African American Newspapers
Long before Fredrick Douglass started his newspaper the North Star,there were African-American newspapers. Many were short lived. Some Africcan-American newspapers shelf live was limited by finances, death and some were seized and destroyed.
James Williams writes about the "Freedom Journal". The "Freedom Journal" editor was John Russwurm, America's first African-American college graduate. Russwurm words, " We wish to plead our own causes.. Too long have others spoken for us. Too Long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations in things which concern us dearly, through in the estimation of some mere trifles; for though there are many in society who exercise toward us benevolent feelings; still (with sorrow we confess it) there are others who make it their business to enlarge upon the least trifle, which tens to the discredit of any person of colour; and pronounce anathemas and denounce our whole body for the misconduct of the guilty one,", quoted by Williams.
That quote sound like 2007 rather than back in 1827.
To plead the cause of the African-American meant to send these thoughts out into other places, communities of African-Americans. David Walker felt that for change in communities a plan was needed to be shared amongst the group. David Walker wrote the famous "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World" after working to deliver the "Freedom Journal" in other places.
Williams writes about other writers. Writers who would create newspapers to appeal to the people about their role or place in America as African-Americans. There was a dispute between Samuel Cornish and Russwurm over the issue on whether or not African-American should emigrated back to Africa. After Russwurm death, Cornish changed the name of the "Freedom Journal" to "Rights for All". Cornish did not believe in the back to Africa movement. Cornish would later edit another paper called "The Weekly Advocate" in 1837 that lasted until 1842. A long time for an African-American newspaper expressing the views of African-Americans.
Other radical writers came forward like Fredrick Douglass, such as Ida B. Wells. Wells newspaper was investigative reporting. Wells was documenting the number of lynchings that were occurring among the African-Americans males. Wells was also accusing raced whites males of killing African-American businessmen. If it was not true when Wells wrote it, it became truth, when Wells own newpapers printing company was burned to the ground, which she published under the name of the "Memphis Free Speech" in 1892.
The cost to be outspoken was a high price for those African-Americans who voiced an oppositional view point than the raced white establishment. The price was even higher for those voices that opposed African-Americans who believed in complacency with the raced white establishment. William Monroe Trotter, a Harvard graduate had lots to say about the willingness of African-Americans to just settle by compromising and not arguing for a voice in their America.
Williams writes that Trotter attacked the great Compromiser, who was loved by both raced whites and African-Americans, Booker T. Washington. Trotter began "The Guardian" in 1901, in Boston. "The Guardian" would attack Washington compromising position as not good enough for all African-Americans. To attack Washington the model Negro for raced white, Trotter would end up fined and jail during the Boston Riot.
Trotter used his newspaper to attack the belief that one voice speaks for the whole race best interest. Trotter set the pace for these other voices to emerge from the diverse community of the African-American community. Williams writes, Robert Abbott of the Chicago Defender in 1905 created a new type of African-American newspaper. A sensationalizing type newspaper that was going to pay for itself by getting the word out about segregation and discrimination. Marketing to the people taste for seedy side of the community would generate revenue to substain the longevity of the African-American newspaper.
Abbott's newspaper encouraged African-American migration to the North, with information about jobs and the need to leave the hell hole of the South. The dream of a better place than the oppressive south helped grow the circulation of the Defender. By 1917, "Pittsburgh Courier", "The Baltimore Afro-American" and hundreds of other African-Americans newspapers were expressing a view from prominent African-Americans living in the city about a live that was so different than the south.
In closing Williams writes about The Crisis. W.E.B. Dubois was the editor of a publication belonging to an organization that fought for the betterment of life for African-Americans. The N.A.A.C.P. was the organization that funded the Crisis Magazine, the most powerful voice of the African-American community.
Thousands of African-Americans newspaper exist today, because of the diverse voices that is throughout the world. Not only are African-American and raced white churches the most segregated during Sunday services, so are our African-Americans and raced white newspaper readership on a daily basis.
James Williams writes about the "Freedom Journal". The "Freedom Journal" editor was John Russwurm, America's first African-American college graduate. Russwurm words, " We wish to plead our own causes.. Too long have others spoken for us. Too Long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations in things which concern us dearly, through in the estimation of some mere trifles; for though there are many in society who exercise toward us benevolent feelings; still (with sorrow we confess it) there are others who make it their business to enlarge upon the least trifle, which tens to the discredit of any person of colour; and pronounce anathemas and denounce our whole body for the misconduct of the guilty one,", quoted by Williams.
That quote sound like 2007 rather than back in 1827.
To plead the cause of the African-American meant to send these thoughts out into other places, communities of African-Americans. David Walker felt that for change in communities a plan was needed to be shared amongst the group. David Walker wrote the famous "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World" after working to deliver the "Freedom Journal" in other places.
Williams writes about other writers. Writers who would create newspapers to appeal to the people about their role or place in America as African-Americans. There was a dispute between Samuel Cornish and Russwurm over the issue on whether or not African-American should emigrated back to Africa. After Russwurm death, Cornish changed the name of the "Freedom Journal" to "Rights for All". Cornish did not believe in the back to Africa movement. Cornish would later edit another paper called "The Weekly Advocate" in 1837 that lasted until 1842. A long time for an African-American newspaper expressing the views of African-Americans.
Other radical writers came forward like Fredrick Douglass, such as Ida B. Wells. Wells newspaper was investigative reporting. Wells was documenting the number of lynchings that were occurring among the African-Americans males. Wells was also accusing raced whites males of killing African-American businessmen. If it was not true when Wells wrote it, it became truth, when Wells own newpapers printing company was burned to the ground, which she published under the name of the "Memphis Free Speech" in 1892.
The cost to be outspoken was a high price for those African-Americans who voiced an oppositional view point than the raced white establishment. The price was even higher for those voices that opposed African-Americans who believed in complacency with the raced white establishment. William Monroe Trotter, a Harvard graduate had lots to say about the willingness of African-Americans to just settle by compromising and not arguing for a voice in their America.
Williams writes that Trotter attacked the great Compromiser, who was loved by both raced whites and African-Americans, Booker T. Washington. Trotter began "The Guardian" in 1901, in Boston. "The Guardian" would attack Washington compromising position as not good enough for all African-Americans. To attack Washington the model Negro for raced white, Trotter would end up fined and jail during the Boston Riot.
Trotter used his newspaper to attack the belief that one voice speaks for the whole race best interest. Trotter set the pace for these other voices to emerge from the diverse community of the African-American community. Williams writes, Robert Abbott of the Chicago Defender in 1905 created a new type of African-American newspaper. A sensationalizing type newspaper that was going to pay for itself by getting the word out about segregation and discrimination. Marketing to the people taste for seedy side of the community would generate revenue to substain the longevity of the African-American newspaper.
Abbott's newspaper encouraged African-American migration to the North, with information about jobs and the need to leave the hell hole of the South. The dream of a better place than the oppressive south helped grow the circulation of the Defender. By 1917, "Pittsburgh Courier", "The Baltimore Afro-American" and hundreds of other African-Americans newspapers were expressing a view from prominent African-Americans living in the city about a live that was so different than the south.
In closing Williams writes about The Crisis. W.E.B. Dubois was the editor of a publication belonging to an organization that fought for the betterment of life for African-Americans. The N.A.A.C.P. was the organization that funded the Crisis Magazine, the most powerful voice of the African-American community.
Thousands of African-Americans newspaper exist today, because of the diverse voices that is throughout the world. Not only are African-American and raced white churches the most segregated during Sunday services, so are our African-Americans and raced white newspaper readership on a daily basis.
Labels: Black History Month
posted by credo | 9:46 AM
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