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Frederick Douglass kept a large number of newspaper articles that help us gain a better understanding of the times he lived in. One clipping that was particularly interesting wasn’t an article at all, but rather a page full of advertisements. One of the most prominent stated in bold letters, “THE BLACK PHALANX.” Below, in slightly smaller print, it said, “A book for the Race.” Surrounding this were other advertisements. One asked, “ARE YOU A SUBSCRIBER OF THE CLEVELAND GAZETTE?” promising it was “Devoted to the Interests of the Race.” A third read, “A NEW RACE IN A NEW ERA. MAKING NEW LITERATURE AND HAVING A UNIQUE HISTORY.” Others on the page were advertising a “good education” with teaching on “Grammar, Normal and College Courses.”
The newspaper was published in September of 1892, a time in our country when many black men and women couldn’t read. It is clear that more and more literature was being written “for the Race” and The Cleveland Gazette was encouraging them to pursue an education in reading.
That Douglass saved these advertisements shows the way he too valued education. As one who taught himself to read, it was important to him to see others learn as well. The fact that he had this newspaper and could read it was a great feat in itself. It leaves us wondering what emotions must have filled his heart as he read those words, knowing others were also discovering the freedom he found in the written word.
Though he may have kept the article out of pride and admiration of the cause it was supporting, Douglass may have had alternative intentions in keeping this artifact. He may have been promoting the book being advertised to others. He could have been publicizing it at lectures, due to the fact that a newspaper ad directed at the illiterate would be counter-intuitive. Douglass may have kept the article for completely other reasons. He could have been helping a friend find a house or searching for one. A name of a friend could have been mentioned in the beginning article by John J. Brown. The book article does, however, seem to be the main focal point of the artifact and a safe assumption to make.
Though he may have kept the article out of pride and admiration of the cause it was supporting, Douglass may have had alternative intentions in keeping this artifact. He may have been promoting the book being advertised to others. He could have been publicizing it at lectures, due to the fact that a newspaper ad directed at the illiterate would be counter-intuitive. Douglass may have kept the article for completely other reasons. He could have been helping a friend find a house or searching for one. A name of a friend could have been mentioned in the beginning article by John J. Brown. The book article does, however, seem to be the main focal point of the artifact and a safe assumption to make.
Something interesting to me about this page of ads is that it clearly shows that people in that time were not at all adverse to the idea of race-specific products.
Nowadays, a newspaper “devoted to the interests of the Race” would fail immediately. In fact, it would almost certainly suffer legal challenges, and might not even be allowed to start up!
The fact the Frederick Douglass kept this seems to indicate to me that while he was strongly in favor of equality, he didn’t necessarily see integration as important. Promoting the interests of black citizens seems to have been the most important thing to him, more important than encouraging the formation of an integrated society.
For that matter, it may be that the idea of full integration had not really occurred to him. Abolition was radical enough, in the nineteenth century; integration is another large step beyond that.
Something interesting to me about this page of ads is that it clearly shows that people in that time were not at all adverse to the idea of race-specific products.
Nowadays, a newspaper “devoted to the interests of the Race” would fail immediately. In fact, it would almost certainly suffer legal challenges, and might not even be allowed to start up!
The fact the Frederick Douglass kept this seems to indicate to me that while he was strongly in favor of equality, he didn’t necessarily see integration as important. Promoting the interests of black citizens seems to have been the most important thing to him, more important than encouraging the formation of an integrated society.
For that matter, it may be that the idea of full integration had not really occurred to him. Abolition was radical enough, in the nineteenth century; integration is another large step beyond that.
Pride is the first aspect of the newspaper clipping that jumps out to me. The authors and editors of the newspaper show no shame in their production and assertions. Their statements of “IT IS THE OLDEST!” and “NEWEST AND BEST” indicate that they are proud to have created an achievement worth noting from not only African-Americans, but from all races. There is no clear indication of the authors of the newspaper’s races, but one can assume that they are either African-American or strong abolitionists, because of their strong interest in “the race.”
Of course, the clipping states that it is the premier African-American newspaper, but the intentions are unclear. One advertised asked, “ARE YOU A SUBSCRIBER OF THE CLEVELAND GAZETTE?” This question could be posed in order to obtain more subscribers, not for the encouragement of education. When they make the assertion that they are the most established and best newspaper of African-American interest, they have one objective, which is the get African-Americans and abolitionists alike to subscribe to the newspaper, because of their claim to be the only one worth reading. If education was the main goal of the clipping, then instead of “DO YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY?” being the largest headline and located at the top, “DO YOU WANT TO LEARN?” would replace it.
Pride is the first aspect of the newspaper clipping that jumps out to me. The authors and editors of the newspaper show no shame in their production and assertions. Their statements of “IT IS THE OLDEST!” and “NEWEST AND BEST” indicate that they are proud to have created an achievement worth noting from not only African-Americans, but from all races. There is no clear indication of the authors of the newspaper’s races, but one can assume that they are either African-American or strong abolitionists, because of their strong interest in “the race.”
Of course, the clipping states that it is the premier African-American newspaper, but the intentions are unclear. One advertised asked, “ARE YOU A SUBSCRIBER OF THE CLEVELAND GAZETTE?” This question could be posed in order to obtain more subscribers, not for the encouragement of education. When they make the assertion that they are the most established and best newspaper of African-American interest, they have one objective, which is the get African-Americans and abolitionists alike to subscribe to the newspaper, because of their claim to be the only one worth reading. If education was the main goal of the clipping, then instead of “DO YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY?” being the largest headline and located at the top, “DO YOU WANT TO LEARN?” would replace it.
I think the newspaper could show what political leanings Douglass had. The advertisement for The Cleveland Gazette says: “The Cleveland Gazette is acknowledged to be a leading Republican newspaper.” If Douglass had a regular subscription to The Cleveland Gazette, perhaps it indicates that Douglass was a Republican? Also, one of the ads says, “The Black Phalanx” (which is the “first book to record the services of the brave Colored Boys in Blue), and another says, “Afro-Americans / A new race in a new era.” I think that Douglass was interested in increasing amounts of literature written by/for African Americans, especially since there was so little available for them and that so many were illiterate.
I’m not sure that we can conclusively infer that Douglass saved the advertisements because he valued education. That’s not to say that he didn’t value education; I agree that he probably valued education more for the fact his being able to read and write wasn’t the norm. Perhaps there was an ad that he felt was particularly compelling?
I think the newspaper could show what political leanings Douglass had. The advertisement for The Cleveland Gazette says: “The Cleveland Gazette is acknowledged to be a leading Republican newspaper.” If Douglass had a regular subscription to The Cleveland Gazette, perhaps it indicates that Douglass was a Republican? Also, one of the ads says, “The Black Phalanx” (which is the “first book to record the services of the brave Colored Boys in Blue), and another says, “Afro-Americans / A new race in a new era.” I think that Douglass was interested in increasing amounts of literature written by/for African Americans, especially since there was so little available for them and that so many were illiterate.
I’m not sure that we can conclusively infer that Douglass saved the advertisements because he valued education. That’s not to say that he didn’t value education; I agree that he probably valued education more for the fact his being able to read and write wasn’t the norm. Perhaps there was an ad that he felt was particularly compelling?