Today In Black History: Freedom’s Journal

On this date in 1827, the Freedom’s Journal newspaper was founded. It was the first Black-owned and operated newspaper in the United States. The paper was started by a group of free Black men in New York City. It served as an counter to racist commentary published in the mainstream press. Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm served as its senior and junior editors. The Journal consisted of news of current events, anecdotes, and editorials and was used to address contemporary issues such as slavery and "colonization," of blacks back to Africa. The paper only lasted until March of 1829.