The Advocate was an African American weekly newspaper established in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1888 under the editorship and publication of W. B. Townsend. As one of the earliest Black-owned papers in Kansas, The Advocate served as a prominent voice for the African American community, addressing issues of civil rights, political participation, education, and social advancement during the post-Reconstruction era.
In 1889, the paper was succeeded by the Leavenworth Advocate, which continued its mission of advocacy and community representation. Both iterations of the newspaper played an important role in chronicling Black life in Kansas, reflecting the aspirations and challenges of a growing and politically active African American population.
By 1891, the Leavenworth Advocate merged with the Historic Times of Lawrence, Kansas, to form the Times-Observer, based in Topeka—a consolidation that reflected a broader trend among African American newspapers seeking to strengthen their reach and collective influence across the region.
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