Speaker or author: Green, Alfred M..
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Foner and Walker, Eds. -- Proceedings of the Black State Conventions 1840-1865, (1979) Vol. 1, pp. 139-166
Eloquent, rational, and meaningful speech delivered before the Convention of the Colored People of Pennsylvania expressing a legal argument for civil rights. The speaker asked that African Americans be given their civil rights, be allowed to vote, hold jobs equal to those of the white population, and be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy citizens of the U.S.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 480 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Johnson, Ezra R.
Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal
Patriotic speech regarding the pride the speaker felt towards the black troops who were fighting and dying for their country in the Civil War. He was most impressed with how well they were received and celebrated for their heroism by the general population.
Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,386 word document (text and images)
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Title: Impartial Citizen - March 14, 1849
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Impartial Citizen (1849 - 1851)
The writer addresses the question of whether the new territories should be designated slave or free states. He offers commentary on the stand some politicians are taking on this issue.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
Speaker or author: Delany, Martin Robison, 1812-1885
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Lengthy speech detailing the various ways states were dealing with racial issues. The speaker also touched on issues of colonization and amelioration.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 pages, 4,424 word document (text and images)
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Title: Pacific Appeal - October 10, 1863
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal (1862 - 188?)
The editor shares with his readers his discovery of the existence of a French and English newspaper being published by an African American regiment of Union soldiers in Louisiana.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech denouncing governmental bias towards prejudical action in the U.S., the colonization of Africa, and the overall injustices that continue to be suffred by African Americans. The speaker emphasized the Dred Scott decision and the establishment of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Description of file(s): PDF 14 page, 3,959 word document (text and images)
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - August 27, 1851
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
Brief note telling readers that fugitive slaves are still arriving in Canada in droves.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - January 15, 1851
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer demonstrates the injustice of laws based on racial prejudice that are practiced in some U. S. states. These laws stand in stark contradiction to the precepts of the U. S. Constitution.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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Title: Weekly Anglo-African - August 27, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
The writer tells his readers that prejudice is not based on the hatred of skin color but on the love of money. In the south, the black man is made a slave; in the north he is made a servant. In both cases, the color of a man's skin is simply an indication of someone who can be used to make money.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Weekly Anglo-African - July 30, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
The writer comments on an article published in a New Orleans newspaper praising the African American community in New Orleans. He compares the reporting of newspaper editors in New Orleans with that of editors in New York and finds the northern editors lacking honesty and integrity.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Speaker or author: Day, William Howard, d. 1900
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African
Speech given on the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the British West Indies. The speaker emphasized that now the U.S. could claim its place among the countries that had abandoned slavery. He expressed gratitude for those who had fought and died in the Civil War in the cause of freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,697 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
The speaker called for the continued efforts toward complete abolition of slavery. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been delivered, some states were exempt. Kidnapping and the sale of former slaves were taking place in these states. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 233 word document (text and image)