This is one that I know a LOT of people never knew, including myself!
If asked what the first black newspaper was in America, what would you answer? It might be any one of several well-known papers; the Los Angeles Sentinel (1935-2005), the Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001), the Baltimore AfroAmerican (1893-1988), the Chicago Defender (1910-1975), or the Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002). All of these newspapers hold various claims to fame, but the first black newspaper published in America was (drum roll please!) The Freedom Journal.
The Freedom Journal was the first black owned and operated newspaper in the United States. Its first edition came out on March 16th, 1827 in New York City, and was issued weekly until its demise in 1829. Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm were the co-editors until September 14th, 1827 when Cornish resigned. From 1829-1830 Cornish published The Rights of All.
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 New York
community. Freedom's Journal circulated in 11
states, the District of Columbia, Haiti, Europe, and
Canada.
For more information on Freedom's Journal, and other black owned and operated newspapers:
ProQuest Historical Newspapers
Freedom's Journal, the first African American newspaper
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