African Observer facts for kids
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Front cover of an 1828 edition of the American abolitionist newspaper, "The African Observer".
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| Type | Journal |
|---|---|
| Format | Magazine |
| Owner(s) | Enoch Lewis |
| Publisher | Ashmead Printer |
| Founded | April 1827 |
| Language | English |
| Ceased publication | 1828 |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| OCLC number | 1461401 |
The African Observer was a monthly magazine published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It came out between 1827 and 1828. The magazine was started and edited by Enoch Lewis. He was a Quaker teacher and mathematician.
This publication was abolitionist. This means it was against slavery and worked to end it. Its full title was "Illustrative of the General Character, and Moral and Political Effects of Negro Slavery."
Enoch Lewis's son, Joseph J. Lewis, said his father worked on the magazine out of love. It was not mainly for money. His father believed that slavery was a very important issue. He knew it would shape the future of the nation.
Contents
The Story of The African Observer
Starting the Magazine
In the mid-1820s, Enoch Lewis was asked to create a new anti-slavery magazine. The Pennsylvania Free Produce Society chose him for this important job.
Lewis was picked because of his past actions. In 1803, he helped a runaway enslaved man gain freedom. He bought the man's freedom himself. He also invited a formerly enslaved person to speak to his math class. This speaker shared what life was truly like for enslaved people.
Why It Was a "Labor of Love"
Joseph J. Lewis, Enoch's son, later spoke about his father's work. He called it "a labor of love." His father's pay was not enough to live on. But Enoch Lewis felt strongly about the issue of slavery.
He saw that the country's future would be shaped by how it dealt with slavery. He wanted to discuss the topic calmly and logically. He hoped to show people that slavery was wrong and wasteful. He wanted to convince people to end it peacefully.
Why the Magazine Ended
After eleven months, Enoch Lewis had to stop publishing The African Observer. The magazine did not have enough readers.
His son explained that the Quaker community, which might have supported the magazine, was having problems. There was a lot of disagreement within their church. A leader named Elias Hicks left the church. Many followers, called "Hicksites," left with him. This made it hard for the magazine to find enough people to buy it.
What Was Inside The African Observer
Fighting Slavery with Facts
The African Observer tried to reduce anger between the North and South. It aimed to show the bad effects of slavery on everyone involved. It also suggested ways to end slavery peacefully.
The magazine included essays and important documents. These pieces aimed to show white readers the terrible wrongs of slavery. It also shared the early history of the African slave trade. This showed how enslaved people were brought from Africa to the Americas.
Stories of Kidnapping
The publication also shared true stories of free people being kidnapped. These people were then sold into slavery. One example was Cornelius Sinclair. He and others were taken from the Philadelphia area in 1825. They were victims of a group known as the Cannon-Johnson gang. Most of these kidnapped people were later helped to return to freedom in Philadelphia in 1826.
Images for kids
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The African Observer's editor, Enoch Lewis.
See also
In Spanish: African Observer para niños
