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)
Speaker or author: Crummell, Alexander, 1819-1898
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- New York Public Library -- Schomburg Collection
Lengthy sermon regarding the important role of God and religion in government. The speaker addressed issues of slavery and society throughout the history of the world.
Description of file(s): PDF 21 page, 5,823 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- E. G. Bormann, Ed., Forerunners of Black Power, p. 166-173
Speech delivered amidst fears of the dissolution of the Union based on racial tension and issues of hatred and slavery. (Speech 15303 is a duplicate of this speech.)
Description of file(s): PDF 8 page, 3,293 word document (text and images)
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Title: Colored American - April 17, 1841
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Short note alerting readers to an area of Wisconsin that has accepted the Indians who are farming there as citizens. The editor urges his readers to immigrate to this state, buy land and take up farming there.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - December 16, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer reminds his readers of the importance of suffrage for all Americans. He expresses his view that "without the right of suffrage, we are, and must remain, a nonentity in the State and National governments...." He urges his readers to petition the government for the rught of suffrage for free African Americans.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - July 7, 1838
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses to the community that all African Americans want from them is to be treated equally, to be able to educate their children, and to be afforded the rights and privileges enjoyed by all American citizens.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - March 4, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The editor offers an explanation for the name selected for this newspaper. He emphasizes that although the term "American" was one that most white Americans wished to deny the black inhabitants of this country, it applied more to them than to a lot of the white citizens in terms of generational ties to this country. The term "Colored" calls caste into question and gives attention to the social issues regarding race and prejudice that the paper addresses.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - May 9, 1840
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer explains to his readers the misunderstanding of those who wish free African Americans to immigrate to other countries. Although they are of African heritage, they were born in this country, and this country is their home. They wish only to enjoy the rights and privileges afforded to all American citizens.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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Title: Colored American - November 16, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer asks that the New York State Legislature amend the state's Consitution to eliminate the restrictions on African American voters.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - October 12, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer comments on the state of disfranchisement that free African Americans find themselves in. This condition marginalizes them from the rest of the population and they feel not only that their right to citizenship is in question, but their human rights as well. (This editorial will be continued in upcoming issues.)
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - October 19, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer makes a distinction between "political action" and "moral action" regarding the issues of slavery and emancipation. He tells his readers that some abolitionists are acting only as it serves their political purposes, not as a moral obligation to God. He urges his readers to continue going to the polls, but to cast their votes for what is religiously right, not what is best for the political party.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
Speaker or author: Jenkins, David
Newspaper or publication: Palladium of Liberty (1843 - 1844)
Speech given on the organization of a convention held in Columbus. Stress is placed on the privilege of free speech and the right to assemble.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 334 word document (text and images)
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Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The editor expands on the newspaper's prospectus. He emphasizes the belief that all American citizens are equal members of the United States, regardless of their color or country of origin.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - June 23, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer tells his readers that there is a communication issue between the races which is contributing to the problem of racial inequality. White Americans have concluded the status of African Americans without really knowing how they live or what is important to them.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - June 30, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer encourages his readers to celebrate this Fourth of July as free people and American citizens.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - May 19, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer tells his readers that African Americans have three main duties to perform to participate as good U. S. citizens: social (to realize quality in their own individual lives), civil, and political. He expands a bit on each, and tells his readers he will address the moral and religious duties in another issue.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - October 27, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer considers the principles that the United States legal system is based on. He notes that these principles were violated by the institution of slavery. If this country is to remain free, the American people can never return to this form of systematic injustice.
Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages
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: Frederick Douglass' Paper - August 25, 1854
Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.
Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)
The writer asks the rhetorical question "Is color a constitutional disqualifier?" after relating the story of a fugitive slave being refused a passport while in a foreign country since he was black. The official of that country told him that since he was black he couldn't be considered a citizen of the U.S. He addresses the issue of citizenship in the U.S. and how this seems determined by race.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Britton, John G.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Foner and Walker, Eds.
Brief introductory speech regarding what the speaker believed were the important factors affecting African Americans at that point in time. These included voting rights, colonization, and the migration of fugitive slaves to Canada. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 562 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Gaines, John J.
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle
Speech describing the effects of prejudice in the U.S. on living arrangements and education.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 872 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.
Newspaper or publication: Jefferson City, [MO] Democrat
Overview of speech delivered before the House of Representatives. The speaker spoke for the suffrage and civil rights of the newly freed slaves. He emphasized that they were newly acquired citizens of the U.S. and deserved all the rights that went along with that status.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,117 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection
Brief overview of a speech made at the National Convention of Colored Men held in Syracuse, New York. The speaker emphasized that all races were made slaves if the system of oligarchy were allowed to continue.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 197 word document (text and image)
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: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech given to celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation. The speaker rejoiced and offered thanks to all those who had sacrificed so much for this day.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 790 word document (text and images)