02/11/2026
BLACK HISTORY IN PUBLISHING - DAY 2
Early Black Printers & the Power of the Press
This month, I'm honoring the pioneers, printers publishers, and authors who shaped the legacy of Black book publishing.
Today, we recognize the early Black printers and publishers who understood that controlling the printing press meant controlling the narrative.
In 1827, Samuel Cornish and John B Russwurn co-founded Freedom's Journal, the first Black-owned and operated newspaper in the United States. Through printing and publishing, they created a platform where African Americans could tell their own stories rather than be spoken for by others.
In New York City, printer and bookseller David Ruggles opened one of the nation's first Black-owned bookstores on Lispenard Street in lower Manhattan in the 1830s. From this location, he printed and distributed pamphlets, newspapers, and abolitionist writings, using the printed word to advance education, freedom, and advocacy.
These early printers used ink and paper as instruments of liberation. Their presses were more than machines; they were vehicles for voice, truth, and self-determination.
As a publisher today, I am deeply aware that owning the means of publication has always been powerful. We continue that tradition by helping authors share their stories in their own voices.
Thank you, Missionary Jacki Hogans; your spark helped create this series.
