CHAPTER III

THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD (1865-1880)

[Sidenote: EMANCIPATION GOAL OF NEGRO PRESS]

With the emancipation, a new period in Negro Journalism is begun. For nearly forty years newspapers had been published by Negroes who had obtained their freedom, but the circulation of these papers among the race group of necessity was limited. Emancipation marked the realization of the goal of the Negro press prior to that time, and with the ushering in of freedom many of the newspapers ceased publication. There was, however, still another great, if not even more important task for the Negro press—the education of the masses of illiterate. This task the surviving newspapers, together with many new ones, set out to accomplish.

[Sidenote: FIRST SOUTHERN NEGRO NEWSPAPER]

The first notable development of the period was the beginning of Negro newspapers in the South, where the large majority of Negroes were located. The first Negro newspaper published in the South was _The Colored American_ of Augusta, Ga., issued for the first time in October, 1865. The following paragraph from its prospectus will suffice to show the paper’s attitude and policy:

[Sidenote: COLORED AMERICAN’S PROSPECTUS]

“It (_The Colored American_) is designated to be a vehicle for the diffusion of Religious, Political and General Intelligence. It will be devoted to the promotion of harmony and good-will between the whites and Colored people of the south, and untiring in its advocacy of Industry and Education among all classes; but particularly the class most in need of our agency.

“Accepting, at all times, the decision of public sentiment and Legislative Assemblies, and bowing to the majesty of law, it will fearlessly remonstrate against legal and constitutional proscription by appeal to the public sense of justice.”[3]

[Sidenote: SHUFTEN’S EDITORIAL ON THE RACE PROBLEM]

The editor of the paper was J. T. Shuften, who was ably assisted by Dr. James Lynch. Shuften was credited by _The New York World_ as having written the best article of the time on the “Negro Question.” The paper was short-lived and suspended February, 1866.

[Sidenote: PRECURSORS IN SOUTHERN STATES]

With the beginning of Negro Journalism in the South, papers sprung up in other states: _The Colored Tennessean_ and _The True Communicator_, of Baltimore, Md., being among the more noted ones. Many of the papers were short-lived; others changed hands and names frequently and continued for several years.

[Sidenote: PAPERS GROW IN INFLUENCE AND CIRCULATION]

The year 1868 saw the founding of _The Charleston Leader_, at Charleston, S. C. By 1870, the Negro press began to make itself felt. _The People’s Journal_, with a circulation of over 10,000 was being edited by Dr. R. L. Perry. In Mississippi, James J. Spellman and John Lynch began _The Colored Citizen_. December, 1870, marked the founding of _The New Orleans Louisianian_, by P. B. S. Pinchback[4], who in 1873 became governor of Louisiana, being the only Negro ever to hold this position.

[Sidenote: EDITORS HIGHLY EDUCATED]

August 1861, John J. Freeman started _The Progressive American_, in New York City, which existed for ten years. The one outstanding achievement of this paper is the fact that as a result of its fight for Negro teachers in the public schools twenty-three were appointed. Between 1865 and 1880, over 30 newspapers of more or less merit came into existence; Negro newspapers were being published in 21 states. The papers of the period were ably edited and were the product of some of the most highly educated Negroes.

[3] Pinchback died in Washington, D. C., Dec. 22, 1921.

[4] Afro-American Press.