Freedom’s Journal Letter to the Editor
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Freedom’s Journal—with its masthead slogan “Righteousness Exalteth a Nation,”—was the first Black-owned and operated weekly newspaper in the United States. The paper served not only as a forum for the abolitionist sentiments of educated African Americans but also as an official sounding board for the average African American whose views heretofore had seldom been published. The August 10, 1827, issue of the paper carried the letter transcribed below, in which an anonymous author, “Matilda,” made a plea for female education. It is noteworthy not only as one of the earliest written entreaties for women’s rights made by a Black woman, but also because it was written when pioneering education reformers Emma Hart Willard and Catharine Beecher were just beginning their crusades for the educational rights of white women. They, like Matilda, advocated for women’s education to enhance their abilities as both teachers and mothers.
Freedom’s Journal, New York, Friday, August 10, 1827. Vol. I, No. 22.
Messrs. Editors,
Will you allow a female to offer a few remarks upon a subject that you must allow to be all-important? I don’t know that in any of your papers you have said sufficient upon the education of females. I hope you are not to be classed with those who think that our mathematical knowledge should be limited to “fathoming the dish-kettle,” and that we have acquired enough of history if we know that our grandfather’s father lived and died. ’Tis true the time has been, when to darn a stocking, and cook a pudding well, was considered the end and aim of a woman’s being. But those were days when ignorance blinded mens’ eyes. The diffusion of knowledge has destroyed those degrading opinions, and men of the present age allow that we have minds that are capable and deserving of culture.
The Wisconsin Historical Society has digitized its holdings of Freedom’s Journal (1827–29). Matilda’s letter can be read in vol. 1, no. 22.
There are difficulties, and great difficulties, in the way of our advancement; but that should only stir us to greater efforts. We possess not the advantages with those of our sex whose skins are not colored like our own, but we can improve what little we have and make our one talent produce two-fold. The influence that we have over the male sex demands, that our minds should be instructed and improved with the principles of education and religion, in order that this influence should be properly directed. Ignorant ourselves, how can we be expected to form the minds of our youth, and conduct them in the paths of knowledge? How can we “teach the young idea how to shoot,” if we have none ourselves? There is a great responsibility resting somewhere, and it is time for us to be up and doing.
I would address myself to all mothers, and say to them, that while it is necessary to possess a knowledge of cookery, and the various mysteries of pudding-making, something more is requisite. It is their bounden duty to store their daughters’ minds with useful learning.
They should be made to devote their leisure time to reading books, whence they would derive valuable information, which could never be taken from them.
I will not longer trespass on your time and patience. I merely throw out those hints, in order that some more able pen will take up the subject.
MATILDA.