The Portable Nineteenth-Century African American Women Writers

by Various

  Our journalism has accomplished more than can now be estimated; in fact not until careful biographers make special studies drawn from the lives of the pioneer journalists, shall we or those contemporary with them ever know the actual meed of good work accomplished by them under almost insurmountable difficulties.

  Beginning with the editors of the first newspapers published in this country by colored men, we New Yorkers take pride in the fact that Messrs. Cornish and Russwurm of “Freedom’s Journal,” New York City, 1827, edited the first paper in this country devoted to the upbuilding of the Negro. Philip A. Bell of the “Weekly Advocate,” 1837, named by contemporaries “the Nestor of African American journalists.” The gifted Dr. James McCune Smith was associated with him. The “Weekly Advocate” later became the “Colored American.” And in 1839, on Mr. Bell’s retirement Dr. Charles Ray assumed the editorial chair, continued until 1842, making an enviable record for zeal on all matters of race interest. These men were in very truth the Pioneers of Race Journalism.

  Their lives and record should be zealously guarded for the future use of our children, for they familiarized the public with the idea of the Negro owning and doing the brain work of a newspaper. The people of other sections became active in establishing journals, which did good work all along the line. Even the superficial mind must accept the modest claim that “These journals proved a powerful lever in diverting public opinion, public sympathy, and public support toward the liberation of the slave.”

  Papers were edited by such men as Dr. H. H. Garnet, David Ruggles, W. A. Hodges, and T. Van Rensselaer, of the “Ram’s Horn.” In 1847 our beloved and lofty minded Frederick Douglass edited his own paper “The North Star,” in the City of Rochester, where his mortal remains now peacefully rest. His paper was noted for its high class matter—and it had the effect of raising the plane of journalism thereafter. About this time Samuel Ringold Ward of the “Impartial Citizen,” published in Syracuse, N. Y., “forged to the front,” winning in after years from Mr. Douglass a most flattering tribute. “Samuel Ringold Ward,” the sage of Anacostia once said to the writer, “was one of the smartest men I ever knew if not the smartest.”

  The prevailing sentiment at that time was sympathy for the ambitious Negro. At a most opportune time, “The Anglo African,” the finest effort in the way of a newspaper made by the race up to that time, was established in January of 1859 in New York City, with Thomas Hamilton as editor and proprietor. The columns were opened to the most experienced writers of the day. Martin R. Delany contributed many important papers on astronomy, among which was one on “Comets,” another on “The Attraction of the Planets.” George B. Vashon wrote “The Successive Advances of Astronomy,” James McCune Smith wrote his comments “On the Fourteenth Query of Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Virginia” and his “German Invasion”—every number contained gems that to-day are beyond price. In these pages also appeared “Afric-American Picture Gallery,” by “Ethiope”—Wm. J. Wilson; Robert Gordon’s “Personality of the First Cause”; Dr. Pennington on “The Self-Redeeming Power of the Colored Races of the World”; Dr. Blyden on “The Slave Traffic”; and on the current questions of the day, such brave minds as Frederick Douglass, William C. Nell, John Mercer Langston, Theodore Holly, J. Sella Martin, Frances Ellen Watkins, Jane Rustic, Sarah M. Douglass, and Grace A. Mapps! What a galaxy! The result was a genuine race newspaper, one that had the courage to eliminate everything of personal interest, and battle for the rights of the whole people, and while its history, like many other laudable enterprises, may be little known beyond the journalistic fraternity, to such men as Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison, the paper and staff were well known and appreciated. In those days, the Negro in literature was looked upon as a prodigy; he was encouraged in many ways by white people particularly, as he was useful in serving the cause of philanthropic agitators for the liberation of the slave. The earnest, upright character and thoughtful minds of the early pioneers acted as a standing argument in favor of the cause for which the abolitionists were then bending every nerve when the slave was liberated and the Civil War brought to a close. The spirit of Mr. Lincoln’s interview with a committee of colored citizens of the District of Columbia, in August, 1862, as told by William Wells Brown, in which Mr. Lincoln said, “But for your people among us, there would be no war,” reacted upon the public, and from that time until the present, a vigorous system of oppression, under the name of natural prejudice, has succeeded immeasurably in retarding our progress.

  As a matter of history, we have nothing to compare with the weekly publications of 25 or 30 years ago. The unequal contest waged between Negro journals and their white contemporaries is lost sight of by the people, as only those connected with various publications are aware of the condition and difficulties surrounding the managements of such journals.

  Our struggling journalists not only find themselves on the losing side, but as if to add to their thankless labor, they often times receive the contemptuous regard of the people who should enthusiastically rally to their support. The journalist is spurred with the common sense idea that every enterprise undertaken and carried on by members of the race is making a point in history for that entire race, and the historians of the future will not stop to consider our discontented and sentimental whys and wherefores, when they critically examine our race enterprises; but they will simply record their estimate of what the men and women journalists of to-day not only represented, but actually accomplished.

