More of “NC’s Semi-Weekly” news from Raleigh is ready for reading thanks to our partner, Shaw University. These issues of The Carolinian span from 1977 to 1984 and detail some of the major stories of Black Raleighites during this time.

One such story is the election of Kenneth C. Wilkins, North Carolina’s first Black Register of Deeds, in 1984. In the front-page article on his victory, Wilkins said, “Since it’s not a policy-making position, but an administrative one, a different perspective on the situation does not mean as much,” but adds that representation is still an important and inspiring step. 

Another article from October 18, 1984 advertises an upcoming visit from famed author James Baldwin, who visited the UNC Chapel Hill campus during Humanitarian Week. Baldwin planned to speak about his childhood in Harlem and his experiences as a Black American, according to the article. His visit came just a couple of years after the release of his documentary on the stations of the Civil Rights Movement in the American South, I Heard It Through the Grapevine.

You can see all available issues of The Carolinian here or browse our North Carolina Newspapers collection. You can also filter all newspapers to see our full collection of African-American newspapers. To learn more about Shaw University, you can visit their partner page and their website.

The April 13, 1968 front page of The Carolinian, reporting on the aftermath of Dr. King’s assassination.

The newest issues to DigitalNC of one of Raleigh’s African American newspapers, The Carolinian, cover the most turbulent years of the Civil Rights Era. Recently added are issues from 1959-1962, 1965-1972. These join issues from 1945-1958, 1963-1964, which are already available on our site. 

Within these new additions you will find coverage of the sit-ins in Greensboro and throughout the state, North Carolina’s protracted battle over school integration, the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.. There is ongoing reporting about both local and national efforts of the NAACP, KKK demonstrations and counter-protests, and news about boycotts and protests at the state’s historically Black colleges and universities.

The paper covers local news – achievements of adults and children alike, events, crime. Milestones of integration appear as well, like the first known birth of an African American child at Rex Hospital in Raleigh.

Thanks to Olivia Raney Local History Library in Raleigh for securing permission to share The Carolinian online. You can view all of the issues currently available, as well as everything we’ve scanned for Olivia Raney on their contributor page.

The Carolinian, July 4, 1964.

Science fair winners, April 28, 1962.

Issues of  The Carolinian, from 1962 to 1964, have now been added to DigitalNC thanks to our partner, Olivia Raney Local History Library. The Carolinian is an active newspaper still published out of Raleigh, N.C., covering local, regional, and national stories that impact and interest the African American community at large.

Printed every Saturday, The Carolinan of the ’60s covered important topics that were often neglected in other local newspapers. Topics included issues such as integration, racially charged violence, and the movements of Malcolm X. They also celebrated the achievements of local citizens and community leaders in areas such as theater, arts, education, sports, and politics.

For a glance at what The Carolinian looks like today, visit their website here.

Cover page topics, February 9, 1963.

Sports section, November 21, 1964.

To learn more about The Carolinian, click here, and to see all of DigitalNC’s digitized content from this newspaper, click here. For more information on the Olivia Raney Local History Library, visit their homepage by clicking here.

The Carolinian, March 2, 1946

Issues of The Carolinian from 1945 to 1959 are now available on DigitalNC, after recently being transferred from a microfilm format to a digital one. This newspaper is still in print and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, where it shares news among its predominantly African American audience. The paper circulated in major cities throughout the state, and later issues were divided to showcase news from each locale, including Fayetteville, Charlotte, High Point, Goldsboro, Greenville, Rocky Mount and others.  This paper is available thanks to our partner Olivia Raney Local History Library.

The paper shares news with its communities regarding important activities, legislation, and celebrations. Much of the paper’s space is spent on personal safety and civil rights activities. Highlighting a reality in the Black community during this time period, it is not uncommon to find headlines about acts of violence against The Carolinian‘s African American audience. However, there is frequently uplifting news as well, including educational accomplishments, income raises, family success-stories, and others. Below are some sample clippings from DigitalNC’s digitized holdings of The Carolinian:

The Carolinian, April 26, 1947

The Carolinian, May 19, 1952

To learn more about The Carolinian, click here. To see all of DigitalNC’s digitized content from this paper, click here.