The Jacksonville Free Press, founded in September 1986 by Rita Carter Perry, marks a 40-year legacy of representing the Black press in Jacksonville.

After Sunday's heartbreaking loss to the Bills in the playoffs, Lynn Jones-Turpin, with the Jacksonville Free Press, shared a message praising head coach Liam Coen during the post-game news conference, highlighting his leadership, resilience, and what this season meant beyond the final score. The moment has gone viral, but the response has been mixed between those who celebrate Jones-Turpin's words of encouragement and those who say that's not the role of a reporter covering the game.

During Black History Month, News4JAX is celebrating local African American trailblazers who paved the way in politics and public service. These are just a few of the figures whose influence is still felt among the local African American community.