Published by
Freedomways Associates, Inc., American, 1961 - 1985
Edited by
Clarke, John Henrik, American, 1915 - 1998
Kaiser, Ernest D., American, born 1916
O'Dell, Jack, American, 1923 - 2019
Jackson, Esther Cooper, American, born 1917
Devine, John
Written by
Rev. Jackson, Jesse, American, born 1941
Moore, Nancy L.
Banks, Rae
Young, Pauline Alice
Illustrated by
Joseph, Cliff, American, 1922 - 2020
Brandon, Brumsic Jr., American, 1927 - 2014
Fax, Elton Clay, American, 1909 - 1993
Subject of
Dunbar, Paul Laurence, American, 1872 - 1906
Brown, John, American, 1800 - 1859
Date
1972
Medium
ink on paper with metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 9 1/16 × 6 1/8 × 5/16 in. (23 × 15.5 × 0.8 cm)
Caption
Freedomways magazine ran for twenty-five years from 1961 to 1985. Released quarterly during that time, Freedomways was a leading African American theoretical, cultural, and political journal tackling major social and political issues, especially the Civil Rights Movement. The journal’s founders, led by editor Esther Jackson, included Louis Burnham, Edward Strong, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Shirley Graham Du Bois. Under Jackson’s direction, Freedomways became the leading radical Black left publication that gave a platform to veteran and newer writers, thinkers, activists, artists, and educators. The periodical ran their works and tackled issues of progressive politics, civil rights, colonialism, Pan-Africanism, prison and justice reform, education activism, art, literature, poetry, and urban decay.
Description
An issue of Freedomways magazine, Volume 12, Number 4, for Fourth Quarter 1972.
The front cover has a bright orange background with white type at the top that reads: [Freedomways / A QUARTERLY REVIEW OF THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT]. The cover features a black-and-white illustration by Cliff Joseph, depicting three people. A woman wearing earrings and a floral dress holds a plant in her proper right hand and looks into a microscope on her proper left. On the right side of the artwork, a man wearing a beaded animal tooth necklace and striped shirt reads a large book. African motifs of animals and face masks surround the reader. A baby is depicted in the left corner of the cover, playing with letter blocks which are artistically arranged to spell [BLACK STUDIES]. In the orange right sidebar of the cover, a list of articles featured in this issue reads: [Annual / Cartoons / by / Brumsic / Brandon, Jr. / Special / Section / on Paul / Laurence / Dunbar / Centennial / Book / Reviews / Poetry]. The bottom of the cover continues in listing the featured articles in black type that reads: [THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: A VICTORY FOR RACISM – The Editors / THE DILEMMA OF AFRO-AMERICAN EDUCATION – Nancy L. Moore / THREE CHALLENGES TO ORGANIZED LABOR – Jesse Jackson].
The interior pages, numbered 268 to 359, are white paper with black ink. The pages consist of articles, poetry, cartoons, book reviews, and advertisements.
The back of the magazine has an off-white background and features an advertisement for an illustrated poster by Oraston Brooks-El.
Place printed
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Weeksville, Brooklyn, New York City, Kings County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Books and Published Materials
Movement
American Indian Movements
Type
magazines (periodicals)
Topic
Activism
Black Press
Caricature and cartoons
Civil rights
Education
Labor
Literature
Poetry
Politics
Race discrimination
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Maurice Jackson
Object number
2021.20.12
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd556346f6f-8b2f-4d6d-8908-ffc78e574fe5

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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