Muskogee's First Two Black Newspapers

Our Brother In Black was the first African American newspaper published in Muskogee. The newspaper title came from a book of the same name written by Bishop Atticus Greene Haygood.

Bishop Haygood's book appeared in 1881, but the phrase "our brother in black" is over 200 years old. Generally, it voiced the desire for improving the circumstances for African Americans. Haygood's efforts of promoting education left a lasting impression.

Muskogee's newspaper began in 1890. The Reverend T. H. Tyson was the editor and publisher. Tyson was a young North Carolinian of the Presbyterian faith.

Our Brother In Black ceased publication about 1891. With no surviving copies, it is impossible to measure the paper's message or influence. However, its appearance on Muskogee streets points to a rising interest among local African Americans for better education and a louder voice in the community.

There must have been something in the water in 1893. The Muskogee Phoenix changed hands and five other newspapers began publication in Indian Territory. Part of the growing interest in newspaper publishing arose from the growing population and the general improvement in economic outlook.

The Muskogee Phoenix, in announcing the forthcoming start of another Muskogee newspaper, observed that there was "an unusually prosperous and intelligent lot" among the African Americans. The success of the new enterprise would depend on whether or not it served as a "friend and advisor," the Phoenix cautioned. The first issue of the Muskogee Sun appeared on the streets on July 28, 1893.

A group of men established the Sun Publishing Company to acquire the press and issue the newspaper. A schoolteacher named A. S. Thomas served as the first editor. Unfortunately, nothing further is known about him. A. G. W. Sango became the editor shortly thereafter. His knack for the American language eventually led Sango into the legal profession.

There were others involved in the newspaper's publication. Reverend C. R. Tucker worked as the production manager. J. M. Smith handled the bookkeeping chores as the business treasurer. Finally, Robert Johnson served as the company secretary.

Though the first issue appeared on Friday, the newspaper generally came off the press on Saturdays. The four-page issue measured fifteen inches by twenty-two inches in size. Each page had six columns and a yearly subscription cost a dollar.

There are no existing copies of the Muskogee Sun today. This is a shame since the roughly two years of its publication were critical in the financial development of the African American community in Muskogee.

The Sun ceased publication about 1895. Further research might shed more insight on the newspaper's influence and demise. What is known is that this newspaper set the tone and level of performance the community grew to expect. The Muskogee Sun's end led to the establishment of a number of successor publications.