Good People

Now that we are underway it is well beyond the time when we should become reacquainted with those who have come before us. Knowledge of one's history is mandatory if one is to understand where we are headed. Pursuing this line of thought lead me back to the original Freedom's Journal -

The founders of the original Freedom's Journal made arguments that are just as fitting today as they were 180 years ago. These are the sentiments of Mr. John Brown Russwurm and Mr. Samuel Cornish as expressed in the introductory editorial published March 16, 1827.

"We wish to plead our own cause..."

"Education being an object of the highest importance to the welfare of the society, we shall endeavor to present just and adequate views of it, and to urge upon our brethren the necessity and expediency of training their children, while young, to habits of industry, and thus forming them for becoming useful members of society"

"Our vices and our degradation are ever arrayed against us, but our virtues are passed by unnoticed"

"Though all men acknowledge the excellency of Franklin's maxims [1], yet comparatively few practice upon them"

Based on my research into the editors of Freedom's Journal I believe that we are in good company. We continue to need to place such ideals as Freedom and the abolition of racism into the public consciousness. It seems clear that hate and racism may only be challenged when light is shed upon a subject.

I hope that New Freedom's Journal may help all of our readers to grow in understanding and appreciation of each other and ourselves as individuals. New Freedom's Journal is one response to the challenges that continue to confront the Afro-American community. A shared sentiment of "each one teach one" is fine but by use of a publication style web log I hope that "each one [may] teach thousands".

I am looking for a few good people to assist with current articles and editorials relative to our community. Please drop me an email under the staff section of this publication.


Did you know...
1 - Benjamin Franklin was famous as an author and publisher in addition to being an inventor and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin's maxims included the wry remark -"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately". Franklin also suggested that we live by thirteen virtues (temperance, silence, order, resolution, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and, humility)