The Searchlight 
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The Searchlight
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| Because only a few issues from 1896 and 1907 have survived, little is known about The Searchlight or The Austin Searchlight. This paper was edited by William P. Mabson, a former Reconstruction-period legislator in the North Carolina House of Representatives who later relocated to Austin. In this issue from October 24, 1896, the headline banner notes that this was "An Illustrated Newspaper By the Negro." In this issue, the politically-astute editor gives a great deal of political and social advice to his readers. He calls for people to be politically active by voting and urging their representatives to support the creation of a "colored state university." The fight for equality in educational opportunities was a common theme in many of the newspapers. Enlarge to read page. |