The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1939-04-07
TIE. FORUM
lST US. NEGRO
NEWSPAPER
URGED UNITY
AGAINST
SLAVERY
by BEN DAVIS

One hundred and twelve years
ago was born freedoms journal, |"
the first Negro newspaper ever
printed in American event oil
historic significance not alone to
the Negro people but to the white
Americans as we'll
It first saw the light Of day on
March 16, 1927. 1t was published
in New York City, by John B. Russ
wurm, first Negro College graduate
in America, and by Samuel E. Corn
ish, eloquent orator, courageous
fighter for the peoples freedom.
incidentally, Russwurm, was an
alumnus of Bowdoin College, where
he was a classmate Of Nathaniel
Hawthorne, the great American
poet.
This month saw the 112th ami
versary of Freedoms Journals ap-
pearance. And if the occasion
went by unnoticed this is due to
the prejudiced histories which al
most uniformly have hidden the
Journals existence from the Ameri-
can people. All the more reason
why it should be reclaimed with
due honor and full appreciation Of
its Importance in American History.
freedoms Journal was a symbol
of the first literary movement
among the Negro people, and grew
| out of the whole struggle for the
abolition Of slavery. An outstand-
ing contribution to American demo-
cracy, it hreathed the Negro peo-
pies passionate desire for the saw
ing of the American Republic al
ready jeopardized by the Tory
slave holders.
| Unite For Freedom
| 1t appeared even more brilliant
in its mastery of tactics. Without
comprising its fundamental princi-
! pies its first issue showed that it
/ knew how to get across it's message
| in an environment teeming with
| pro-slavery Tories who were anx-
ious to suppress it. 1t appealed to
| the people as whole to unite for
| Negro freedom and for the further
ance of the nations democracy. II
would unite with all who believed
attacking slavery to any degree
whatever, though many did moi
agree with Journals position in full
| The Journal was the first to poin
out the great necessity Of organic
ing all people, Negro and white, re
gardless of their particular belief
and theories in the fight agains
| slavery, and in the fight for freedom
and liberty for all, In analysing
the economics Of the slave system
| the Journal showed how this sys
tenn prevented the wage workers
from gaining their full rights anc
fruits of their labor; in pleading
against prejudice and against dis,
elimination, the Journal pointed out
that the same forces which organic
ed the mobs and anti-Negro riots
also threatened the lives and liber
ties Of white Americans. The Jour
nal contained many articles OF
science, education, history and lit
erature Of high merit. Many Of it
poems, essays, and stories wer.
modelled after the literary patterns
Of the day, but its declared purpos'
! was to present the literary works
memoirs and histories of outstand
ing leaders, and workers, in ordc
to vindicate the Negro people, an
inspire them to continue the figh
for equality in the very face Of tn
slanders directed against them.
Benjamin Baneker, the great Ne
gro scientist and inventor Of til
clock wrote famous letter t
Thomas jefferson which was printe
in the Journal. With pride tn
journal described the adventure
and accomplishments of Paul Cut
~