ANTI-SLAVERY PAPER THE PROVINCIAL FREEMAN IS FIRST PUBLISHED

For the run of the Provincial Freeman – first printed on this day in 1853 – the founder of the new paper was never listed on the masthead. Samuel Ringgold Ward, a celebrated speaker and escaped slave, was named as the editor, but it was Mary Ann Shadd who spearheaded the weekly – making her the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America. While she kept her role hidden so as not to deter readers who might disapprove of a woman-led publication, she was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and for women’s rights in other parts of her life. The Provincial Freeman – motto, “Self-reliance is the true road to independence” – encouraged African-American immigration to Canada and worked to strengthen the Black-Canadian community. Alongside local and international news reports, it promoted integration into the economy and political life, published job opportunities for newcomers, and provided a forum for readers to express their views. After launching in Windsor, Ont., and moving to Toronto, the publication ended up in Chatham, then part of Canada West. After many Black businesses closed in the area, its readership decreased significantly and it struggled financially, closing after a few years.