Negro Journalism: An Essay on the History and Present Conditions of the Negro Press

by George William Gore

The Colored American

A period of about eight years elapsed before the founding of a second Negro newspaper. In January, 1837, Rev. Samuel Cornish began the publishing of The Weekly Advocate. The name was changed in March, however, to The Colored American, and under that name it continued to be issued weekly until 1842. The first editor, Rev. Cornish, was one of the leading Negro journalists of the period. He had been associated with Freedom’s Journal, and throughout a period of twenty years he was actively connected with some newspaper.

Advocated Emancipation

The subscription price of The Colored American was two dollars per year in advance. Its objects were, according to its flag, “the moral, social and political elevation of the free Colored people; and the peaceful emancipation of the enslaved.” The paper was well received by the American press of the period, and many favorable comments on it appeared from time to time.

The Elevator

The first two Negro newspapers had their headquarters in New York City, but their successor was established in Albany, N. Y. The Elevator came into being in 1842, with Stephen Myers as its publisher. The paper was strongly backed by the Abolitionists. Among its influential supporters and backers was Horace Greeley of The New York Tribune.

The National Watchman

Contemporaneous with The Elevator appeared The National Watchman and Clarion, which was established in Troy, N. Y., in the latter part of 1842. Its publisher and editor was William G. Allen. It was short-lived, as was also The People’s Press which was published by Thomas Hamilton in New York City the following year.

The Mystery

Following the lead taken by the empire state, Pennsylvania became a field of activity for the Negro journalist. In 1843, The Mystery was published at Pittsburgh by Dr. Martin Delaney, a graduate of Harvard College. At first it was conducted as the personal property of its editor, but as such it survived only nine months when it became necessary to transfer its ownership to a joint-stock company. After the change Delaney was retained in the capacity of editor.