SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 500
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
join The Houston Sun in observing the 184th anniversary of the
African American press in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The first African American newspaper in the
United States was the result of the partnership of Samuel Eli
Cornish and John Brown Russwurm; Mr. Cornish was born in Delaware
in 1795 and became a Presbyterian minister; Mr. Russwurm was born
in Jamaica in 1799, earned a college degree, and became a
journalist and editor; the two men became coeditors of Freedom's
Journal, which they launched in New York on March 16, 1827; and
WHEREAS, The first newspaper in the United States to be
owned and operated by African Americans, Freedom's Journal was
circulated throughout 11 states, as well as Canada, Europe, and
Haiti; the paper featured important occurrences in the black
community and provided both local and international news
stories; and
WHEREAS, The Houston Sun is celebrating this milestone in
African American journalism, as well as its own 28th anniversary,
at a scholarship gala on March 26, 2011; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the founders of our nation's
African American press on the occasion of the 184th anniversary
of the establishment of Freedom's Journal and extend best wishes
to all associated with The Houston Sun for a festive and
successful scholarship gala; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to
commemorate the 184th anniversary of the African American press.
Ellis
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 14, 2011.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate