William Allison Sweeney (July 27, 1851 – 1921) was an American newspaper writer, editor, and owner, poet, and author of a history of Afro-American soldiers in World War I. Sweeney was born in Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan, on July 27, 1851, to William Jacob and Aurilla (Day) Sweeney.

He edited and published The People (Wheeling West Virginia, 1885–6), The National People (Detroit, 1886–7); was editor and manager of The Freeman (Indianapolis, 1890–8); and editor and part owner, Chicago Leader (1905–6).

[1][3] At The Freeman, Sweeney was associated with R. W. Thompson, who would later suggest to Booker T. Washington that Sweeney's work at The Chicago Conservator receive a subsidy from Washington to support its continued publication.

Sweeney exhibited some ineptness as a manager and businessman while there, as he often missed publication dates for considerable periods of a time.

[1] While Sweeney has been called "the 'dean' of the Chicago press corps", who was "idolized by younger journalists", his "essays full of impassioned pleas and profuse in flowery language" can be seen to epitomize "a departing style of black journalism that was giving way to modern techniques of reporting the rising commodity of race news".