They also
intended to use the paper to clarify misconceptions about
Africa. Like many of their contemporaries, Cornish and Russwurm
believed that even those who were friendly to their race were
unconsciously steeped in prejudice. Therefore, it was doubly
necessary for Afro-Americans to speak out for themselves, to
expose the prejudices of bigots and liberals. However, by 1829
Russwurm had become increasingly bitter about the future of his
race in America and came to believe that returning to Africa was
the only way to escape prejudice. He believed that the colony
which had been established in Liberia was in need of educated
leadership, and he went there to become its superintendent of
education. Cornish remained behind and continued to work as a
minister and as a newspaper editor.
The "North Star", later known as Frederick Douglass's paper, was
the best known of the black journals. Its editor, Frederick
Douglass, was born a slave in Maryland in 1817. His mother was a
slave named Harriet Bailey, and the identity of his white father
remains unknown. He was raised by his maternal grandmother on a
distant farm and almost never saw his mother.
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