By: Aisha Robinson
August arked an important moment in Texas history with the publication of the third issue of The Free Man’s Press, an Austin newspaper regarded as the first known African American newspaper in Texas. Published during Reconstruction, the paper emerged at a time when formerly enslaved Texans were seeking political representation, education, economic independence and greater control over their communities. The weekly publication provided a platform for issues affecting Black Texans while also covering local, state and national news.
The newspaper was published by the Free Man’s Press Publishing Company in Austin. Its pages were devoted largely to politics, particularly Republican politics during Reconstruction, but the publication also addressed education, religion, agriculture and economic opportunities. The newspaper’s stated purpose was to provide freed people with information that could help them navigate the major political and social changes taking place after the Civil War.
The August 1 edition also highlighted the importance of Black participation in the newspaper industry itself. One article called attention to the fact that portions of the paper had been “Set By Black Hands,” emphasizing that Black workers were contributing directly to the production of the publication. The paper argued against racial prejudice in skilled trades and used Black labor in printing as an example of the capabilities and contributions of African Americans during Reconstruction.
The Free Man’s Press had a brief run, publishing from July through October 1868, but its historical importance far outlasted its short existence. Its pages provide a firsthand window into the aspirations, political concerns and economic priorities of Black Texans shortly after emancipation. The August 1, 1868, front page therefore represents more than an old newspaper—it stands as an early foundation of Black journalism in Texas and an example of how the press became a tool for education, advocacy and community empowerment.
The Free Man’s Press was deeply rooted in Austin, Texas, where it was established during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. The August 1, 1868 edition was published by the Free Man’s Press Publishing Company in Austin and represented an important effort to provide newly freed African Americans with information relevant to their changing lives. The paper covered local, state and national news while giving particular attention to politics, education, agriculture and economic independence.
