The columns of the North Star were filled with contributions from correspondents in Europe and the West Indies, as well as from all parts of the United States. It was the first Negro newspaper to have any considerable circulation among the American people outside of its own race group.
Life of Fred Douglass
The life of the founder of this paper is a most interesting one. Born a slave at Tuckahoe, Md., February, 1817, he escaped from his master in 1833, going first to New York City, and then to New Bedford, Mass. In 1841, he was sent out as a lecturer under the auspices of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. He was one of the most prominent anti-slavery agitators of his day; a series of lectures on the immorality of human slavery was given by him in England. Douglass’ power as a writer was great, and his ready and vigorous use of the English language was always effective. The paper was discontinued shortly after the abolition of slavery.
The Impartial Citizen
Around the brilliancy of the North Star moved several satellites, which somewhat reflected the light of the major planet. Among these was The Impartial Citizen, published at Syracuse, N. Y., in 1848, by Samuel Ward. It is said that the paper was conducted on a high plane and was ably edited.
Colored Man’s Journal Runs Ten Years
The suspension of The Ram’s Horn in 1848 left the Negroes of New York City without a newspaper. However, in 1851, Louis H. Putman began the publication of The Colored Man’s Journal. It was backed by a friend who financially supported it, and as a result the paper was able to run for a period of ten years—a record unequalled during the period before the Emancipation by any paper with the exception of the North Star.
Alienated American
The Alienated American, edited by W. H. Day, was the first Negro newspaper published in Ohio. It entered upon its career in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1852, five years after its editor was graduated from Oberlin College. The Alienated American was one of the best journals published by Negroes in the nineteenth century.
Day was a prolific, scholarly writer. His publication was a creditable one and realized a good support. The paper ceased publication in 1856, when its editor made a trip to England.