  It is so often claimed that colored newspapers do not amount to anything. People even who boast of superior attainments, voice such sentiments with the most ill-placed indifference; the most discreditable phase of race disloyalty imaginable—one that future historians will have no alternative but to censure.

  If our newspapers and magazines do not amount to anything, it is because our people do not demand anything of better quality from their own. It is because they strain their purses supporting those white papers that are and always will be independent of any income derived from us. Our contributions to such journals are spasmodic and uncertain, like fluctuating stocks, and are but an excess of surplus. It is hard for the bulk of our people to see this; it is even hard to prove to them that in supporting such journals, published by the dominant class, we often pay for what are not only vehicles of insult to our manhood and womanhood, but we assist in propagating or supporting false impressions of ourselves or our less fortunate brothers.

  Our journalistic leader is unquestionably T. Thomas Fortune, Editor of “The New York Age,” and a regular contributor of signed articles to the “New York Sun,” one of the oldest and ablest daily newspapers in the United States, noted on two continents for its rare excellence.

  For many years Mr. Fortune has given his best efforts to the cause of race advancement, and the splendid opportunities now opening to him on the great journals of the day, attest the esteem in which he is held by men who create public opinion in this country.

  If John E. Bruce, “Bruce-Grit,” “John Mitchell, Jr.” W. H. A. Moore, Augustus M. Hodge “B Square,” were members of any other race, they would be famous the country over. Joe Howard or “Bill Nye” have in reality done no more for their respective clientage than these bright minds and corresponding wits have done for theirs.

  T. T. Fortune of “The Age,” Ida Wells-Barnett of the “Free Speech,” and John Mitchell of the “Richmond Planet,” have made a nobler fight than the brilliant Parnell in his championship of Ireland’s cause, for the reason that the people for whom he battled, better knew and utilized more the strength obtained only by systematic organization, not so is the case with the constituents of the distinguished journalists I have mentioned.

  Depressing as this fact is, it should not deter those who know that Race Literature should be cultivated for the sake of the formation of habits. First efforts are always crude, each succeeding one becomes better or should be so. Each generation by the law of heredity re
ceives the impulse or impression for good or ill from its predecessors, and since this is the law, we must begin to form habits of observation and commence to build a plan for posterity by synthesis, analysis, ourselves aiming and striving after the highest, whether we attain it or not. Such are the attempts of our journalists of to-day, and they shall reap if they faint not.

  Race Literature does not mean things uttered in praise, thoughtless praise of ourselves, wherein each goose thinks her gosling a swan. We have had too much of this, too much that is crude, rude, pompous, and literary nothings, which ought to have been strangled before they were written much less printed; and this does not only apply to us; for it is safe to say that, only an infinitesimal percentage of the so-called literature filling the book shelves to-day, will survive a half century.

  In the words of a distinguished critic, “It is simply amazing’ how little of all that is written and printed in these days that makes for literature; how small a part is permanent, how much purely ephemeral, famous to-day on account of judicious advertising, forgotten to-morrow. We should clear away the under-brush of self-deception which makes the novice think because sentences are strung together and ordinary ideas evolved, dilated upon and printed, that such trash is literature.” If this is claimed for the more favored class, it should have a tendency with us to encourage our work, even though the results do not appear at once.

  It should serve the student by guarding him against the fulsome praise of “great men,” “great writers,” “great lawyers,” “great ministers,” who in reality have never done one really great or meritorious thing.

  Rather should the student contemplate the success of such as Prof. Du Bois who won the traveling fellowship at Harvard on metaphysical studies, and has just received his Ph. D., at the last commencement, on account of his work. For such facts demonstrate that it is the character of the work we do, rather than the quantity of it, which counts for real Race Literature.

  Race Literature does mean though the preserving of all the records of a Race, and thus cherishing the materials saving from destruction and obliteration what is good, helpful and stimulating. But for our Race Literature, how will future generations know of the pioneers in Literature, our statesmen, soldiers, divines, musicians, artists, lawyers, critics, and scholars? True culture in Race Literature will enable us to discriminate and not to write hasty thoughts and unjust and ungenerous criticism often of our superiors in knowledge and judgment.

  And now comes the question, What part shall we women play in the Race Literature of the future? I shall best answer that question by calling your attention to the glorious part which they have already performed in the columns of the “Woman’s Era,” edited by Josephine St. P. Ruffin.

  Here within the compass of one small journal we have struck out a new line of departure—a journal, a record of Race interests gathered from all parts of the United States, carefully selected, moistened, winnowed and garnered by the ablest intellects of educated colored women, shrinking at no lofty theme, shirking no serious duty, aiming at every possible excellence, and determined to do their part in the future uplifting of the race.

  If twenty women, by their concentrated efforts in one literary movement, can meet with such success as has engendered, planned out, and so successfully consummated this convention, what much more glorious results, what wider spread success, what grander diffusion of mental light will not come forth at the bidding of the enlarged hosts of women writers, already called into being by the stimulus of your efforts?

