The Lunar Visitor Publishing Company History
Established 1852 San Francisco, California
The Lunar Visitor was first published in 1852 in San Francisco, California by a formerly enslaved preacher, John Jamison (J.J.) Moore of the AME Zion Denomination- church home of Harriet Tubman, the Paul Robeson Family, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and other abolitionists. J.J. Moore found the first AME Zion Churches west of the Mississippi river.
Rev. Moore was the founder and editor of the newspaper. It promoted civil rights and advocated developing institutions for educational, social and political skills useful in working toward a full participation in American Society. When Bishop Moor published the Lunar Visitor in San Francisco in the 1850s, he gave it the mission statement: “To be devoted to the moral, intellectual, and social improvement of the negro race”.
In the year 2019, the Lunar Visitor periodical became a "news outlet of public record" authorized by an ecclesiastical government to publish public and legal notices. It can be found at www.thelunarvisitor.com/public-record.
In the future, the Lunar Visitor Publishing Company has the vision and thirty year goal to become a multi-billion dollar communications, media, and broadcasting company by producing content of value that is in accord our mission statement.
The 2019 Special Edition and relaunching of the periodical, bears witness to the eight generation dynasty of Moore's, that continued in the clerical tradition after their forefather. When Bishop Moor published the Lunar Visitor in San Francisco in the 1850s, he gave it the mission statement: “To be devoted to the Moral, Intellectual, and Social Improvement of the Colored Race”, Today we just say "the race".
It is through this mission that continue the work of the Lunar Visitor. Your support of this Digital Publication will help us in the work of rebuilding our family business and rededicating ourselves to the Moral, Intellectual, and Social Improvement of the race!
The Lunar Visitor Publishing Company is majority owned by The Zion Church of the Evangelical Association, which is an interfaith family Temple founded on November 12th, 1875 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and was ordained by Bishop John Jamison Moore. The family temple led by clergy and descendants of Bishop Moore. It is headquartered at 2426 Jerome Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, and it is tasked with the duty of ministering to Orphans and Widows.
The Temple government is led by a Premier (a Prime Minister) and 12 Department heads. The Zion Church of the Evangelical Association is also known as the Kingdom of Shabazz and the Zionst Temple of 1875 for Orphans and Widows.
The Publisher
Executive Chairman/ Publisher
H.A. Jabar OdoKhan EL is the second editor and publisher of the Lunar Visitor Publishing Company. He is a graduate of Arizona State University, a Certified Paralegal, an author of three books & creator of the 'Culturally Relevant Curriculum Toolkit', an Ordained Minister, a Research Analyst, Special Advisor, & Custodian of the Moor Zion Family Library.
Member of A Moorish American Clerical Family
For over eight generations our family has served as clergy in the church and or Temple. Our inheritance is our history as publishers and preachers. We have preached the good news, taught sabbath and Sunday school, played in the Choir, administered the temple, founded and led churches, and other Clergy works. Publishing the Lunar Visitor is a part of our inheritance as a Priesthood.
The Future for the Lunar Visitor
Help Wanted: Freelance Writers, Bloggers, Vloggers, aspiring Journalist
It is our to desire to work with students, especially HBCU students, and others that are interested in journalism, publishing, writing, advertising, marketing, business administration, and the like to develop this periodical into an internationally recognized publication.
Some sections we hope to publish in the future:
- General News – This is usually the most important news in both local and abroad. These are usually found on the front page of the paper. The title of the news is printed in big, bold letters called “banner headline”
- Local and Foreign News Section – Contains news from towns and cities of the nation and abroad.
- Editorial Page – This section contains articles called editorials. Editorials give views or opinions of the editor or publisher on certain issues or events.
- Classified Ads Section – Contains advertisements that fall under the categories like “Help”, “Wanted”, “For Lease / For Sale”, and “Wanted To Buy”.
- Business and Finance Section – Contains businessmen and people interested in business including information on stocks, bonds, exchange markets, banking. foreign exchange rates, imports and exports, and prices of prime commodities.
- Culture and History Section – Provides info about the history, heritage, and culture of African, Asiatic, and Moorish peoples.
- Society Page – Contains news about important people who are celebrating special events in a particular place
- Travel and Tourism Section – Contains a guide to travel and directs tourists to a scenic vacation spots and gives information on the activities in these places.
- Science and Technology - shares the latest trends in modern and contemporary world of
technology
- Religion & Spirituality- news and columns involving all things religion and spirit
- Announcements and Obituary Page – Provides info on the activities of different religious sections and also lists people who recently died and the time and place of their burials.
The Lunar Visitor is eager to work with college aged (and up) students, and freelance writers that are looking to build their portfolio of published articles. If you are looking for an opportunity to showcase your writing and journalistic skills with an established news outlet email MoorZionTP@gmail.com for more information, and put "Lunar Visitor Staff Writer" in the subject line!
