Echoes From The Sandhills

##Power of the Early Black Press

Series 1: In Print and In Power — Black Newspapers of the Sandhills

Echo 3 – More About The Power of the Early Black Press

We continue Series 1 with Echo 3, which shines a light on three influential newspapers: the Africo-American Presbyterian, first published in Wilmington, and The Messenger and Star of Zion, both based in Charlotte. Each of these papers carried the voices, concerns, and aspirations of their communities, offering us a window into how African Americans in North Carolina shared news, debated issues, and built connections during pivotal times in history.

The Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington and Charlotte, 1879–1938)

In 1879, Dr. Daniel Jackson Sanders launched a brand-new newspaper in Wilmington, NC — the Africo-American Presbyterian. It wasn’t just another publication; it quickly became the heartbeat of Black Presbyterian life.

Dr. Sanders’ daughter later shared in a 1976 Charlotte Post article that the paper was widely regarded as “the official voice of the Black Presbyterian church.” In 1891, the newspaper moved to the Johnson C. Smith University campus in Charlotte, where it continued publishing until 1938. That year, its run came to a close as a new publication, the New Advance, began circulation.

The Africo-American Presbyterian wasn’t limited to church matters. Yes, it covered faith and denominational news, but it also dug into education, politics, and social issues, the very things that mattered most to African Americans in the years after Emancipation. For people who were newly freed yet still fighting for equal treatment, the paper was both a resource and a rallying point.

Fun fact: its launch was even announced in The Sun, a Wilmington newspaper, on January 19, 1879.

The Charlotte Messenger (1882–1889)

The Charlotte Messenger was published by William Caswell Smith, a man deeply committed to amplifying the voices of Black Carolinians. Before starting the Messenger, Smith had co-published The Educator in Fayetteville from 1874 to 1875. By the early 1880s, we find him in Charlotte, continuing his mission as publisher of this influential paper.

At a time when white-owned newspapers rarely, if ever, gave space to the social and political concerns of African Americans, Smith made sure those issues were not ignored. The Messenger tackled matters of justice, opportunity, and equality head-on. Although based in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, the paper’s reach went well beyond city limits. It carried stories and letters from across the state, including the Sandhills. One example is a “Letter from Cameron,” published in January 1888, showing just how connected readers across North Carolina were through this publication.

The Star of Zion (New Bern and Charlotte, 1876–Present)

In 1876, Reverend J. A. Tyler became the founding editor of the Star of Zion, a newspaper first published in New Bern, NC. Shortly afterward, the paper relocated to Charlotte, where it has remained a cornerstone of African American religious and cultural life.

The Star of Zion holds the distinction of being one of the oldest African American newspapers in North Carolina and the longest continuously published, still active today. From its beginnings, it has served as the official “organ” of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church, keeping congregations connected through denominational news, editorials, and calls to action.

The newspaper didn’t go unnoticed by the wider community — even the Raleigh News reported on its establishment in the late 19th century. For nearly 150 years, the Star of Zion has chronicled the growth of AME Zion churches, the faith journeys of its members, and the social and political issues shaping African American life. Its endurance makes it not just a religious publication, but a living historical record.

 While this series has focused on newspapers founded in the years following Emancipation, it’s important to note that they were not the only voices shaping African American life in North Carolina. Later publications such as The Carolinian and other Black newspapers, established in the early 20th century, also played a vital role in documenting achievements, amplifying struggles, and fostering unity within their communities. These later papers will serve as valuable sources as we highlight activities and developments from the early 1900s in future posts.

Coming Soon: Series 2 – Sanctuary & Strength: The Legacy of Black Churches in the Sandhills

Stay tuned — Series 2, Echo 1 will be posted in two weeks, on our regular every-other-Thursday schedule.

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Note: All excerpts from the historic newspapers featured in this series were accessed through Newspapers.com.