Freedom's Journal
Encyclopedia
Freedom's Journal was the first African American
owned and operated newspaper published in the United States. Published weekly in New York City from 16 March 1827 to 28 March 1829, the journal was edited by John Russwurm and co-editor, Samuel Cornish
who contributed only through 14 September 1827 issue. Freedom's Journal was superseded by The Rights of All
, published between 1829 and 1830 by Cornish.
Though they lived different lives and careers, Cornish who was the first to establish an African-American Presbyterian and Russwurm who was a member of the Haytian Emigration Society came together as the original editors of Freedom's Journal. According to African American journalist, Garland Penn, Cornish and Russwurm's objective with Freedom's Journal was to go up against other local newspapers published in New York City that attacked African-Americans and encouraged slavery. For example, Mordecai Noah was an African-American hater who wrote articles that degraded African-Americans; however, Noah was not the only journalist who wrote these kinds of articles and other editors that published newspapers in New York City also wrote articles that mocked blacks and supported slavery.
The Abolitionist press focused their attention mainly on paternalism
as well as relying on racist stereotypes. They usually portrayed slaves as children who relied heavily on the support of whites in order to survive or as ignorant fools who were happy with their status as slaves and who did not even want freedom. They also depicted African-Americans as inferior beings that threatened the white society and who did not know how to behave properly in society nor how to be good citizens of the United States.
The editors Cornish and Russwurn used Freedom's Journal to oppose the other racist newspapers in New York City and in order to publicly protest their current treatment. They believed that these mass accounts inaccurately represented blacks in New York City and that their newspaper would be a response to the mass newspapers in NYC that distorted African-Americans. People were ignorant of the truth and they thought Freedom's Journal might change the perception of Black's in society. Cornish and Russwurm argued in the first issue of the freedom journal that, "Too long have others spoken for us, too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations…."
However, Cornish and Russwurm's objective for Freedom's Journal did not only concern racism against African-Americans but also involved the autonomy and identity of African-Americans in society. They wanted to strengthen the bonds in the small African-American communities and wanted African-Americans to be conscious of their position in the white society. "We deem it expedient to establish a paper," they remarked, "and bring into operation all the means with which out benevolent creator has endowed us, for the moral, religious, civil and literary improvement of our race…."
Freedom's Journal provided international, national, and regional information on current - events and contained editorials declaiming slavery
, lynching
, and other injustices. The Journal also published biographies of prominent African Americans and listings of births, deaths, and marriages in the African American community in New York. Freedom's Journal circulated in 11 states, the District of Columbia, Haiti
, Europe, and Canada. Freedom's Journal had many articles on information such as world wide news, and many job listings, and announcements on housing, weddings, and funerals. This helped blacks become more aware of the world.
The newspaper employed subscription agents such as David Walker
, who in 1829 published the first of four articles that called for rebellion. The pamphlet "Walker's Appeal" stated, "...it is no more harm for you to kill the man who is trying to kill you than it is for you to take a drink of water..." This statement was widely read, with Walker distributing copies of his pamphlet into the Southern United States
, where it was widely banned.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
owned and operated newspaper published in the United States. Published weekly in New York City from 16 March 1827 to 28 March 1829, the journal was edited by John Russwurm and co-editor, Samuel Cornish
Samuel Cornish
Samuel Eli Cornish was an American abolitionist, journalist, and Presbyterian minister.-Early years:Cornish was born in Sussex County, Delaware, to free parents. In 1815, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
who contributed only through 14 September 1827 issue. Freedom's Journal was superseded by The Rights of All
The Rights of All
The Rights of All was a short-lived American abolitionist newspaper founded by Samuel Cornish. The newspaper replaced Freedom's Journal and carried a serious of important articles known as Walker's Appeal championing slave rebellion....
, published between 1829 and 1830 by Cornish.
Though they lived different lives and careers, Cornish who was the first to establish an African-American Presbyterian and Russwurm who was a member of the Haytian Emigration Society came together as the original editors of Freedom's Journal. According to African American journalist, Garland Penn, Cornish and Russwurm's objective with Freedom's Journal was to go up against other local newspapers published in New York City that attacked African-Americans and encouraged slavery. For example, Mordecai Noah was an African-American hater who wrote articles that degraded African-Americans; however, Noah was not the only journalist who wrote these kinds of articles and other editors that published newspapers in New York City also wrote articles that mocked blacks and supported slavery.
The Abolitionist press focused their attention mainly on paternalism
Paternalism
Paternalism refers to attitudes or states of affairs that exemplify a traditional relationship between father and child. Two conditions of paternalism are usually identified: interference with liberty and a beneficent intention towards those whose liberty is interfered with...
as well as relying on racist stereotypes. They usually portrayed slaves as children who relied heavily on the support of whites in order to survive or as ignorant fools who were happy with their status as slaves and who did not even want freedom. They also depicted African-Americans as inferior beings that threatened the white society and who did not know how to behave properly in society nor how to be good citizens of the United States.
The editors Cornish and Russwurn used Freedom's Journal to oppose the other racist newspapers in New York City and in order to publicly protest their current treatment. They believed that these mass accounts inaccurately represented blacks in New York City and that their newspaper would be a response to the mass newspapers in NYC that distorted African-Americans. People were ignorant of the truth and they thought Freedom's Journal might change the perception of Black's in society. Cornish and Russwurm argued in the first issue of the freedom journal that, "Too long have others spoken for us, too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations…."
However, Cornish and Russwurm's objective for Freedom's Journal did not only concern racism against African-Americans but also involved the autonomy and identity of African-Americans in society. They wanted to strengthen the bonds in the small African-American communities and wanted African-Americans to be conscious of their position in the white society. "We deem it expedient to establish a paper," they remarked, "and bring into operation all the means with which out benevolent creator has endowed us, for the moral, religious, civil and literary improvement of our race…."
Freedom's Journal provided international, national, and regional information on current - events and contained editorials declaiming slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
, and other injustices. The Journal also published biographies of prominent African Americans and listings of births, deaths, and marriages in the African American community in New York. Freedom's Journal circulated in 11 states, the District of Columbia, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, Europe, and Canada. Freedom's Journal had many articles on information such as world wide news, and many job listings, and announcements on housing, weddings, and funerals. This helped blacks become more aware of the world.
The newspaper employed subscription agents such as David Walker
David Walker (abolitionist)
David Walker was an outspoken African American activist who demanded the immediate end of slavery in the new nation...
, who in 1829 published the first of four articles that called for rebellion. The pamphlet "Walker's Appeal" stated, "...it is no more harm for you to kill the man who is trying to kill you than it is for you to take a drink of water..." This statement was widely read, with Walker distributing copies of his pamphlet into the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, where it was widely banned.