(C) Verite News New Orleans This story was originally published by Verite News New Orleans and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . La Tribune de la Nouvelle Orléans: First Black-owned daily paper [1] ['Tammy C. Barney', 'More Tammy C. Barney', 'Verite News'] Date: 2024-02-19 Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez. Credit: The Historic New Orleans Collection More than 100 years before the current New Orleans Tribune was founded in 1985, a doctor published La Tribune de la Nouvelle Orléans (New Orleans Tribune in French), the first Black-owned daily newspaper in America. The original New Orleans Tribune, which debuted on July 21, 1864, was founded by Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez, a wealthy free man of color. According to his great, great grandson Mark Charles Roudané, Roudanez had a French Quarter medical practice that served clients without regard to race or ability to pay. Roundanez also was dedicated to fighting for equality. “Greatly influenced by revolutions in Saint Domingue and France, and angered by slavery and racial injustice, he took up the cause of equality during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras,” Roudané wrote on roudanez.com. “He was the guiding force behind one of the most radical and influential journals of its time.” The paper started publishing in English and French three times a week. Daily publication began on Oct. 4, 1864 and by 1866 daily circulation had reached 3,000. The Tribune is credited with fighting for the right for Black men to vote, integrated schools and transportation, and weekly wages for newly freed Black people. “The journal swiftly built a reputation as the leading voice of the Black community, and was widely respected as a force in Louisiana politics and beyond,” Roudané wrote. “The Tribune gave voice and hope, self-representation and agency, to those whose skin color afforded them no place at the table. The Afro-Creole community had created one of the most politically active, sophisticated, and influential newspapers of its time, resulting in a greatly expanded sphere of power and influence for all of African descent.” The Tribune folded in 1870 after being “rebuked” by the national Republican Party for not supporting party nominees. Related Stories Republish This Story Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. [END] --- [1] Url: https://veritenews.org/2024/02/19/la-tribune-de-la-nouvelle-orleans-first-black-owned-daily-paper/ Published and (C) by Verite News New Orleans Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 US. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/veritenews/