The City Sun
Encyclopedia
The City Sun was a weekly newspaper
that was published in Brooklyn
from 1984 through 1996. Its primary focus was on issues of interest to African American
s in New York City
.
The City Sun was founded by African-American journalists Andrew W. Cooper
and Utrice C. Leid. Cooper served as publisher
and Leid as managing editor
. Film critic Armond White
was the arts editor.
The City Sun, whose motto was "Speaking Truth to Power", was rare among black-owned newspapers
in its critical attitude toward African-American politicians. It could be unsparing in its criticism of prominent African Americans. In a front-page editorial in 1993, the newspaper advised David Dinkins
, New York's first African American mayor, that he was "beginning to look like a wimp".
In 1989 The City Sun, together with the Amsterdam News, another black-owned newspaper in New York, published the name of the "Central Park jogger", Trisha Meili
, who had been raped and beaten almost to death. Leid explained her decision to name the jogger by referring to an incident involving Tawana Brawley, a minor who said she had been raped, and the double standard practiced by the mainstream media:
Cooper was recognized as Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists
in 1987 for his work at The City Sun.
In 1996, financial difficulties led Cooper to shut down The City Sun. The business owed $380,000 in taxes and it had been evicted from its offices for not paying its rent.
According to The New York Times
, The City Sun had a circulation of 18,500 in 1987. In 1996, when The City Sun ceased operations, The Times wrote that the newspaper's circulation could not be determined.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
that was published in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
from 1984 through 1996. Its primary focus was on issues of interest to African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The City Sun was founded by African-American journalists Andrew W. Cooper
Andrew W. Cooper
Andrew W. Cooper was an African American civil rights activist, businessman, and journalist. He was the publisher and editor-in-chief of The City Sun....
and Utrice C. Leid. Cooper served as publisher
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
and Leid as managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
. Film critic Armond White
Armond White
Armond White is a New York-based film and music critic known for his provocative and idiosyncratic film criticism, which some have characterized as contrarian. He is currently the editor of City Arts, for which he also writes articles and reviews...
was the arts editor.
The City Sun, whose motto was "Speaking Truth to Power", was rare among black-owned newspapers
African American newspapers
African American newspapers are those newspapers in the United States that seek readers primarily of African American descent. These newspapers came into existence in 1827 when Samuel Cornish and John Brown Russwurm started the first African-American periodical called Freedom's Journal...
in its critical attitude toward African-American politicians. It could be unsparing in its criticism of prominent African Americans. In a front-page editorial in 1993, the newspaper advised David Dinkins
David Dinkins
David Norman Dinkins is a former politician from New York City. He was the Mayor of New York City from 1990 through 1993; he was the first and is, to date, the only African American to hold that office.-Early life:...
, New York's first African American mayor, that he was "beginning to look like a wimp".
In 1989 The City Sun, together with the Amsterdam News, another black-owned newspaper in New York, published the name of the "Central Park jogger", Trisha Meili
Trisha Meili
The Central Park Jogger case involved an assault and rape that took place in New York City's Central Park on April 19, 1989. The victim was Trisha Meili. Five juvenile males were tried and convicted for the crime...
, who had been raped and beaten almost to death. Leid explained her decision to name the jogger by referring to an incident involving Tawana Brawley, a minor who said she had been raped, and the double standard practiced by the mainstream media:
The same media [that] had no difficulty identifying the underage Wappinger-Falls teenager [Brawley] by name [and] invading the sanctity of her home to show her face ... have been careful to avoid identifying the Central Park woman.
Cooper was recognized as Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
in 1987 for his work at The City Sun.
In 1996, financial difficulties led Cooper to shut down The City Sun. The business owed $380,000 in taxes and it had been evicted from its offices for not paying its rent.
According to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The City Sun had a circulation of 18,500 in 1987. In 1996, when The City Sun ceased operations, The Times wrote that the newspaper's circulation could not be determined.