The Palladium of Liberty
The Palladium of Liberty
The Palladium of Liberty is the first newspaper, published by Black Ohioans to promote African American civil rights and to unite their communities in Ohio before the Civil War. David Jenkins and other Black community leaders lunched the newspaper with its first issue on December 27, 1843. They published weekly in total 32 issues until financial deficiency forced the editors to cease its publication with the last issue on November 13, 1844. Its motto is “Devoted to the Interests of the Colored People Generally.” The newspaper was widely circulated in the state of Ohio, especially large Black communities in urban areas, as the long lists of agents and subscribers demonstrates. Most of the prints remain well preserved in the Ohio History Connection, and they are available online through the African American Collection at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
The Palladium of Liberty is the first newspaper, published by Black Ohioans to promote African American civil rights and to unite their communities in Ohio before the Civil War. David Jenkins and other Black community leaders lunched the newspaper with its first issue on December 27, 1843. They published weekly in total 32 issues until financial deficiency forced the editors to cease its publication with the last issue on November 13, 1844. Its motto is “Devoted to the Interests of the Colored People Generally.” The newspaper was widely circulated in the state of Ohio, especially large Black communities in urban areas, as the long lists of agents and subscribers demonstrates. Most of the prints remain well preserved in the Ohio History Connection, and they are available online through the African American Collection at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
