Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home

University Archives

Black Abolitionist Archive
Search for
Title: Abner H. Francis

Speaker or author: Francis, Abner H.

Newspaper or publication: North Star

Eulogy for John Quincy Adams stressing the high points and low points of his career. The speaker compared the state of the country to the Roman Empire in its last days.

Description of file(s): PDF 19 page, 4,143 word document (text and images)

Title: Abraham D. Shadd

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)

Title: Amos G. Beman

Speaker or author: Beman, Amos Gerry, 1812-1874

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Speech regarding the principles, goals and value of the New York Committee of Vigilance in its assistance to people of color.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,773 word document (text and images)

Title: Anonymous

Speaker or author: Anonymous

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Anonymous speech delivered by a member of the Society cooperating with the General Convention at Philadelphia against the colonization of Africa by freed slaves. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 442 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Speech given in London before the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society regarding the political implications of continued slavery in the U.S. after British emancipation.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,342 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered denouncing the legal decision made by Judge Taney. The speaker encouraged his audience to adopt the motto, "No Union with Slaveholders." He said he would rather see the union divided than to give up the fight for freedom and the cause of human liberty.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 960 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: Serious Reflections.

Title: Colored American - July 8, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer expresses his dismay at the irony of a country founded on freedom that continues to hold millions of slaves. Continuing the system of slavery in this country is a sin against God and humankind.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: New-York Petitions to the Legislature.

Title: Colored American - March 11, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor explains a petition that was sent to the New York state government requesting an end to limited civil rights for free African Americans. The petition included a request for trial by jury, a repeal of the law authorizing slavery, and a restoration of voting rights. He notes that before 1821, free black men were allowed to vote and that this freedom has now been taken from them without just cause.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: True Fanaticism.

Title: Colored American - September 22, 1838

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer expresses the irony of a country founded on principles of freedom that continues to include the system of slavery in its southern states.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Title: Edward Wilmot Blyden

Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Lynch, Black Spokesman: Selected Writings of Edward Wilmot Blyden, pp. 67-75

-- Copyright Permission Pending -- Eulogy given for the Reverend John Day tracing his life through childhood to death, emphasizing his challenges and triumphs. The speaker focused on the Reverend's impact on the world around him and his influence in the work for the abolition of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 3,731 word document (text and images)

Title: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Speaker or author: Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins, 1825-1911.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Overview of speech emphasizing the speaker's concerns regarding national government policy on Reconstruction following the Civil War.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 547 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: Sentence of Booth, and Rycraft--Imprisonment--their liberation on a Writ of Habeas Corpus!

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 9, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer discusses the case of Joshua Glover, a fugitve slave who sought asylum in Wisconsin. A band of men rescued him after he was caught and jailed. The two men who aided Glover and were instrumental in his escape were imprisoned and fined.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Title: H. Ford Douglass

Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

In this election year, the speaker encouraged continued vigilance in the fight for abolition of slavery. The speaker stressed where each party and each presidential candidate stood on the issue of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 3,422 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Reporter

Speech before a British audience condemning slavery in the U.S. The speaker pointed out the irony of the American stance on freedom when it continued to enslave millions of people. He also praised the work of British abolitionists.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,445 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882.

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Passionate speech regarding the oppression of slavery. Stress is placed on the illogical belief that keeping the slave ignorant keeps him or her from being discontent; and emphasizing that denying slaves an education prevents them from providing for their own medical, legal, and moral care.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,143 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882

Newspaper or publication: Morgan State University Library -- Pamphlet Collection

Speech given before the House of Representatives denouncing slavery as an inhumane system in a country founded on freedom. The speaker related his own experiences with slavery and the injustices he had witnessed growing up as a slave. Now that slavery had ended, he asked that the government approach the recovery of the Union with an eye towards racial harmony.

Description of file(s): PDF 20 page, 5,472 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882

Newspaper or publication: Christian News

Speech before a British audience condemning the Fugitive Slave Law and slavery in the U.S. The speaker pointed out the irony of the American stance on freedom when it continued to enslave millions of people.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,131 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry W. Johnson

Speaker or author: Johnson, Henry W., abolitionist

Newspaper or publication: North Star

Speech delivered during a celebration of the August 1st emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker stresses the plight of those still enslaved in this country but is encouraged by events that he sees must lead the U.S. to emancipation.

Description of file(s): PDF 24 page, 5,038 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Overview of speech regarding the contributions of black Americans during the previous wars with England. The speaker said that they were told that England had made them slaves and to win the fight against England would be to win their right to freedom.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 413 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets

Sermon regarding the moral obligation of African Americans in the pursuit of individual freedom, happiness, truth, and justice. Stress is placed on the differences between "God's government" and the U.S. government.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 3,560 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Leeds Mercury

Speech given before the Leeds Anti-Slavery Society in England regarding the inhumanity and cruelty of slavery in the U.S. The speaker discusses how the U.S. is divided into states that allow slavery and those that don't.

Description of file(s): PDF 8 page, 2,750 word document (text and images)

Title: James McCune Smith

Speaker or author: Smith, James McCune, 1813-1865

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Public Library -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets

Speech given on the basic idea that slavery is irrational, immoral, and in opposition to the core beliefs of the founding fathers. Emphasis is placed on the destiny and potential future of the Negro race in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 17 page, 6,176 word document (text and images)

Title: John James Moore

Speaker or author: Moore, John Jamison, 1818-1893.

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Speech delivered in celebration of the emancipation of Washington, DC. The speech also commemorated the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker stressed the challenges that lay ahead for the country regarding the changes from a slave driven economy to a free wage economy. He traced the history of the abolitionist movement and emphasized his belief in the realization of total U. S. emancipation. (Speech 25858 is combined with this speech and included at the end of speech 25830.)

Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 2,832 word document (text and images)

Title: John Jamison Moore

Speaker or author: Moore, John Jamison, 1818-1893.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University, Cambridge -- Rare Books and Manuscripts

The speaker addressed the issue of suffrage for all African Americans. He expressed his belief that African Americans had earned their civil and equal rights through patriotism, patience, loyalty, and fighting for their country. He asked that they be given only what any American would claim as a U.S. citizen.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,638 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

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)

Back to Top