People, Locations, Episodes

The American South’s First Black Daily Newspaper (L’Union) is Published

*This date celebrates the first Black newspaper in the South, L'Union, in New Orleans in 1862.

During these early days of journalism working with other groups and institutions, the free Black press strove to give voice to and unite the desires of Louisiana African Americans. L'Union was founded and circulated biweekly and tri-weekly.   Published primarily in French, the paper ran a few issues in English beginning in 1863.  Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez was L'Union's primary financier, and Paul Trévigne its editor.

Both men were prominent leaders in Louisiana's civil rights movement. Under their direction, the paper primarily spoke for the state's established community of free people of color, although also for slaves and newly freed Blacks. The paper suspended its publication on July 19, 1864.

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