On this day (Dec. 3) in 1847, Frederick Douglass launched his own newspaper, “The North Star,” after years of reading and being inspired by William Lloyd Garrison’s “The Liberator.”

Renowned for its bold stance against slavery, the paper amplified Douglass’s voice as a leading abolitionist, building on his influential 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, which had galvanized the abolition movement.

Relocating to Rochester, New York, Douglass published the first edition, declaring, “Justice must be done, the truth must be told … I will not be silent.” A tireless advocate for equality across race, gender, and nationality, Douglass used the paper to champion justice and freedom.

“The North Star” was published until 1851, when it merged with the Liberty Party Paper to become Frederick Douglass’ Paper.

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