In last Friday's edition you observed the rise of Barack Obama by proudly recording some outstanding 'firsts' accomplished by black persons in the United States. One important omission was the name of Jamaican-born John B. Russwurm who, in 1827, published America's first black newspaper, called Freedom's Journal.
Russwurm, born 1799 in Port Antonio, was the son of a slave woman and an English merchant, who took him away from the island when he was about eight years old. He was the second black person to graduate from college in America and, along with Samuel Cornish, launched the weekly newspaper after finishing his studies at Bowdoin College. In delivering his prophetic graduation speech in 1826, he remarked:
"The changes which take place in the affairs of this world show the instability of sublunary things. Empires rise and fall; flourish and decay.
Principle of liberty
Knowledge follows revolutions and travels over the globe. Man alone remains the same being, whether placed under the torrid suns of Africa or in the more congenial temperate zone. A principle of liberty is implanted in his breast, and all efforts to stifle it are as fruitless as would be the attempt to extinguish the fires of Etna."
Later, when writing the first editorial of Freedom's Journal, he stated:
"We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Useful knowledge of every kind, and everything that related to Africa, shall find a ready admission into our columns; and as that vast continent becomes daily more known, we trust that many things will come to light, proving that the natives of it are neither so ignorant nor stupid as they have generally been supposed to be."
It is natural that Jamaicans, particularly those of African origin, should rejoice and be exceeding glad of Barack Obama's triumphant march to the White House. It is also imperative that we all remember and respect the efforts of those who cleared the thorny path and paved the way to his glory. The Jamaican-American John Russwurm was one of them, and so was Marcus Garvey.
I am, etc.,
KEN JONES
alllerdyce@hotmail.com
Kingston