The Shining Star or Indiana Shining Star was an African American newspaper published in Anderson, Indiana, from 1922[1] to about 1927.[2] It is the only known African-American newspaper ever published there.[2]
The newspaper was founded in 1922 by Edward Giles Irvin (1893-1982), the youngest of the ten founding members of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity.[3] Irvin had worked for newspapers in various cities before joining the military in World War I.[4] They included the Indianapolis Freeman, Chicago Daily Bulletin, and Gary Sun.[3] Irvin is memorialized in the name of the charitable arm of the Chicago alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi[5] and in the name of an annual Kappa Alpha Psi award.[6]
Like many early black papers, The Shining Star placed a strong emphasis on self-improvement, publishing a new word and Bible quotation every week for its readers to memorize.[7] The local news in The Shining Star was dominated by the activities of churches and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows,[7] of which Irvin was a member.[8] The Shining Star exhorted its readers to support local Anderson businesses and lift up the local community.[7] Its coverage, however, was not limited to Anderson, as it provided a weekly column about nearby Muncie as well.[7]
Works cited
- Bigham, Darrel E. (1996). "The Black Press in Indiana, 1879-1985". In Suggs, Henry Lewis (ed.). The Black Press in the Middle West, 1865-1985. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313255793.
- Parks, Gregory S. (2008). "Edward G. Irvin". Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. ISBN 9780813138725.
See also
References
- ^ "About The shining star. [volume] (Anderson, Ind.) 1922-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
- ^ a b Bigham 1996, p. 51.
- ^ a b Parks 2008.
- ^ "Founders". Kappa Alpha Psi Cincinnati Alumni Chapter. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ "Edward Giles Irvin". Edward G. Irvin Foundation. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ "Edward Giles Irvin". Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ a b c d Bigham 1996, p. 58.
- ^ "Famous Odd Fellows". Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. Retrieved 2019-12-02.