The ALIENED AMERICAN not only was Cleveland's first black newspaper, but apparently was also intended to be a regional voice. It was founded at the urging of the Ohio and Natl. Conventions of Colored Freemen from 1849-53. Three editors finally produced the paper's inaugural issue on 9 Apr. 1853, at a time when they claimed there were only 2 other black papers in publication in the entire country. WM. H. DAY, a graduate of Oberlin College, was the paper's actual editor-in-residence. He obtained the aid of corresponding editors Rev. Jas. W. C. Pennington of New York and Samuel Ringgold Ward, a former slave then living in Toronto. After the appearance of the initial issue, the Aliened American seems to have suspended publication for several weeks in order to assemble its subscription list. Thereafter, it published weekly until 1855, when Day moved to a black settlement in Buxton, Ontario. Renamed the People's Exposition, it continued as a monthly for another year.
Article Categories