Cecil Newman

Cecil Newman (July 25, 1903[1] – February 8, 1976)[2] was an American civic leader and prominent businessman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, a union that made major strides against segregation in the 1930s and 1940s, before the modern Civil Rights Movement.[3]

Cecil Newman
Cecil Newman in 1965
Born
Cecil Earl Newman

25 July 1903
Kansas City, Missouri, US
Died8 February 1976
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Journalist
Civic Activist
Known forMinnesota Spokesman-Recorder
SpouseLauna Q. Newman

Early life

Cecil Newman was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on 25 July 1903. Growing up, he sold newspapers and worked in the offices of the Kansas City Call, the city's Black newspaper.[1]

Career

Newman moved to Minneapolis from Kansas City in 1922.[4]

He founded the Twin Cities Herald about 1927 and published the Timely Digest in 1932.[1] In 1934, Newman became editor and publisher of the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder.[5] In 1948, Newman became the first black president of the Minneapolis Urban League.[6]

Legacy

After Nicollet Avenue South in Minneapolis was blocked by the Kmart at Lake Street, a one block long, one-way street was added in order to allow north bound traffic from 1st Avenue South to get over to Nicollet; it was named Cecil Newman Lane.

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder merged in 2000[3]), is the oldest continuously operated black newspaper and possibly longest-lived black-owned business in Minnesota. In 1958 it moved to 3744 Fourth Avenue South. In 2015, the Spokesman-Recorder' celebrated its eightieth anniversary and its building was designated a historic landmark.[7]

Personal life

Cecil Newman was married to Launa Q. Newman. The length of 4th Avenue South between 36th Street and 42nd Street was named in her honor as "Launa Q. Newman Way".[8]

References
  1. "African American Registry: Cecil Newman, a Minnesota legend. . ". 2007-09-30. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  2. "Cecil E. Newman, Headed Minneapolis Black Weekly". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  3. "Twin Cities Daily Planet: Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder turns 75". MinnPost. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  4. "Cecil E. Newman: A spirit of patient civility". Minneapolis Star. 11 February 1976. p. 1B, 4B.
  5. "African Americans in Minnesota | MNopedia". www.mnopedia.org. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  6. "Cecil Newman: Pioneer Editor and Publisher of the Minneapolis Spokesman and St. Paul Recorder". Black Then. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  7. "Southside African American Community, Minneapolis | MNopedia". www.mnopedia.org. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  8. "Historical Significance of the E. 38th St. Corridor and South-Central Minneapolis". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
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