# List of African American newspapers in Kansas

This is a list of African American newspapers that have been published in the state of Kansas. It includes both current and historical newspapers.
Although abolitionist newspapers were published in Kansas as early as 1854, the first Kansas newspaper published by and for African Americans was the Colored Radical, published briefly at Lawrence and Leavenworth in 1876. With resurgent white supremacy in the South and the end of the Reconstruction era after 1876, westward emigration of African Americans from the South increased greatly, and African American newspapers blossomed across the state through 1920.

## Newspapers

Newspapers that are currently published are highlighted in green.
| City | Title | Beginning | End | Frequency | Call numbers | Remarks |
| Atchison | The Atchison Blade Blade | 1892 | 1898 | Weekly | LCCN sn83040110, 2011254043 OCLC 9473982, 2640782, 708055638 | |
| Atchison / Lawrence | Western Recorder / The Western Recorder | 1883 | 1884 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254365, sn84029569 OCLC 664618072, 11181916 | Founded by John L. Waller. Merged with the Topeka Tribune in 1885. |
| Cherokee | The Kansas Homestead | 1889 | 1900 | Weekly | LCCN sn84029271 OCLC 11061984 | Edited and published by John L. Lewis. |
| Coffeyville | Afro-American Advocate | 1891 | 1893 | Weekly | LCCN 2011254022, sn85031378 OCLC 707536663, 12257763, 2611091 | “Published in the interest of the Negro race of Southeast Kansas and the Freedmen of the five civilized tribes of the Indian Territory.” |
| Coffeyville | The American | 1898 | 1899 | Weekly | LCCN sn85031379 OCLC 12282157, 1937357 | Published by Weaver & Fuller. |
| Coffeyville | Coffeyville Herald | 1908 | ? | Weekly | LCCN 2011254267, sn85030460 OCLC 733374393, 12257528 | |
| Coffeyville | The Kansas Blackman | 1894 | 1896 | Weekly | LCCN sn85067074 OCLC 12770657, 2753577 | |
| Coffeyville | The Vindicator Vindicator | 1904 | 1906 | Weekly | LCCN 2014254311, sn85031454 OCLC 848959648, 12257304 | |
| Emporia | The Emporia Citizen Emporia Citizen | 1932 | 1932 | Monthly newspaper | LCCN 2011254364, sn85030235 OCLC 748274485, 12000340 | Published by Rev. C.W. Arnold. |
| Fort Scott / Topeka | The Colored Citizen Colored Citizen | 1878 | 1880 | Weekly | LCCN sn83040558 OCLC 2639508 | Published by Eagleson Brothers. Motto: “AMERICA—Our Country! We Toiled for it in 1776; We Fought for it in 1812; and We Saved it in 1863.” Moved to Topeka after six months. |
| Fort Scott | The Fair Play | 1898 | 1899 | Weekly | LCCN 2011254370, sn83040417 OCLC 664617134, 9675204 | Edited by Jonathan C. Wood. |
| Fort Scott | The Messenger Messenger | 1917 | 1918 | Weekly | LCCN sn83040373 OCLC 9693441 | Edited by A.B. Johnson. |
| Fort Scott | The Southern Argus | 1891 | 1892 | Weekly | LCCN 2014254313, sn84029136 OCLC 879335911, 10502949, 2789518, 2789473 | Published by E.M. Woods. Published in Baxter Springs from June 18 to October 8, 1891. |
| Hutchinson | The Hutchinson Blade Hutchinson Blade | 1914 or 1915? | 1922? | Weekly | ISSN 2575-1255 LCCN 2011254254, sn85030713 OCLC 716371699, 12347599 | Variously edited and published by M.B. Brooks (1918), Chester Lewis (1919–1922), Arthur Hughes (1922), Earl C. Patton (1922). |
| Hutchinson | The Hutchinson Journal Hutchinson Journal | 1907? | ? | Weekly | LCCN 2012254020, sn85032519 OCLC 773145769, 12387359 | |
