Black Ink: November 1969

In November 1969, the Black Student Movement printed the first issue of its newspaper, Black Ink. The paper consisted of news, opinions, and poetry related to African American issues: "black ink expressing black ideas." The BSM founded the paper because it saw the Daily Tar Heel as a newspaper for white students. Student Government allotted $2,200 for Black Ink, which was published at the black-owned Service Printing Company of Durham. The paper’s original motto was "Voice of Black Liberation," and the first editor was Cureton Johnson. It is still in publication. 

The BSM also printed The Weekly Ink: Notes of Importance from the BSM Minister of Information staff, a newsletter of BSM activities in the early 1970s. In the late 1970s, when the BSM felt that the Yackety Yack's coverage of African Americans was insufficient, the organization responded by publishing its own yearbook,Ebony Images. It was published in 1977 and 1978. In 1995, the BSM produced UJIMA, a newsletter encouraging African American students to consider graduate and professional programs.

-- Photo: Photo Archives P4: Students-Notable (3rd folder).