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The North Star

Frederick Douglass · 1847

The anti-slavery newspaper Douglass founded and edited in Rochester starting in 1847, declaring his independence as an abolitionist voice.

Douglass founded, edited, and wrote for this newspaper, making it central to his career as an independent abolitionist voice.

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Front page of The North Star newspaper, Rochester, N.Y., Friday, June 2, 1848, Vol. I, No. 29. Masthead reads 'The North Star' in large letters, with Frederick Douglass and N.P. Dellany named as editors. Dense columns of small printed text fill the page, with a handwritten signature in the upper right corner.
Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany (editors), The North Star, first published 3 December 1847. Rochester, New York.

About this source

What it is

The North Star was a weekly anti-slavery newspaper published in Rochester, New York, by Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany, beginning December 3, 1847. Its motto was 'Right is of no Sex—Truth is of no Color—God is the Father of us all, and we are all Brethren.'

Why it matters

Douglass started the paper after returning from Britain and Ireland, using money raised by supporters to buy a printing press. The paper marked his break from relying solely on William Lloyd Garrison's movement and let him write independently on slavery, politics, and culture. Its motto also signaled support for women's rights, connecting to Douglass's broader reform work. The paper later merged to become Frederick Douglass' Paper.

Look closer

  • Why might owning his own newspaper have mattered to Douglass's independence as a thinker?
  • What does the motto tell you about the paper's goals beyond just ending slavery?
  • What topics did Douglass choose to cover, and what does that reveal about his interests?

This newspaper article is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Frederick Douglass on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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