Black Abolitionist Archive

Subtitle: The Editor's Difficulties.

Title: Colored American - December 16, 1837

Speaker or author: Cornish, Samuel E.

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor asks his readers to help compensate him for his work at the newspaper. He asks that each subscriber send at least $5 each to help supplement his salary. He explains that as it is now, his salary is nowhere near what other editors are paid.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: To Our Friends and Brethren Beloved:

Title: Colored American - May 6, 1837

Speaker or author: Cornish, Samuel E. (Samuel Eli), 1795?-1858

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer offers a humble request for aid and financial support from friends among the people in Pennsylvania.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: The Domestic Slave Trade.

Title: Colored American - November 25, 1837

Speaker or author: Cornish, Samuel E. (Samuel Eli), 1795?-1858

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer relates a story of a black British sailor who is arrested in Washington, DC on suspicion that he is a fugitive slave. The law required that a white man step forward to validate his claim that he is a free man or the sailor would be sold into slavery to pay the expense of his arrest.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Going from Home.

Title: Colored American - November 11, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Although the Colored American newspaper is now out of debt, the editor will be traveling to Philadelphia to speak on its behalf and encourage further investment in order to sustain it. Donations are always appreciated and put to good use.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: The Canadas.

Title: Colored American - December 30, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

As Canada experiences revolution, the editor asks for a neutral stance and non-involvement by the U.S. in their difficulties.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Purchase of Real Estate.

Title: Colored American - July 22, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

As promised in a previous issue, the writer continues his advice to African Americans regarding purchasing real estate.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Worthy of Consideration.

Title: Colored American - March 25, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Brief commentary on the part the Church is playing in the continuation of slavery. Through sermons and implied approval of the system, the Church has had a powerful influence on the social acceptance of slavery.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: American Colonization Society.

Title: Colored American - May 27, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Despite its good intentions, the writer believes that the American Colonization movement is a politically motivated ploy to remove people of color from the U.S., and thus solve the moral problem of slavery.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Editorial Responsibility.

Title: Colored American - June 10, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Editorial statement of the intent, motivation, and goals of the newspaper to report in a truthful, moral, and responsible manner information geared towards African American readers.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Our Friends hinder our Improvement.

Title: Colored American - August 12, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

In an effort to help, the friends of free African Americans are pushing them through an inadequate education and sending them into a prejudiced society unprepared for the challenges that await them there. By assuming that African Americans are not capable of more than this, those who are acting on their behalf, are doing more harm than good, even though their intentions are well meaning.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Broadway Tabernacle.

Title: Colored American - August 19, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

In order to protest the requirement that African Americans occupy a segregated section of the Broadway Tabernacle, the writer asks them to boycott this church until changes ae made. He also suggests that groups of 25 African Americans spread out over several white churches if they feel they must attend instead of all going to one particular church.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Colonization Society.

Title: Colored American - May 13, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Overview of a celebration held on the anniversary of the Colonization Society. Several ministers spoke and admitted to silent compliance with the system of slavery in their sermons. The idea was to encourage African Americans to agree with colonization based on the notion that because of the Church's "admittedly evil pact with Satan" in promoting slavery, there was no chance for freed people of color to advance out of their current social situation in the U.S. The only hope expressed by these ministers was for African Americans to agree with the tenets of the Colonization Society and move to Africa.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Let there be no strife among us.

Title: Colored American - September 9, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor acknowledges all the letters of protest the newspaper has received regarding his comments on the Moral Reform Convention. Although he understands that a lot of readers disagree with his point of view, he assures them that none of their letters will be published.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Dartmouth College -- A Noble Example.

Title: Colored American - April 29, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor announces that Dartmouth College has accepted an Arican American student.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: A Reading Room.

Title: Colored American - February 10, 1838

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor announces that the newspaper is considering establishing a reading room for the community. This space would provide a common place for learning, encourage intellectual support, and discourage idleness and vice.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: "Come Over and Help Us."

Title: Colored American - March 25, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor appeals to his readers for financial support to keep the newspaper in publication.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: The Enlargement of our Paper.

Title: Colored American - September 16, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor calls upon his readers to help increase the number of subscriptions to the newspaper. He stresses the importance of the newspaper's existence and the need for financial backing that new subscriptions would provide.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: They Glory in their Shame.

Title: Colored American - June 10, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor comments on a story published in the Times about an African American man who was refused a seat on a public bus.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Colored Orphans.

Title: Colored American - April 29, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor comments on an editorial previously printed regarding a plea for funding to establish a "Colored Orphanage." While he believes this is motivated by good people seeking to help orphaned black children, he wondered why a separate institution must be established to divide children by race. There are many already established orphanages that would be suitable if it weren't for an underlying racial prejudice in this plan.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Subtitle: Africa has Claims Upon Us.

Title: Colored American - April 29, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor comments on an editorial that appeared in another newspaper regarding the obligation Americans owe to Africa. The writer expresses his own interpretation of this idea. He suggests that the first step to helping Africa is to stop the national perception of separation that prejudice against the continent and its people creates.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page