| Independence | The People’s Elevator | 1892 | 1931 | Weekly | LCCN sn83025058 OCLC 9237938 | Place of publication varies: Guthrie, Oklahoma from 1900 to June 14, 1923; Wichita, Kansas, from February 21, 1924 to October 28, 1926. |
| Kansas City | Kansas City Advocate Kansas City Independent Kansas City Advocate and Independent | 1914 | 1926 | Weekly | ISSN 2576-0300 LCCN 2011254018, sn85032363 OCLC 707507521, 13020950 | Published and edited by Thomas Kennedy. |
| Kansas City / Topeka | The American Citizen | 1887 or 1888 | 1909 | Weekly | LCCN sn98062574, sn85032021 OCLC 25693695, 12759891 | Published by John L. Waller and R.K. Morton. Published in Topeka from February 23, 1888 to July 19, 1889. First Kansas African American newspaper to last more than a decade. |
| Kansas City | Daily American Citizen | 1897 or 1898 | 1900 | Daily (except Monday) | LCCN 2012254316, sn85066912 OCLC 747744967, 12994512 | Billed as “[t]he only Daily and Weekly Negro paper in this section of the Country.” |
| Kansas City | The Kansas Elevator | 1916 | ? | Weekly | LCCN sn85066947 OCLC 13025212 | LCCN 2012254035, sn85066947 OCLC 773216200, 13025212 Published by Adolphus D. Griffin, previously of the Portland New Age. |
| Kansas City | Kansas State Globe | 1983 | 1980s | Weekly | LCCN sn85032314 OCLC 13049324 | Edited by Samuel Jordan. |
| Kansas City | National Review The National Review | 1913 | 1913 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254332, sn85066903 OCLC 845106868, 13035312 | |
| Kansas City / Topeka | The Plaindealer The Kansas City And Topeka Plaindealer (1932–1933) Plaindealer (1933–1958) The Topeka Plaindealer (1900–1932) | 1899 | 1958 | Weekly | The Plaindealer (1899–1900): LCCN 2014254026, sn84025820 OCLC 876193307, 10337694 Kansas City and Topeka Plaindealer: LCCN 2014254024, sn85066913 OCLC 876195642, 13054981 The Topeka Plaindealer (1900–1932): LCCN 2014254025, sn85067152 OCLC 876194836, 12814874 Plaindealer (1933–1958): LCCN 2014254023, sn85032353, sn94081604 OCLC 876195800, 13055002, 32229734 | Billed as "[t]he oldest race newspaper in the Southwest." Edited initially by J.H. Childers, and from 1905 to 1930 by owner Nick Chiles. |
| Kansas City | The Topics Kansas Topics Kansas City Topics | 1895 | 1800s | Weekly | LCCN sn85032327 OCLC 13048889 | Published by John Homer Howlett & Co., edited by John Homer Howlett. |
| Kansas City | Western Christian Recorder | 1800s | 1899 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254363, sn85032356 OCLC 849450612, 13049023 | "Organ of the 5th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church." |
| Kansas City | Wyandotte Echo The Wyandotte Echo | 1928 | ? | Weekly | ISSN 2577-8617 LCCN 2013254381, sn85032354 OCLC 664611425, 5291730 | |
| Lawrence | Harambee For Our People | 1971 | 1900s | | LCCN 2012254015 OCLC 770747483 | |
| Lawrence | The Historic Times | 1891 | 1891 | Weekly | LCCN 2012254017, sn84029656 OCLC 11173199, 2747403, 773109856 | Merged with: Leavenworth Advocate to form the Topeka Times-Observer. Edited by W.L. Grant. |
| Lawrence | Lawrence Vindicator | 1870s | 1870s | | | No issues survive; known only from mentions in the Colored Citizen. |
| Leavenworth | The Leavenworth Advocate | 1889 | 1891 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254029, sn85029302, sn85029303, 2013254028 OCLC 2753625, 12101792, 24612046, 12101931, 811647655 | Merged with Lawrence Historic Times to form the Topeka Times-Observer. Published by W.B. Townsend. |
