Jean-Charles Houzeau
This date celebrates the establishment in 1864 of America’s first daily Black newspaper.
La Tribune de la Nouvelle Orle’ans, the New Orleans Tribune, was first published in French and English. Belgian scientist Jean-Charles Houzeau became managing editor of the New Orleans Tribune that year. Ardently sympathetic to the plight of Louisiana’s Black population and reveling in the fact that his dark complexion led many people to assume he was Black himself, Houzeau passionately embraced his role as the Tribune’s editor and principal writer. The paper closed on February 28, 1869.
The 21st-century New Orleans Tribune is a monthly news magazine targeted at the upscale black community. Founded in 1985 by Dr. Dwight and Beverly McKenna, the Tribune has earned a reputation as an ongoing advocate for social, economic, and political issues often ignored by the mainstream press.
Monthly features and departments highlight prominent government, business, and community leaders and feature topical stories on education, health, arts/entertainment, government, business, and technology.
The Encyclopedia of African American Heritage
by Susan Altman
Copyright 1997, Facts on File, Inc. New York
ISBN 0-8160-3289-0
