AROUND THE NATION

AROUND THE NATION; Oldest Black Newspaper Celebrates Its 100th Year

UPI

Jan. 29, 1983

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The nation's oldest black newspaper, founded by 13 former slaves, celebrated its 100th anniversary this week with a special full-color edition.

''It hasn't slacked up any,'' said John Templeton, the 27-year-old editor of the weekly Richmond Afro-American and Planet, speaking of the newspaper's crusade for equal rights.

The newspaper says it reaches 40,000 readers weekly. Mr. Templeton spoke with pride of the newspaper's history, and one of its crusading figures, John Mitchell Jr., the editor from 1884 until his death in 1929. He also displayed a letter received from President Reagan, who wrote, ''Today, The Richmond Afro-American stands as a treasured monument to the history and accomplishments of Black Americans in Richmond.''

A version of this article appears in print on , Section 1, Page 7 of the National edition with the headline: AROUND THE NATION; Oldest Black Newspaper Celebrates Its 100th Year. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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