| Leavenworth / Lawrence | Colored Radical The Colored Radical | 1876 | 1876 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254032, sn85029266 OCLC 811647446, 12130554 | Published by A. Williams. Edited by T.W. Henderson. |
| Leavenworth | The Leavenworth Herald | 1894 | 1899 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254048, sn85029234 OCLC 192107362, 12101951 | |
| Nicodemus | Nicodemus Cyclone | 1887 | 1888 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254347, sn84030038 OCLC 847886014, 11364750, 2756139 | Formed from merger of Western Cyclone and Nicodemus Enterprise. |
| Nicodemus | Nicodemus Enterprise The Nicodemus Enterprise | 1887 | 1887 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254348, sn84030037 OCLC 847884797, 11364657, 2771075 | |
| Nicodemus | Western Cyclone | 1886 | 1887 | Weekly | LCCN sn84030031 OCLC 11364724, 2775284 | Published by A.G. Tallman. |
| North Topeka | Benevolent Banner The Benevolent Banner | 1887 | 1887 | Weekly | LCCN 2011254048, sn85032037 OCLC 715482690, 12759902, 2696635 | |
| Parsons | Eye Opener The Eye Opener | 1892 | 1893 | Weekly | LCCN 2011254367, sn85031556 OCLC 748281399, 12247795 | Published by E.M. Woods. |
| Parsons | The Parsons Weekly Blade Parsons Blade Blade | 1892 | 1901 or 1904 | Weekly | LCCN 2014254015, sn84025818 OCLC 851522168, 10337751 | One of the first African American papers in the area of southern Kansas settled by the Exodusters. Switched allegiance from the United States Republican Party to the Populists in mid-1890s. |
| Peru | The Freeman's` Lance | 1891 | 1892 | Weekly | LCCN 2011254383, sn83040711 OCLC 9963950, 664611230 | Published by W.A. Tanksley. Also published at times in Sedan, Kansas. |
| Pittsburg | The Afro-American | 1903 | 1904 | | | Published by A.J. Lee. No issues survive. |
| Pittsburg | Afro-American Review | 1915 | 1915 | | | |
| Pittsburg | The Pittsburg Plain Dealer | 1899 | 1900 | Weekly | LCCN sn84029141 OCLC 10863953 | Followed by The Wichita searchlight. Published by W.N. Miller. |
| Pittsburg | The Uplift | 1914 | 1914 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254354, sn84029144 OCLC 848066293, 10848779 | Published and edited by A.B. Johnson. Strong supporter of Washingtonian ideology. |
| Salina | The Black Word Is.. | 1971 | 1976 | Bimonthly newspaper or biweekly | LCCN sn85030803 OCLC 12608244 | Continued by Ubiquity. Published by the Black American Citizens Organization of Salina. Edited by James Briscoe (Jomo Kenyatta). |
| Salina | Salina Enterprise The Salina Enterprise | 1908 | 1909 | Weekly | LCCN 2014254309, sn85032708 OCLC 878984663, 12608482 | |
| Stockton | Western Globe | 1902 | ? | Biweekly | LCCN sn85029602 OCLC 12497024 | Published and edited by D.J. Green. |
| Topeka | The American Citizen | 1888 | 1909 | Weekly | LCCN 2011254031, sn85032031 OCLC 707932655, 12759891 | Published by Waller & Morton. |
| Topeka | The Baptist Headlight | 1893 | 1894 | Weekly | LCCN 2017225070, sn88086003 OCLC 999819602, 17338541 | |
| Topeka | The Colored Citizen | 1897 | 1900 | Weekly | ISSN 2643-0983 LCCN 2017225074, sn85067023 OCLC 999822749, 12771625 | Published by Eagleson & Holloway. |
| Topeka | The Colored Patriot | 1882 | 1800s | Weekly | LCCN 2011254295, sn85067024 OCLC 745920185, 12771653, 2637176 | Published by attorney E.H. White. |
