On March 16, 1827,Freedom's Journal, the first African-American newspaper, began publication in New York. Freedom's Journal was a forum edited and controlled by African Americans in which they could articulate their concerns. National in scope and distributed in several countries, the paper connected African Americans beyond the boundaries of city or region and engaged international issues from their perspective. It ceased publication after only two years, but shaped the activism of both African-American and white leaders for generations to come. A comprehensive examination of this groundbreaking periodical, Freedom's Journal: The First African-American Newspaper is a much-needed contribution to the literature. Despite its significance, it has not been investigated comprehensively. This study examines all aspects of the publication as well as extracts historical information from the content.
Jacqueline Bacon is a writer and scholar living in San Diego. She is the author of The Humblest May Stand Forth: Rhetoric, Empowerment, and Abolition.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction: A Clap of Thunder Chapter 2 The Time Has Now Arrived: The African-American Community of the Late 1820s Chapter 3 The History of Freedom's Journal Chapter 4 Whatever Concerns Us As a People: The Goal of Freedom's Journal Chapter 5 Be Up and Doing: Self-Help Chapter 6 Men and Women, Private and Public Chapter 7 Redemption, Regeneration, Revolution: Africa and Haiti Chapter 8 Save Us from Our Friends: Colonization and Emigration Chapter 9 Our Brethren Who Are Still in Bondage: Slavery and Antislavery Chapter 10 Echoes and Re-Echoes: The Impact and Legacy of Freedom's Journal
What People are Saying About This
Roy Finkenbine
Jacqueline Bacon's well-written manuscript promises to be a significant contribution to scholarship in African-American history, nineteenth-century reform, and American journalism. This is an important work.