In 1847 Frederick Douglass & Dr. Martin Delany started The North Star as an abolitionist newspaper determined to speak truth to power. They were deeply frustrated with how poorly the mainstream media covered slavery – often refusing to even take a stand against it. Knowing that they needed their platform, so that they could offer their own passionate stands, the defied all odds and distributed the paper not just all over the United States, but all over the world.
172 years later, we remain frustrated by the mainstream media and how they cover injustices ranging from mass incarceration and police brutality to the forced detention of immigrant children and the public rise of white supremacy. The North Star will report on these issues and more with the passion, color, context, nuance, and expertise that they deserve.