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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.

, founded in 1934 by Cecil E. Newman. She is the granddaughter of the late Cecil and Launa Newman.

 is the assignment editor at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the history and future of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned newspaper just celebrated 90 years in print.

Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned newspaper celebrates 90 years in print

Nikhil Kumaran | MPR News

three people smiling in a broadcast studio

Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned newspaper celebrates 90 years in print

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