Across Pennsylvania, newspapers are marking Black History Month with special coverage that underscores the lasting impact of Black Americans on their communities, the state and the nation. PNA is highlighting two of Pennsylvania’s Black-owned newspapers and the distinctive ways they are observing the month’s significance.
New Pittsburgh Courier
This nearly 120-year-old publication that prides itself in being the voice of Black expression published two editions this month devoted to retelling Black history stories and highlighting new ones. Sales director Ashley Johnson also is participating in several speaking engagements to share the newspaper’s rich history and long-standing commitment to the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Earlier this month, editor and publisher Rod Doss was recognized as a Community Spotlight Honoree for his legacy and leadership of one of the longest-standing Black newspapers in the United States during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Black History Month celebration game.
Johnson said the paper’s mission is to elevate stories of African Americans and the community that often go untold or never had the opportunity to be told.
“We give a different perspective that maybe some of the mainstream news publications or broadcasts don’t necessarily do,” she said. “We cover stories that aren’t typically covered by many other outlets – a lot of community stories, community events and stories that impact the Black community.”
She added the newspaper’s history and commitment to being an advocate for the Black community, as well as recognizing achievements and contributions of African Americans, has built up deep trust among its readers and provides a foundation for the continuing support the paper receives.
The Black community has contributed to American society in countless ways — from inventions and culture to fashion to music. Johnson said having publications like the Courier to showcase those contributions is especially critical at a time when diversity, equity and inclusion are increasingly under attack.
“Different things impact different communities,” she said. “We do give that opportunity to give the perspective of how Black people are impacted and affected. So it’s important to show that part of it that not everybody is impacted the same way.”
The New Pittsburgh Courier was purchased by Real Times Media, a network of African-American news publications across the country, in the early 2000s.
The Spirit
Unlike the New Pittsburgh Courier, The Spirit in Delaware County is not a Black-oriented publication. Rather, publisher Paul Bennett describes it as a Black-owned newspaper in a majority-white county that intentionally practices diversity, equity and inclusion. It is the only publication in the county with a racially integrated staff that provides coverage that reflects the interests of the varied communities it serves.
“It works for us,” said Bennett, co-founder of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. “Our white reporters bring stories to us that we wouldn’t have known about and our Black reporters bring stuff others may not have known about — and we all learn together. … We try to provide a voice for everybody. We will listen to everybody, but we will maintain our voice as well.”
Bennett said racial incidents in the county are not always overt as those seen in other places, but when they do happen, The Spirit covers them. As a result, he said, “the Black community does know that we are the place they can come for information as a trusted source.”
The paper — founded by Bennett and his wife, general manager Jeanne Bennett — launched in 2008 as the Chester Spirit. After several years, readers outside the city of Chester urged them to broaden the name, first to Chester Community Spirit and eventually to simply The Spirit.
This month, which the paper frames as commemorating “Black history is American history,” The Spirit highlighted the centennial anniversary of Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of its expansion into a full month commemoration. It also showcased prominent Black leaders, past and present, for the contributions both locally and nationally.
“The county that we serve has more elected Black officials than ever before in its history,” Bennett said.
For example, a county council that until recently consisted of five white Republicans is now entirely Democratic, with two Black members — one of whom is the first Black female elected to the council and the other is the first Black male elected. (Both served at separate times as chairpersons of the council – another first.) In Brookhaven, majority white voters recently elected the community’s first Black council member in its 345-year history.
Bennett said he takes pride in the newspaper’s efforts to promote inclusivity and reflect the “more perfect union” envisioned by the nation’s founders.
“The fact that we, as a Black-owned newspaper, are considered a general market paper, not exclusively Black content, gives us an opportunity to advocate more broadly for things and people, not just because they are Black but because it’s good for everybody,” Bennett said. “That’s what we’re trying to get people to see.”