Speaker or author: Shadd, Abraham D.
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given on the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies stressing the political implications of this and the continued slavery in the U.S.
Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,565 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Augustus William Hanson
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Rambling speech regarding the inherent rights of human beings in a free society regardless of race.
Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 3,785 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)
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)
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Title: Colored American - August 17, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer related the events surrounding the August 1st celebration of the emancipation of the the British West Indies.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - August 24, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer points out the benefits of union within the African American community. These benefits include not only political rights and safety, but social and community well-being.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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Title: Colored American - February 23, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer offers a suggestion to the state legislature to change the requirements for voting so that every African American male who has reached the age of 21 and pays $100 yearly rent can vote. This would replace the current $250 real estate requirement.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - July 27, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer called for renewed political action in the form of petitions, a state convention, and the establishment of political action committees. He offered the services of the newspaper in this effort.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - November 16, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Commentary on the role politics plays in the fight for the abolition of slavery. The writer expresses his opinion on the current state of this battle in the political arena.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page (section missing)
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Title: Colored American - November 16, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his views regarding abolition and political action. Abolition is a moral decision, and politics is the forum for translation of this decision into action.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page (part missing)
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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 - October 10, 1840
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer stresses the importance of political action and the exercising of voting rights in the work to abolish slavery.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - October 2, 1841
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer gives an overview of the annual meeting of the New York Anti-Slavery Society held in Utica. The meeting was well received and a great success. Issues addressed were independent political action and "Church action."
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - October 5, 1839
Speaker or author: Cornish, Samuel E. (Samuel Eli), 1795?-1858
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer comments on an exchange between Samuel Cornish and Philip Bell regarding a statement published in the Friend of Man newspaper. The Friend of Man's brief statement was from a representative of the New York Anti-Slavery Society saying they would not support the Colored American newspaper until it changed its political point of view.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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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: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
The speaker supported the goals and motivations of the African Civilization Society. He stressed that the motivation behind the funding of immigration to Africa is to confirm friendly relations with the native people, to purchase land for immigrants, to build schools and churches, to promote lawful commerce, and to encourage the spread of Christianity.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,066 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: Vogelsang, Peter, Lieutenant
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given before the Association for the Political Improvement of the People of Color regarding the political rights and civil liberties denied the people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,454 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Vogelsang, Peter, Lieutenant
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given before the Association for the Political Improvement of the People of Color regarding the political rights and civil liberties denied the people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,454 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Vogelsang, Peter, Lieutenant
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given before the Association for the Political Improvement of the People of Color regarding the political rights and civil liberties denied the people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,454 word document (text and images)
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Title: Weekly Anglo-African - May 26, 1860
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Tongue-in-cheek commentary on the current political race for the presidency.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Weekly Anglo-African - May 4, 1861
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
The writer points out that progress is a cyclical process, not a linear one. In this, progress made through Anti-Slavery agitation is taking the form of political action, of a seemingly quiet revolution that is now coming to the surface in this civil war. He reminds his readers that their actions now shape the future for the entire race.
Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages
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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
Speaker or author: Powell, William P.
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
The speaker addressed a recent essay noting that slavery had become morally and ethically understood in the U. S. as "Negro slavery." In this sense, only one form of slavery was "right" and any other form of slavery was considered "wrong." The government could then condone enslaving one segment of humanity and denounce and abhor enslaving any other. If slavery was admissible, he argued, then enslaving white people should be admissible as well. He also addressed the current conception that the slaves were content in their condition.
Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,558 word document (text and images)