“Freedom’s Journal (v.1: no.1),” Internet Archive, April 16, 1827,  Newspaper.

Founded in 1827 and operated for two years, Freedom’s Journal was the first African American newspaper circulated in the U.S. and based out of New York City, eventually reaching 11 states.¹ Moreover, as an entirely African American newspaper, news, and content featured within Freedom's Journal were generally suited for African Americans because it was created by African Americans to counter the outward racism in the general press.² Along with sections featured in the newspaper there was a subsection titled “Varieties” which included information outside of the realm of typical news coverage. Similar to commentary or an opinion section, stories from Varieties instead focused on broad subjects. Several articles focused on issues of domesticity, femininity and the home.

For example, in a piece, titled “Female Temper,” it portrayed the importance of notions of  temper for 19th century women. The unknown writer explains it as “particularly necessary for girls to acquire command of their temper,” illustrating what society, more specifically Black society, expects of women. The piece explicitly states how they should react in comparison to men. In the second paragraph, the article says, “A man in a furious passion, is terrible to his enemies; but a woman, in a passion, is disgusting to her friends; she loses all respect due to her sex, and she has not masculine strength and courage to enforce any other kind of respect.”³ Here, the stark difference between expectations and societal views of men and women was at the forefront of the article. The writer removed all validity from the female identity, portraying it instead as a lack of strength, to which the writer gendered” Happiness, instead, was attributed to being a wife and a mother, yet the main issue the article indicates, was the idea of temper, reiterated in the piece through the constant framing of women as difference –– both in their very existence but also in their attitude as well. Ultimately, from the angle of this, the attitude toward women and the female identity was structured upon the idea that women cannot speak up, silencing women of this time.

“Varieties: Female Temper,” Freedom’s Journal,  Internet Archive, April 20, 1827, p. 24. 

The second piece from“Varieties” deals with a sermon against “unchaste” women.⁴ This article reiterates the idea that women are supposed to be coy, meek, and not too improper. This type of article seemingly has no relevance to the others, illustrating how certain expectations of women are ingrained within society’s fabric. Its inclusion is misogynistic in a way, as the women, once again, have submitted to society’s expectations. Although a piece from “Varieties” like “Female Temper” was more explicit in its portrayal of women as lesser, this article shows that a coy, nurturing, and gentlewoman was preferred over an unchaste or seemingly improper one. 

“Varieties: Conscience,” Freedom’s Journal, Internet Archive, April 27, 1827, p. 28,  Newspaper.

In Freedom’s Journal, the article, “Husband’s Rights,” dealt with themes of domesticity through a trial regarding spousal abuse and subsequent acquittal. It provides an interesting perspective on marriage. Unlike some of the other excerpts from Freedom’s Journal, this article sides with the woman, as the aside says “He [the husband] should have been tarred and feathered.”⁵ However, the headline was still problematic. “Husband’s Rights” indicated that the case, and the subsequent news coverage and reporters, grappled with whether the husband had the right to abuse his wife, with absolutely no regard for the wife By doing so, it is clear that still, the man took priority in the news coverage, no matter if he was at fault. Ultimately, this inclusion of this news shows what society deems as important.

Russell, Chloe, The Complete Fortune Teller, and Dream Book, Boston Athenaeum. 1824, Book.