The first African American owned and operated newspaper in America. It was founded by Rev. John Wilk and other free Black men in New York City. At that time, New York City had the largest free educated Black population of any northern city. The paper's mission statement annouced that it would operate outside the control of "whites." The newspaper's objective, like many African American newspaper to come, was to promote Blacks' full realization of equality in American life. The intent of the newspaper was to provide a program of self-help and reform within the ranks of the free black population. Freedom's Journal was published weekly.