John B. Russwurm was an important African American journalist and educator in the 19th century. Born in 1799 in Jamaica, he moved to the United States, where he became one of the first African Americans to graduate from a college, earning his degree from Bowdoin College in 1826. He was a strong advocate for the rights of African Americans and worked to promote education and social justice. In 1827, Russwurm co-founded the newspaper Freedom's Journal, which was the first African American-owned and operated newspaper in the United States. Through this publication, he addressed issues affecting the African American community and fought against slavery and discrimination. His work laid the groundwork for future African American journalism and activism.