Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned newspaper celebrates 90 years

MPR News with Angela Davis

In August 1934, Cecil E. Newman founded the Minneapolis Spokesman in the midst of the Great Depression and 30 years before the Civil Rights Act. A few years later, he founded a second newspaper called the St. Paul Recorder. He used his role as a newspaper publisher to fight racial discrimination and earned the attention of every major politician, including Hubert H. Humphrey.

The two papers merged about 25 years ago. And last month, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder celebrated its 90th anniversary. It’s the longest running Black-owned and family-owned news outlet in the state.

Guests:

Tracey Williams-Dillard is publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, founded in 1934 by Cecil E. Newman. She is the granddaughter of the late Cecil and Launa Newman.

Al Brown is the assignment editor at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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