Speaker or author: Stewart, Austin, fl. 1840
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given at the opening of the Albany Convention with emphasis placed on the political and civil rights of free people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 466 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Stewart, Austin, fl. 1840
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given during a convention held to adopt measures to ensure the franchisement of the free people of color in the free states. Attendees were encouraged to exercise their rights even if they didn't succeed in order to continue the struggle toward total political and social freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 791 word document (text and images)
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Title: Colored American - November 24, 1838
Speaker or author: Hamilton
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The editor responds to a suggestion from a reader named Hamilton that a convention of young African American men meet in Utica to unite their efforts in the work towards realizing political and civil rights.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - September 8, 1838
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer reminds his readers that the most important "civil institution" is one that offers a political influence. Civil rights are worth fighting for, and a focus on the political process involved is worth participating in.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - September 29, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer offers valid reasons for holding a convention of African Americans in California.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.
Newspaper or publication: Elevator
Impassioned speech in which the speaker emphasized that along with freedom, African Americans were entitled to all the privileges of citizenship including suffrage, legal, social and political rights. Denying a citizen these rights on the basis of color was illogical, irrational, and uncivilized.
Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,101 word document (text and images)
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Title: Weekly Anglo-African - September 24, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
The writer divides the social goals of African Americans into two categories: those who seek elevation and what he describes as "recognition from a dominant class," and those who care only for "labor" (they live to work). He makes a distinction in this way between employment and labor. He reminds them, however, that only by working together towards a common goal can they ensure their rightful place as free human beings.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page