麻豆社

By Kim Chakanetsa

In March 1827, New York City was emerging from an unusually warm winter - as spring began to take hold of the city, other changes were afoot.

The abolition of slavery was on the horizon yet the African Americans living in the city still faced restrictions on their rights. It was both a thrilling and terrifying time. And there were many who worried about how the black community was often blamed for the country's problems.

Among those who felt the need for action were an activist Presbytarian Minister called Samuel Cornish, and John Russwurm - a fierce intellectual and only the third black college graduate in the US.

A conversation between the two sparked into an idea, which later was realised in the form of a four column, four page newspaper.

And On Friday, March 16, 1827, at 236 Church Street in Lower Manhattan, the first edition of Freedom's Journal rolled off the press

While it wasn't the first black empowerment pamphlet to be published, this was different. It was a newspaper - entirely owned and operated by free blacks - that sought to counter the noise and dominating white narrative.

The editors of Freedom's journal were on a mission to give Black America a voice. A mission which Cornish and Russwurm laid out in their first editorial:

"We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the publick been deceived by misrepresentations, in things which concern us dearly, though in the estimation of some mere trifles; for though there are many in society who exercise towards us benevolent feelings; still - with sorrow we confess it - there are others who make it their business to enlarge upon the least trifle, which tends to the discredit of any person of colour."

Profiles of pioneering black figures such as Paul Cuffee, a man who owned a trading ship staffed by black people, sat alongside letters discussing slavery. Among the prose was also poetry, as well as more practical notices - school openings, church renovations and community meetings.

The paper also celebrated the everyday - on the 25th of May Mr Nathaniel Adams of Washington DC was married to Miss Anne Allen, the youngest daughter of the Right Reverand Rich Allen. And that in New York City on the 18th of May, George Marks died.

All this for three dollars a year.

Though the paper only had eight hundred subscribers, its reach was far wider with many copies circulating amongst friends, neighbours and colleagues.

But after six months Cornish resigned and Russwurm became the editor - but only two years on, he closed Freedom Journal down.

So, what eventually led to the paper being shuttered? Well, strangely enough the question of freedom.

You see there were two strands of thought at the time. Those who felt that racism was too deeply entrenched within America and freedom would only come from leaving the country and going back to Africa. But there were others who felt that to stay in the US and fight for full rights was the way forward.

For John Russwurm, who had been born in Jamaica and never fully felt at home in America - Africa held the promise of freedom. His parting shot to readers: "We consider it a mere waste of words to talk of ever enjoying citizenship in this country".

But, ironically, once in Liberia, Russwurm's role was that of the colonist bringing 'civilisation and commerce' to the local population. A source of friction between the newcomers and natives. But maybe Russwurm had the last word, staying on in to become the state Governor in Liberia.

And as for Cornish, he tried his hand again at publishing another journal. But that too only had a short run.

But two hundred years later, that idea, sparked by these two men has many heirs on newsstands and online, who insist still on speaking for themselves.

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