From the cover of The AC Phoenix, December 1991 issue

Advertisement from the March 2006 issue

Forty-five additional issues of The AC Phoenix are now available thanks to our partner, N.C. A&T University. These additions, from 1990 to 2006, share more news from North Carolina’s Triad region and beyond for readers. Based in Winston-Salem, The AC Phoenix provides an invaluable resource for Triad African American communities and has been an institution in the region since Rodney Sumler founded the paper in 1983.

These issues feature local, regional, and national content with an undercurrent of local priority. They feature photo spreads from local events, news about local schools, churches, and groups, and share information about the state of the community.

Some issues include special features, or additions in honor of a specific holiday or occasion. For example, the December 2004 issue was published with a special holiday songbook, shown below:

Community Holiday Songbook 2004, from the December 2004 issue

“National Black History Museum Approved,” from the January 2004 issue

Despite The AC Phoenix‘s local emphasis, the paper covers a significant amount of national news as well. When Congress approved the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, The AC Phoenix announced the plans to its readers.

DigitalNC is glad to provide increased access to The AC Phoenix. To view these issues of the paper and more, visit its DigitalNC page here. To learn more about N.C. A&T University, visit their website here or their partner page here. To view The AC Phoenix‘s website, go here.

Cover page from December 5, 1996

Even more issues of The Charlotte Post are available on DigitalNC now, these ones dating from 1996 and 1997. They add to an already sizable collection extending from 1930 to 1996. These 25 latest issues continue the themes of the previous decades, sharing news from the African American communities in and around Charlotte, North Carolina.

This latest batch of The Charlotte Post continues with great coverage of local, national, and even international news. Issues share news about businesses, celebrities, politics, sports, cars, entertainment, and many more.

“Black church’s history at Afro Center,” September 12, 1996

“Jordan pitching cologne,” October 3, 1996

“And justice for all,” April 17, 1997

These issues are available thanks to our partners at Johnson C. Smith University. You can view these and other issues of The Charlotte Post here. To learn more about Johnson C. Smith University, click here, or visit their partner page here.

Cover of November 2007 issue

The AC Phoenix serves the African American communities in and around North Carolina’s Triad region. Based in Winston-Salem, this paper has decades of experience sharing local and national news with its readers. There’s more to come, but this first batch includes issues from 1987 to 1989, and from 2007 to 2015.

Rodney Sumler started The AC Phoenix in 1983, and intended to use it to support African American individuals and businesses in the Triad. The paper bloomed in the following years, becoming a staple in the Triad region.

“Expressions 1987” from the December 1987 issue

Most issues include local and national news, emphasizing the local. They include articles about individuals and groups including churches, businesses, schools, and others. Editors encourage their readers to contribute, opening their advertisement space to congratulatory notes and including their version of a “Dear Abby” column. Many include a photo spread at the center of the issue, featuring photos from a recent community event or to fit with a certain theme.

Photos from the 2014 Slave Dwelling Project, in the May 2014 issue

The AC Phoenix has been a great resource for the Triad community for decades, and DigitalNC is proud to increase access to the paper through our website, thanks to our partners at N.C. A&T University. Check out these new issues on DigitalNC here, and visit N.C. A&T here for more information.  To view The AC Phoenix’s website, go here.  

Charlotte Post, June 24, 1993

More than two dozen additional issues of The Charlotte Post have recently been added to Digital NC. Thanks to our partnership with Johnson C. Smith University, our digital holdings for The Charlotte Post now mostly range in date from 1971 to 1996, and feature newly uncovered early issues from the 1930s. This most recent batch includes those special issues as well as additions from 1991 to 1996.

The three partial issues are from 1930, 1931, and 1934, and serve as important resources for African American history in Charlotte at that time. The issues cover acts of celebration, violence, and everything between. “The paper with a heart and a soul” and “the voice of the people” shares news of local communities, as well as some national and international news. Though there are only three issues, they share a snapshot of the time, depicting the thoughts and concerns of their audience.

Headlines from the 1930s issues of the Charlotte Post

Charlotte Post sports advertisement, January 18, 1996

Issues of The Charlotte Post from the 1990s show regular coverage of topics such as religion, arts and entertainment, lifestyles, business, and sports. Several issues include inserts on various subjects, including grocery sales, but also on automobiles and beauty products.

African Americans on Wheels, Winter 1996

The Beauty of Feeling and Looking Good, Spring 1996

To view all digitized issues of The Charlotte Post, click here. For more information about Johnson C. Smith University, visit their website or their DigitalNC partner page.