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