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Newspaper has provided voice for African-Americans since 1910
Tuesday, February 06, 2001 By Constance Mayer, volunteer, History Center
The Pittsburgh Courier is a newspaper founded in 1910 to report the news of the African-American community. At a time when other mainstream newspapers did not fairly report the news of the African-American community, Pittsburgh lawyer and journalist Robert L. Vann started the Pittsburgh Courier to provide an outlet for African-Americans to express themselves. The paper provided an alternative voice on political and social problems.
The Pittsburgh Courier covered news from around the world. A network of Pullman porters distributed the Courier in 14 major cities, and by 1920 it was the country's largest and most influential African-American newspaper.
During the 1930s and 1940s, the South tried to ban the paper's distribution, but the Pittsburgh Courier never stopped advocating equal rights. During this time, considered the heyday of the paper, the Courier staff included photographer Charles "Teenie" Harris, writer Edna McKenzie and foreign correspondent Frank E. Bolden.
The paper campaigned actively against lynching and discrimination in sports and the military. The editorial staff and writers encouraged students to complete their education and campaigned for hiring African-American teachers. The paper also announced available jobs and social events, and covered visits by national celebrities. It emphasized the achievements of African-Americans.
John H. Sengstacke purchased the paper in 1966, and it exists today as the New Pittsburgh Courier. It continues to be a forum for African-American voices and ideas, carrying on the values of pride, dignity and activism.
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