| Topeka | Daily Ledger | 1893 | 1893 | Daily | LCCN sn85067118 OCLC 12849949 | Edited by Fred L. Jeltz. |
| Topeka | Topeka Ebony Times | 1973 | 1978 | | | "[C]ommitted to Black Liberation, Black Unity and Black Progress in a constructive manner." |
| Topeka | The Evening Call | 1891 | 1893 | Daily (except Sunday) | LCCN 2011254366, sn85032047 OCLC 748280004, 12849982 | |
| Topeka | Herald of Kansas Kansas Weekly Herald Kansas Herald | 1880 | 1880 | Weekly | Herald of Kansas: LCCN sn850672225 OCLC 12788920 Kansas Weekly Herald: LCCN 2012254008, sn85067092 OCLC 773098035, 12851084 | Edited and published by H.C. Rutherford and W.L. Eagleson. |
| Topeka | The Kansas Baptist Herald | 1911 | 1910s | Monthly newspaper | LCCN 2012254033, sn85067234 OCLC 773216053, 12893127 | |
| Topeka | The Kansas Blackman | 1894 | ? | Weekly | LCCN 2012254034, sn85067074 OCLC 773217971, 12770657 | Published by W.D. Driver |
| Topeka | Kansas Sentinel The Kansas Sentinel | 1960 | 1964 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254038, sn85067098 OCLC 811578614, 12849741 | Suspended with November 26, 1960 issue and resumed with June 6, 1964 issue. Published by C & C Enterprises. |
| Topeka | Kansas State Tribune Topeka Tribune (1880) | 1880 | 1880s | Weekly | LCCN 2013254039, sn85067249 OCLC 811624108, 12789270 | Edited by attorney E.H. White. Changed name to Kansas State Tribune after switching affiliations from the Republican Party to the National Labor Greenback Party. |
| Topeka | The Kansas Watchman | 1903? | ? | Weekly | LCCN sn85067109 OCLC 12793750 | Published by G.W. Harts. |
| Topeka | The Kansas Whip Kansas Eagle The Kansas American | 1933? | 1956 | Weekly | The Kansas Whip (1933–1934): LCCN 2013254044 OCLC 664617338 The Kansas Eagle (1934–1935): LCCN 2013254035 OCLC 811643623 The Kansas American (1936–1956): LCCN sn85067073, 2013254382 OCLC 811641774, 12770637 | Billed in 1930s as the "[o]nly colored democratic paper in Kansas." |
| Topeka | The Little Weekly | 1929? | ? | Weekly | LCCN 2013254303, sn85067122 OCLC 843962890, 12849750 | Attested through at least 1938. |
| Topeka | Topeka Messenger | 1969 | 1970 | Weekly | LCCN 2014254323, sn85067123 OCLC 879348595, 12814230 | |
| Topeka | National Watchman The National Watchman | 1905? | ? | Weekly | LCCN sn96080148, sn85067124, 2013254334 OCLC 34505129, 12893178, 845105003 | Published by P.C. Thomas. |
| Topeka | Topeka Post-Review | 1970 | 1900s | Weekly | LCCN 2014254322, sn85067155 OCLC 879348953, 12849832 | Attested through at least 1971. |
| Topeka | The Topeka Sentinel | 1994 | | Semimonthly | ISSN 1079-1965 LCCN sn940931 OCLC 31348437 | |
| Topeka | The State Ledger Kansas State Ledger (1894–1906) The Kansas State Ledger(1892–1894) | 1892 | 1906 | Weekly | LCCN sn85067105, sn85067106 OCLC 26648604, 12789167, 12800834, 2753592 | Published and edited by Fred L. Jeltz. |
| Topeka | The Times-Observer | 1891 | 1892 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254030, sn85067184 OCLC 843766759, 12833065 | |
| Topeka | The Topeka Tribune and Western Recorder | 1885 | 1885 | Weekly | LCCN 2014254316, sn85067189 OCLC 879349331, 12878063 | |
| Topeka | The Weekly Call The Topeka Call (1891–1893) | 1891 | 1898 | Weekly | The Weekly Call: LCCN 2014254049, sn85032048 OCLC 879347683, 12886332 The Topeka Call: LCCN 2014254048, sn85032049 OCLC 879348213, 12833159 | Edited by W.M. Pope. |
| Weir | Weir City Eagle | 1899 | 1900? | Weekly | LCCN sn83041035, 2013254361 OCLC 849419105, 10504077 | |
