."
Events held during this week will be the annual Newsmaker of the Year Award Dinner, and there will be an Enshrinement Ceremony during a luncheon at Howard University. Two NNPA publishers will be inducted into the Black Press Hall of Fame during the luncheon. It is important that the "Unsung Heroes of the Black Press" or those who covered the Civil Right's Movement at a time when it was at its most violent state, will be honored for the first time at the luncheon. Two of these former reporters are Moses Newsom, of the Baltimore Afro- American, and Dorothy Gilliam, of the Tri-State Defender, also to be honored Newsmaker of the Year, Simeon Booker.

This year at the Dinner, NNPA will honor Mayor C. Ray Nagin, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Simeon Booker, who according to BlassPressUSA.com, retired recently after serving for 50 years at the Washington D.C. Bureau Chief for Ebony and Jet Magazine.

There are about 200 newspapers representing the NNPA. This organization is also known as the Black Press of America. It is a 65-year-old group that has served as a new service since World War II. Across the United States there are over 250 newspapers that are geared towards, serve and educate the Black Community about what is happening in the community and abroad.