  And here let me speak one word for my journalistic sisters who have already entered the broad arena of journalism. Before the “Woman’s Era” had come into existence, no one except themselves can appreciate the bitter experience and sore disappointments under which they have at all times been compelled to pursue their chosen vocations.

  If their brothers of the press have had their difficulties to contend with, I am here as a sister journalist to state, from the fullness of knowledge, that their task has been an easy one compared with that of the colored woman in journalism.

  Woman’s part in Race Literature, as in Race building, is the most important part and has been so in all ages. It is for her to receive impressions and transmit them. All through the most remote epochs she has done her share in literature. When not an active singer like Sappho, she has been the means of producing poets, statesmen, and historians, understandingly as Napoleon’s mother worked on Homeric tapestry while bearing the future conqueror of the world.

  When living up to her highest development, woman has done much to make lasting history, by her stimulating influence and there can be no greater responsibility than that, and this is the highest privilege granted to her by the Creator of the Universe.

  Such are some brief outlines of the vast problem of Race Literature. Never was the outlook for Race Literature brighter. Questions of vast importance to succeeding generations on all lines are now looming up to be dissected and elucidated.

  Among the students of the occult, certain powers are said to be fully developed innately in certain types of the Negro, powers that when understood and properly directed will rival if not transcend those of Du Maurier’s Svengali.

  The medical world recognizes this especially when investigating the science of neurology,—by the merest chance it was discovered that certain types of our nurses—male and female—possessed invaluable qualities for quieting and controlling patients afflicted with the self-destructive mania. This should lead our physicians to explore and investigate so promising a field.

  American artists find it easy to carricature the Negro, but find themselves baffled when striving to depict the highest characteristics of a Sojourner Truth. If he lacks the required temperament, there is thus offered a field for the race-loving Negro artist to compete with his elder brother in art, and succeed where the other has failed.

  American and even European historians have often proved themselves much enchained by narrow local prejudice, hence there is a field for the unbiased historian of this closing century.

  The advance made during the last fifteen or twenty years in mechanical science is of the most encouraging nature possible for our own ever-increasing class of scientific students.

  The scholars of the race, linguists and masters of the dead languages have a wide field before them, which when fully explored, will be of incalculable interest to the whole people—I mean particularly the translators of the writings of the ancient world, on all that pertains to the exact estimate in which our African ancestors were held by contemporaries. This will be of interest to all classes, and especially to our own.

  Until our scholars shall apply themselves to these greatly neglected fields, we must accept the perverted and indifferent translations of those prejudiced against us.

  Dr. Le Plongeon, an eminent explorer and archeologist, in his Central American studies, has made startling discoveries, which, if he succeeds in proving, will mean that the cradle of man’s primitive condition is situated in Yucatan, and the primitive race was the ancestor of the Negro.

  The “Review of Reviews,” of July has this to say: “That such a tradition should have been handed down to the modern Negro is not so improbable in view of the fact that the inhabitants of Africa appear certainly to have had communication with the people of the Western world up to the destruction of the Island of Atlanta, concerning which events Dr. Le Plongeon has much to tell us.”

  Think of it! What a scope for our scholars not only in archeology, but in everything that goes to make up literature!

  Another avenue of research that commands dignified attention is the possibility that Negroes were among those who embarked with Columbus. Prominent educators are giving serious attention to this. Prof. Wright, of Georgia, lately sailed to England with the express purpose of investigating the subject, during his vacation, in some of the famous old libraries of Europe.

  The lesson to be drawn
from this cursory glance at what I may call the past, present and future of our Race Literature apart from its value as first beginnings, not only to us as a people but literature in general, is that unless earnest and systematic effort be made to procure and preserve for transmission to our successors, the records, books and various publications already produced by us, not only will the sturdy pioneers who paved the way and laid the foundation for our Race Literature, be robbed of their just due, but an irretrievable wrong will be inflicted upon the generations that shall come after us.

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  GERTRUDE BUSTILL MOSSELL

  (1855–1948)

  Gertrude Bustill Mossell was born in Philadelphia in 1855 to a prominent free black family; her great grandfather served as a baker for George Washington during the Revolution; her sister, Maria Louisa Bustill, was the mother of Paul Robeson. Henry McNeal Turner, editor of the Christian Recorder, recognized Gertrude’s literary gifts and invited her to contribute poems and essays. While working as a teacher, she wrote for several black newspapers in Philadelphia and New York. After marrying the physician Nathaniel F. Mossell in 1883, she pursued political activism and journalism, becoming the women’s editor for the New York Age and the Indianapolis World and encouraging women to become writers and play an active role in politics. Her niece, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, earned her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1921, becoming the first African American to obtain a PhD in Economics in the United States, the first African American woman to receive a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Law School, and the first African American woman to be admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar.