Biography Of Jacqueline Bacon, African American Writer,...

Jacqueline Bacon, African American writer, quoted Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm in her essay Freedom’s Journal, The First African-American Newspaper: â€Å" We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us† (Brown 13). This quote gave slaves a sense of empowerment to stand up for themselves and no longer be property, but people. The Freedom Journal is the first African American newspaper that was published in March 16, 1827 in New York City by free black men Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm. They felt that a national newspaper will give them a chance to have freedom to voice their opinions about public debates. Through their process of creating their newspaper they endured many trials of deal with hatred and being criticized for their choices. Through the time of creating the newspaper they were able to establish a black free communities. â€Å" Beginning in the 1780s, a first generation of leaders began to address issues if identity, self-determin ation, and group consciousness. They did so against a backdrop of racism, oppression, violence, and tension within the new republic about slavery and the place of free African American in the nation† ( Brown 14). Richard Allen, Frederick Douglass, and Solomon Northrup are leaders for overcoming slavery, shaping African American history, and creating a community for blacks to come together. These three influential people pleaded their case to gain their own voice and identity. Richard Allen was born a slave in