Negro Journalism

It is now twenty-three vears, writes a colorcd journalist to Tüe New York Hun, slnce the issue of the emancipationproclatnation, and daring the whole period of thal time the American negro has boen the cynosurc of observation and the paramount them ol discassion. He bas been depicted as having been transformad from the beasl into the human, md has been creilited with just enough mental capacity tu mako him one clegree below the white man. He has beeö pictnred in every walk of lïfe, fromtho hnrable plowman to the proud and enviable statesman; bnt there is one fieldin which they toil that tlio muse of history failctl to explore, and that i.s the humblo and ye( mosl congenial field of journalism. In Uiis atmosphero the negro moves with a calin serenity surprising to himself. 1 hare ' been protnpted to write this chaptoi on negro journalism by an irresistible desire t( give a faithful picture of the practical ïybrking8 of these wonderful publications. My experience of fifteen yéars ás a journalist gave me ampie opportuniu- oí studying ím various phases of journalism, and, being.a memoer of the African race mj-self, 1 am thoroughIy acquainted with the peculiar characteristic traits of mybrethren. :-. ni-!-., w ilih Mttla iatolIigenoB imagines h; eau run a newspaper, and a great many with a hundred dollars and no intelligence flatter them selves with the same idea, and, in consequence, go into i peil mell, without ever connting the cost, witli c-rnni, cv. y, n t . j - - - ■ ■ ■■ - uuuiui t-iiu. rn "smoke." Thcre aro to-day in the United States 150 newspapers and magazines publishrd bv men of color. The newspapera are ssued weekly :ind the magizines quarterly. These aro regarded as the pioneers of the African race. Unfortunatelj, therê are lmi iwo magazines, viz., the .1. M. E. Church Review andt'he Alumni Magazine, which aro pnblished in Philadelphia. Of the batch of weeklies The New Enterprise and The New York Freeman tako the load. The Enterprise is regarded as the perfection of negro journals, and the high authority on soóial and political aftairs, lts editor, Mr. J. A. Arne:uix, ayonng man of 30 years is a gradúate of th Paris instituto, and is a very scholarly writer. The Enterprise takea the lead, also in circulation, which is repiited to be over 9,000 copies per week. This circulation is tvrice the amount of any weekly in the United States publishcd by colorcd men. The Netv York Freeman comes ne.tt; its circulation is estimated at 4,000 copies per week. The Freeman is the political organ of the colorcd race, and is regarded as the terror to southern Bourbons. Mr. T. Thomas Fortune, its editor, is :m cx-student of tho lloward iiniversily. These Wo iouTnals enjoy the proud distinction of being the only ones published by coloree! men who have n nationa] reputatioa. They are known frotq Maine to Cabfornia. The Enterprise and Freeman cost nbout $100 per week each to run tliein. Each has upon its staff aboiit iifly writers; these are scattered in variouti paita of the United States, l'hcv i)o mt receive any direct recompense for their services: they are compelled to send rotices of the happenings in the variouï towns to the editor, and lic prepares the letters for pablication. These poopfe act both in the eapacity of correspvmdeuta and agonts; they are compelled ?.s-j to dispuse oí so manv copies of the paper, of which they rcoeiVe a percentage. About i'our city reporters are identlücd with eaoh paper. They are cii :is stucients anti iio not recciYejeils pay; m tact, they üóö t want my ]:r. the honor of the thirtgis pay enough fov them. Only a smíifj portion of their time is rrrjuind. bicause tliey do Qöl Vriic np tlu'ir articles; they ave only required to tnke note) and bring them lo the editor, who writea them u] in praper shape. Amajority of the colored reporters aré yonng graduates who earn their ltvinjr as stenojjfaphers, clorka and copyists. They are a gay sé( of young men, and ftre very foncl of pleasnre. To 1 e a repórter upo a oolored jouriial i to i'cc. -r.c innu ! - an'j iv makf'up a -■ "Bnt the ctlitor is the only pereoi) who devotes his time solely to the business. Ho acts in the capacity of editor, manager, publishêr, and sometimes advèrtising agent. The other members of the íh-inTiri' enijiloyeil in stores and private families. There we live eompositors- all oolored who receive about $15 a week. There is also one proof reader, whose business set tvpe, vead proof, keep books and attend to the business eorrespondence by direetion of the editor. Wipin the last twenty years no íess than six negro journalfl have uil. cl. The real causé oí failurc is dne to mismanáffement and jeaïoiisy on the part of Trious membersof lic ftrm. Wheuiver a paper is eommended the editor invariably thepraise; he associates not bt'iiiï thorougnly acquaintBitl with the custoiii, become jealois and nttempt to uáurp his power, by interfering with liis règuJarly-htid plans, thatpéople may tüink they have a hand in rt also. This trenerally lenda to dissatisfactioii on the Hart of the editor, who jnstly claims liis right to shape the course of the paper. This dissatisfaetlonln many causes him to withdraw his service, which swamps the paper. One of thechief barriera to the sikof negro journftla is, every man who happens to hold a dollar'fl worth of stock in the concern imaginea himself a wri'. i-, and proceedsto write sometlijng Ihat would jilease his fane.v. and insista apon its appearance jusl asit is written; to this the editor objeets, ar.d there is a general kick np, so to Speak. 'l'hei-e are ihirty tnousand colored people in N w York, and from my pei'sonai experienee l am led to b lieve that a niajority oí these at least would subscribe to the colored journals if thej eould bè inaÖe toféel that they om safe.