A city that size deserves its own voice.
Pensacola has 460 years of Black history — from the first Africans who arrived with Spanish settlers in 1559, to the legendary Belmont-DeVilliers district where Louis Armstrong, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin played on the Chitlin' Circuit. That history deserves more than a footnote.
Black residents are 28% of Pensacola's population. Yet not a single local media outlet is dedicated to telling their stories — the culture, the people, the issues, the achievements. National outlets don't always get it right. Local outlets often miss it entirely.
The Pensacola Beacon fills that gap. Not as a side project or a blog — as a real publication carrying real journalism. We cover community stories, preserve cultural heritage, and build a scholarship pipeline for the next generation of Black media creators.
Three pillars. One mission.
Everything The Pensacola Beacon does serves culture, community, and the next generation of storytellers.
Community Journalism
Deep features on Black history, arts, music, food, and the people shaping Pensacola's future. Stories that matter, told by the people who live them.
We cover local government, culture, business, and the issues that hit closest to home — with the depth and respect these stories deserve.
Scholarship Program
Every issue funds scholarships for Black students studying media, journalism, communications, and related fields at local colleges.
We're investing in the people who will carry Black storytelling forward — for generations to come.
Cultural Preservation
Documenting Gulf Coast Black heritage before it fades. Recording the stories, places, and people that make this city's history irreplaceable.
From Belmont-DeVilliers to St. John the Baptist Church, we preserve what should never be forgotten.
Meet the team.
Tonya Jackson is the founder of The Pensacola Beacon, a nonprofit digital magazine dedicated to celebrating Black culture, history, and community on the Gulf Coast. Born and raised in Pensacola, Tonya launched The Beacon to ensure the stories of Black Pensacola are told with the depth, beauty, and pride they deserve.
We're growing. Have a skill for journalism, photography, or community storytelling? Get in touch.
Frequently asked questions.
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