Speaker or author: Gardner, Charles
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Fourth Annual Report of the American Anti-Slavery Society, pp. 11-15
Speech given regarding the possible positive results of immediate emancipation, and how freed slaves will live in and contribute to society.
Description of file(s): PDF 8 page, 3,084 word document (text and images)
Title: Christian Recorder - March 19, 1855
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)
The writer discusses the benefits of education. Education, he believes, offers not just a way of learning a trade and contributing to society, but a way of knowing and living a truly moral life.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
Title: Colored American - April 15, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer encourages African Americans to pursue farming and other agricultural employment to offer a positive contribution to society.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - February 23, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: The means of our elevation.
The writer urges his readers to seek to elevate themselves through virtuous living. He emphasizes economy, industry, education, and the pursuit of honorable employment. He suggests to his readers that the best way they can elevate themselves is by living an honest, moral and ethical life.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - July 27, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer encourages his readers to establish a business in the silk industry.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Title: Colored American - July 29, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer urges his readers to join the Moral Reform Society. He believes that the best way to gain social acceptance is for African Americans to present a moral, industrious, and intelligent manner to the general public.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - June 1, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer encourages his readers to get involved in the silk making industry. This business can be created independently with very little capital investment.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Title: Colored American - June 17, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his view that the desire for money is clouding the reason of society and causing unwise choices. He urges a focus on independence, industry, and frugality to counteract what he sees as a struggling economic environment based on greed.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - June 22, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer encourages his readers to move from the cities and take up farming. He urges them to be industrious and not idle away their lives for menial pay.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper page
Title: Colored American - June 24, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer suggests that the free people of color can help the slaves by concentrating on improving their own lives through education, industry, and economy. He believes that fighting prejudice involves presenting an intelligent, hard-working social presence.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - June 26, 1841
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer continues his series on the subjects of improvement and the elevation of the race. He gives advice on how to achieve financial security through hard work and a focus on accumulating wealth.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - March 14, 1840
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer continues his commentary on the pros and cons of immigrating to Trinidad and British Guiana.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
Title: Colored American - March 4, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The editor offers advise for the way African Americans should conduct themselves as free people of color in the free states. He suggests presenting an image of morality and industry to the rest of the population.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - May 6, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer stresses that in order for African Americans to be accepted as vital and useful members of society, they must present an industrious, moral, and educated image to the community. This involves shaking off old habits, and adopting new goals toward improvement both mentally and physically.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - November 4, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his view that even the white Americans who are motivated to help African Americans and approaching this endeavor with the purest of intentions believe that the African American is inferior and incapable of helping him/herself. These ideas work against self-esteem and a basic acceptance that all races are human beings and share a common Creator.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - October 21, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his disdain for idleness and "laziness," and encourages every reader to emphasize usefulness and the virtue of honest labor in their lives.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - October 5, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer suggests that African Americans invest their money in their futures rather than at the gambling tables and bars.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper page
Title: Colored American - September 8, 1838
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer encourages his readers to pattern their lives on statesmen such as Benjamin Franklin and focus on "industry, prudence, and economy." Doing so will lead them to self-improvement and the elevation of the race overall.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - September 9, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer urges his readers to work hard to prove themselves worthy of the civil rights they are being denied. He believes that if all African Americans made it their goal to work "doubly" as hard as their white neighbors they would achieve social acceptance.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Stokes, D. P.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University, Cambridge -- Rare Books and Manuscripts
The speaker stressed that free black citizens should be able to hold more positions as farmers, mechanics, banking clerks and store owners. He believed that with the help of those present at the convention, African Americans in California could achieve success in realizing their own potential in these areas.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 546 word document (text and images)
Title: Elevator - June 16, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer encourages young people to strive for obtaining the best jobs possible. Next to education, he finds this endeavor of utmost importance to their individual well-being and the advancement of the race.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Voice of the Fugitive - April 23, 1851
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer suggests that instead of donations of food and clothing, fugitive slaves would be better served with financial aid to help purchase land. (Incomplete) See Voice of the Fugitive editorial 11524edi.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
Title: Voice of the Fugitive - December 17, 1851
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer comments on an article published in another newspaper about the feared fate of slaves if they are emancipated.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Voice of the Fugitive - January 15, 1852
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer responds to recent statistics regarding trade between Canada and the U.S. Purchasing goods from the U.S. not only encourages the continuation of slavery, but opens the possibility of the American annexation of Canada.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Title: Voice of the Fugitive - May 7, 1851
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer urges those who would aid the fugitives in Canada to send money to finance the purchase of land. He encourages his readers to stand united in their efforts to stay in Canada and build a life for themselves there.
Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages