The Colored American was a weekly newspaper published in Washington, D.C., from 1893 to 1904 by Edward Elder Cooper.

It frequently featured the works of journalists John Edward Bruce and Richard W.

"[2] It had stories on the achievements of African Americans across the United States, often with more original reporting than other newspapers, which frequently copied one another.

[1] The paper took editorial positions in favor of expanded rights and better conditions for blacks, and generally supported Republicans.

Civil rights advocate and lecturer Mary Church Terrell gave financial support and wrote a column for the paper.