ABOUT THE BOOK
On March 16, 1827, Freedom's Journal, the first African-American newspaper, began publication in New York. Despite its significance, until now there has been no comprehensive study of the periodical. Histories of the black press and studies of the late 1820s have considered it only briefly, at times making assumptions about the periodical - its founding, its focus, its goals, and its editors - that overlook important facts, neglect to fully account for the publication’s richness and depth, and leave significant questions unanswered.

Freedom's Journal: The First African-American Newspaper is the first study to examine this groundbreaking periodical comprehensively, both by creating a detailed history of the newspaper and those associated with it and by mining its columns for the wealth of information they provide about African-American life and perspectives in the late 1820s, a key period of black community development and activism.

Freedom's Journal: The First African-American Newspaper investigates the crucial developments in African-American history, activism, and rhetoric from the Revolution to the 1820s, which form the context in which Freedom's Journal arose; presents a thorough historical account of the periodical's founding, development, and demise; and examines the newspaper's scope, mission, and overall content. Thematic chapters explore in depth Freedom's Journal's coverage of various subjects critical to antebellum African Americans - self-help, morality, and racial uplift; gender roles; the histories, present conditions, and futures of Africa and Haiti; colonization and emigration; and slavery and abolition.

Freedom's Journal: The First African-American Newspaper also considers the impact and legacy of Freedom's Journal, from the antebellum period to today. Many of those associated with Freedom's Journal - its editors, agents, and contributors - were instrumental in the black abolitionist movement in the 1830s and beyond. This book brings out often overlooked information about these figures and helps to create a fuller portrait of the context in which their activism developed. Freedom's Journal: The First African-American Newspaper is intended for a broad audience, including people from all walks of life who are interested in African-American history, the history of American newspapers and media, literature and rhetoric, and social protest. It contains many intriguing stories - such as the biographies of the two editors - and allows readers to explore the fascinating developments and controversies of the time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacqueline Bacon holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas at Austin. She is the author of The Humblest May Stand Forth: Rhetoric, Empowerment, and Abolition (University of South Carolina Press, 2002) as well as numerous articles for scholarly and popular journals on African-American rhetoric and history, women’s rhetoric, the media, and contemporary social issues.

For a complete list of Bacon's publications, click here.