doi:10.7916/d8-w40j-c006Oral history interview with William Fowlkes, 1971Fowlkes, Williamoral historiesephemeramixed materialNewspapers--CirculationAdvertising--NewspapersJournalism--Social aspectsEditorsJournalistsAfrican Americans--Civil rightsAfrican American pressAfrican American journalistsAtlanta (Ga.)United States Race relationsFowlkes, WilliamUnited States. National Advisory Commission on Civil DisordersReportPittsburgh courierIn this interview conducted by Henry G. La Brie III, William A. Fowlkes tells his life history and goes on to discuss the advertising and circulation changes in black newspapers, how black newspapers’ role has changed over time, and the successes and failures of the black press. He explains his criteria needed to consider a newspaper as a black newspaper, what readers want to read, and whether black news papers are sensational. Fowlkes discusses if the Kerner Commission Report affected white establishment papers’ reporting on minority news, if black news papers should appeal to a white audience, and the future of the black press.