| Wichita | The American Times American Times | 1908 | ? | Weekly | LCCN 2011254041, sn85032458 OCLC 707937935, 12714513 | |
| Wichita | The Colored Citizen Colored Citizen | 1902 | 1904 | Weekly | LCCN sn85032421, 2011254293 OCLC 12607567, 745926338 | Published by E. Harrison. |
| Wichita | The Community Voice | 1995 | current | Biweekly | ISSN 1090-3852 LCCN sn96003407 OCLC 34239207 | Official site Co-published by Billy and Wyvette McCray. |
| Wichita | The Wichita Factarian Wichita Factarian | 1913? | 1914 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254367, sn85032574 OCLC 850614558, 12640572 | |
| Wichita | Wichita Globe | 1887 | 1887 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254368, sn85032447 OCLC 850605497, 12646508 | Edited by D.L. Roberson. |
| Wichita | Kansas Black Journal | 1983 | 1985 | Twice monthly | LCCN sn85032543 OCLC 12616656 | Published by L.V. Jack Hudson. |
| Wichita | The Kansas Headlight | 1894 | 1894 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254036, sn85032460 OCLC 811578081, 12714539 | Motto: "A fearless advocate of the rights of a worthy people." Published by W.A. Bettis. |
| Wichita | Kansas Sunflower The Kansas Sunflower | 1890 | 1890 | Weekly | LCCN sn85032469 OCLC 12703355 | Published by J.B. Gibbs. |
| Wichita | Kansas Voice The Kansas Voice | 1946? | ? | Unknown | LCCN 2013254041, sn85032470 OCLC 811578120, 12714720 | Published by George Brock. |
| Wichita | Kansas Weekly Journal | 1970s or 1980 | 1981 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254043, sn85032542 OCLC 811625534, 12616798 | Published by L.V. Hudson. |
| Wichita | Midwest News Press The Midwest News Press | 1958? | ? | Bimonthly | LCCN sn85032472, 2013254315 OCLC 12714685, 844122495 | Attested through at least 1959. |
| Wichita | National Baptist World | 1894 | 1894 | Weekly | | |
| Wichita | The National Reflector: for the Afro-American Race | 1895 | 1897 or 1898 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254333, sn85032590 OCLC 845104741, 12617059 | |
| Wichita | The Negro Star | 1908 | 1953 | Weekly | ISSN 2642-7621, 2642-7613 LCCN 2013254336, sn97016157, sn85032569 OCLC 664611331, 37664416, 12617095 | Published and edited by H.T. Sims. |
| Wichita | News Hawk The News Hawk | 1973? | ? | Weekly | LCCN 2013254346, sn85032473 OCLC 847881030, 12714672 | Published and edited by Leonard Garrett. |
| Topeka | The People’s Friend | 1894 | 1896 | Weekly | LCCN sn84025836, 2014254018 OCLC 876081908, 10380169, 2772303 | Place of publication varies: published in Wichita on at least December 11, 1896. Edited by William Jeltz. |
| Wichita | Wichita Post Observer The Post Observer | 1953 | 1954 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254369 OCLC 664618075 The Post Observer: LCCN 2013254370, sn85032583 OCLC 850668541, 12624686 | |
| Wichita | The Wichita Protest | 1918? | ? | Weekly | LCCN 2013254371 OCLC 850605800 | Edited by W. A. Bettis. |
| Wichita | The Wichita Searchlight The Searchlight | 1900 | 1912 | Weekly | LCCN 2013254372, sn85032585 OCLC 840119025, 12671281 | Published by Miller & Lewis. |
| Wichita | The Wichita Times | 1970 | 1977? | Weekly | LCCN sn85032541, 2013254373 OCLC 12607511, 850722511 | L.V. "Jack" Hudson. |
| Wichita | Wichita Tribune The Wichita Tribune | 1898 | 1899 | Weekly | LCCN sn84025832 OCLC 10372415, 2775179 | Published by Robinson & Covington. |