Outsiders in 19th-Century Press History: Multicultural Perspectives

"A fascinating commentary on the ability of ostracized segments of society to speak for themselves in spite of public ridicule and prejudice."—Maurine H. Beasley, University of Maryland

This anthology of journalism history brings together essays on the early Black press, pioneer Jewish journalism, Spanish-language newspapers, Native American newspapers, woman suffrage, peace advocacy, and Chinese American and Mormon publications. It shows how marginal groups developed their own journalism to counter the prejudices and misconceptions of the white establishment press. The essays address the important questions of freedom of expression in religious matters as well as the domains of race and gender.

This anthology is one of a kind. It brings together articles dealing with the early black press, pioneer Jewish journalism, Spanish-language newspapers, Native American newspapers, woman suffrage publications, and peace advocacy periodicals. Two additional articles deal with the portrayal of marginal groups in mainstream publications - Chinese Americans and Mormons. This work offers an unparalleled look at the way marginal groups developed their own journalism to counter the prejudices and misconceptions of the white establishment press. The editors have performed a service to journalism/mass communication education by collecting material that addresses questions of freedom of expression in religious matters as well as the domains of race and gender. Revisionist ideas advanced here include the concept of the African-American press upholding democratic idealism in a period when most black inhabitants in the United States were in slavery; the need for scholars of women's experience to look at the idea of privilege as one way to place suffrage newspapers within the broad concept of American culture; the realization that the peace advocacy press attempted to reach an audience by being interesting and entertaining as well as serious. Each selection treats a facet of journalism history that has been ignored up to now. Taken as a whole, the book provides a fascinating commentary on the ability of ostracized segments of society to speak for themselves in spite of public ridicule and prejudice.

Frankie Hutton is the author of The Early Black Press in America, 1827–1860. Barbara Straus Reed is associate professor of journalism and mass media at Rutgers University.