Black Press 200: Freedom’s Journal to New Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.)
Commemorating 200 Years of the Black Press: History, Legacy & Future
On March 16, 2027, America will commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Black Press—a movement founded with the publishing of Freedom’s Journal in 1827. Black Press 200 is an initiative entitled “Witness To History” where journalism, photographs, archives, educational resources and community history come together in celebration and for future generations.
Black Press 200 is led by New Journal and Guide, Virginia’s oldest Black-owned newspaper since 1900. We will honor the extraordinary legacy of the Black Press while highlighting our own contributions that help shape our communities, our nation, and our history
From the founding of the first Black-owned newspaper in New York on March 16, 1827, to today, Black newspapers like the New Journal and Guide remain essential storytellers and guardians of community memory.
What We’re Building
Drawing from New Journal and Guide’s extensive archival newspaper and photo holdings, Black Press 200 includes:
- A major Black Press museum exhibition in Portsmouth, Va., with two satellite exhibits in Norfolk, Va.
- Public lectures and community conversations
- Documentary film production
- Community partnerships throughout Virginia
- Traveling exhibit panels for libraries and schools
- A “Witness To History” Awards Gala
- A highway historical marker in Portsmouth, Va., recognizing Guide Reporter John Q. Jordan
- Contribution to the John Q. Jordan Scholarship Fund at Norfolk State University since 1979.
The project also supports efforts to preserve and expand access to the journalism of John Q. Jordan and other pioneering Black journalists whose work deserves national recognition.
Why Portsmouth & Norfolk?
Few places in America have a richer connection to Black journalism than Hampton Roads.
Photo: Robert Green, 1953 (NJG Files) During segregation, youth news carriers were an essential part of the Guide’s lifeline to the Black community. Their work gave young people an early lesson in responsibility, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.
Norfolk has been home to the New Journal and Guide since 1900, making it one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned newspapers still in publication. Throughout wars, civil rights struggles, economic change, and community transformation, the newspaper has documented the voices, achievements, and experiences of African Americans across Virginia and the nation.
Portsmouth proudly claims one of Black journalism’s most accomplished reporters—John Q. Jordan. As editor, columnist, photographer, and one of America’s few Black World War II war correspondents, Jordan chronicled both the experiences of Black service members overseas and everyday life within the Portsmouth community for more than four decades. His work remains an invaluable historical record of the African American experience.
Together, Norfolk and Portsmouth stand as living
– New Journal and Guide
landmarks in the continuing story of the Black Press.
Community Impact
Black Press 200 is designed to become a cultural asset for Virginia.
The initiative will:
- Preserve endangered historical archives
- Increase heritage tourism in Norfolk and Portsmouth
- Support local museums, libraries, and schools
- Create educational opportunities for students
- Highlight African American military, civic, and cultural history
- Strengthen community partnerships
- Encourage historical research and scholarship
- Inspire future journalists through mentorship and education
Through public exhibitions, digital storytelling, and educational programming, Black Press 200 will ensure these stories remain accessible for generations to come.
A Living Legacy
For two centuries, the Black Press has served as America’s conscience—recording history from perspectives too often overlooked by mainstream media.
Black Press 200 is more than an anniversary.
It is a commitment to preserving truth, honoring those who came before us, and ensuring that future generations continue to have a place where Black voices, history, and journalism are celebrated.
Because history deserves witnesses.
And every generation deserves to know its story.
The Black Press 200 Leadership Team
New Journal and Guide:
Brenda H. Andrews, Publisher, CEO
Desmond Perkins, Assistant To The Publisher
Tony Holobyte, Art Director
Glen Mason, Filmmaker
