The North Star, first published on December 3, 1847, was a powerful antislavery newspaper founded by African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Funded by Douglass’s speaking tour in Britain and Ireland, the paper was based in Rochester, New York, a major center of abolitionist activity. Named after the celestial guide used by enslaved people seeking freedom, The North Star quickly became one of the most influential Black publications of the pre–Civil War era. Its motto, “Right is of no sex, Truth is of no color, God is the Father of us all, and we are brethren,” reflected Douglass’s strong commitment to both racial and gender equality. With more than 4,000 subscribers across the United States, Europe, and the West Indies, the weekly four-page newspaper featured abolitionist news, editorials, letters from readers, poetry, and commentary on social injustice. Through its pages, Douglass forcefully exposed America’s moral contradictions and called for equal rights and education for all.
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