Metropolitan weekly, 1980-1981
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Arrangement: Chronological

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: The Metropolitan Weekly was an African-American newspaper published in Nashville, Tenn. beginning in September 1980. Format was tabloid sized, with photographs, news articles, opinion pieces, and advertising relevant to the African-American community, with emphasis on the geographic area of North Nashville. Although desiring to grow in to a weekly publication, as reflected in its name, the newspaper generally published twice a month for its first two years, varying in length from 24 page to 16 pages. Articles profiled black-owned businesses; students and schools; sports teams and individual athletes; black clubs and musicians - both national and local acts; politicians; Metro government, especially schools, housing, and police; community festivals and events; black pride and fashion; churches and religion; violence, crime, and racism; and a wide variety of other topics. Advertisements are generally what might be expected in a community weekly, such as for churches, car dealers, or other common needs and services, but also include frequent advertising for Mason's Business College and a few African-American motorcycle clubs.

The inaugural issue gives a good sampling of the types of topics covered in the paper. It includes a feature on Muhammad Ali visiting Meharry; opinion and investigative reports on the death of John "Tex" Coleman at the hands of Metro Police; back to school topics; a profile of Temple Baptist Church and Rev. Michael Lee Graves; a fashion show and the history of the "Jeri curl" hairstyle, featuring a local salon; a beauty pageant hosted by Mason's Business College; Black History being taught as a subject in Metro public schools for the first time; the Ted Rhodes Golf Tournament; and a profile of the Road Runners Motorcycle Club.

Holdings: Sept. 1980 (v. 1 no. 1) to Dec. 1981 (v. 2 no. 30); occasional issues may be missing or mis-numbered. There are no extant issues for Jan. 1981.

Cite as: Metropolitan Weekly, [volume, number, issue date], manuscript collections, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

Nashville Public Library does not have intellectual property rights to these materials. This material is protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Subscription;,1980-1981.,Acc. RT-400

The Metropolitan Weekly was launched by publisher Sam Latham in September of 1980. Its stated goal was to be a publication to address the media needs of Nashville's Black community. At the beginning, it was published twice a month and distributed for free, until a subscriber base could be built up. Although the goal was to publish weekly, for most of its second year, it continued to be produced twice a month. In 1988, publication ceased for a time as Latham re-evaluated his operations, and it was relaunched in the fall of that year, lasting until 1997.

In English.

This publication was likely acquired and held by the Periodicals Division of the Nashville Public Library prior to its transfer to the Special Collections Division at an undetermined date, probably sometime before 1996.

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No further accruals are expected.