African American Newspaper The Negro Star
African American Newspaper, The Negro Star, ran from 1908-1953. This newspaper was started in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1908 and ran for 45 years. In 1919, the creator Hollie Simms and family moved to Wichita, Kansas in an effort to get away from racial hostility, and continued to print The Negro Star. Click this link to get more history of this paper from Wikipedia, keeping in mind that all information on Wikipedia is subject to questioning on absolute accuracy.
The following articles are hand-picked to show what the Midwest black community was seeing before, during, and after the events of Pearl Harbor. All newspaper issues are published on Fridays. Keep in mind that this was only a weekly issued newspaper so the events that are captured are not on a daily basis like the Omaha World Herald. History has many varieties of stories of the race relations during this time period so keep all of those thoughts in mind while reading over some newspaper articles that were prepared, mostly by and for, the African American community.
African American Newspaper, The Negro Star, ran from 1908-1953. This newspaper was started in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1908 and ran for 45 years. In 1919, the creator Hollie Simms and family moved to Wichita, Kansas in an effort to get away from racial hostility, and continued to print The Negro Star. Click this link to get more history of this paper from Wikipedia, keeping in mind that all information on Wikipedia is subject to questioning on absolute accuracy.
African American Newspaper, The Negro Star, ran from 1908-1953. This newspaper was started in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1908 and ran for 45 years. In 1919, the creator Hollie Simms and family moved to Wichita, Kansas in an effort to get away from racial hostility, and continued to print The Negro Star. Click this link to get more history of this paper from Wikipedia, keeping in mind that all information on Wikipedia is subject to questioning on absolute accuracy.
October 31, 1941
It is amazing to think that there is a war going on all around the world but this newspaper captures very little of it. The headlines on this Friday addition focus on the race crime in the area. In the article titled, "Negro Youth Wanted For Training", parents of black male youth are urged to get their boys into training. They say that the NAACP has opened these doors for these young men to be an asset for the country and fight for the black race. The war for them isn't about America as a whole but for their own freedom of racial discrimination.
Another interesting article on this front-page, "Commandant Says Navy ordered 'N' Badges for Philadelphia Yard Workers", continues to show that no matter what the black community does to help in the war effort it still is not equal to that of the white man. This Navy was said to have ordered patches for their black employees to wear that consisted of the letter “N”. This is somewhat similar to the Nazi's use of the Star of David to signify Jews in the community. Click to learn more about African Americans in the Navy during World War II.
November 28, 1941
Similar to the Omaha World Herald this newspaper in this time is using the front page as propaganda to buy defense bonds to support the war effort. Being thankful for the freedom to enjoy thanksgiving by buying war bonds is the very first image seen on this front page.
Although, the article on the far right-hand side did not copy well it is one that should be pointed out. This article is giving such amazing credit to the Russian's for fighting this war for us. The writers of this newspaper seem to be quite humble the more articles that are read. This further perpetuates the fact that this war effort put forth by the black community is not that of a united front but of a personal freedom front.
December 12th, 19th, & 26th, 1941
All of these issues came out after the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. It is incredible that not a single one these articles showcases the tragic event. The differences between, a highly concentrated African American newspaper in a small community to a newspaper scripted mainly by white folks, is just astonishing. It is the month of Christmas and this Baptist community newspaper is here to remind the people just what community means.
The December 12th issue does touch on a significant event in history known to many as the Scottsboro tragedy. It is encouraged to click on the link to learn more. Compare this article of the time, to what we know and teach about this tragic event now.
January 23, 1942
Direct eyes to the article on the far left-hand side of this issue titled "Russia, Japan, and Georgia". This is the first issue to address the events of Pearl Harbor. This is the starting line of the paragraph addressing the Japanese, "The next good news comes from Japan who did more overnight to unite this confused nation than President Roosevelt could do for years". This article and this newspaper is real. The writers are speaking a harsh truth that the previous newspaper did not. This article isn't showcasing the evil of the incident itself but the evil on which the country has succumbed to of segregation in their "unity". Basically, the events of Pearl Harbor should be looked upon as liberation especially for the black community. This event has taken away the thought that America is indestructible. This publication that is mainly for the colored people of this region of this time is saying that the Japanese have pulled the white man off their high pedestal.
February 27, 1942
In the last Issue of the Negro Star posted to this webpage the humbleness continues. "The Greatness of America" is the headline that grabs your eyes. The Negro Star still continues to highlight the unity through sheer respect for your fellow man. The war effort isn't sleazy propaganda showing you the evil and carnage of the attack on Pearl Harbor or trashing the enemy to get you to unite and fight. But, rather gains its help in the war effort by highlighting what made this country great in the first place. That this nation was founded upon men who were great and will continue to be great because of the men here today.