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)
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Title: Black Republican - April 15, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Black Republican (1865)
The editor encourages his readers to not take freedom lightly but to work to justify the righteousness of it with a focus on education, honesty, industry, temperance, and religion.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Black Republican - April 15, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Black Republican (1865)
The editor discusses the right of suffrage and a recent government petition regarding this signed by five thousand African Americans.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Speaker or author: Langston, C. H. (Charles Henry), b. 1821?
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- State Historical Society of Wisconsin -- Pamphlet Collection
Eloquent speech delivered before a court about to pronounce sentence on the speaker for his actions in working against the Fugitive Slave Law. After his impassioned call for reason, justice, and humanity in the exercising of the Fugitive Slave Law, the speaker was fined $100 and sentenced to 20 days in jail.
Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 4,108 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, C. H. (Charles Henry), b. 1821?
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Overview of speech given on the day John Brown was executed. The speaker praised John Brown as an exceptional man. He said that John Brown had been "murdered" by the American people.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 343 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Public Library -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets
Brief speech supporting a resolution that denounced slaveholding. He emphasized that education was the key to ending the contradiction evident in a country established in freedom but depending for its survival on slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 491 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
Speech stressing the idea that the Constitution is "pro-slavery" and that the Liberty Party has formed to protest this. The speaker notes that "A protest amounts to nothing, so long as he continues in fellowship with those who persist in evil-doing." This statement was in response to a suggestion that the Liberty Party members "unite" with the slaveholders in governmental action.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,275 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech given before a meeting of the Hibernian Anti-Slavery Society regarding the continued injustices and horrors of American slavery, and how this is perceived by people in other countries.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 page, 5,634 word document (text and images)
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Title: Colored American - April 29, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his belief that as long as the northern states condone by silent acceptance the actions of those who kidnap free African Americans as "fugitive slaves," there will be disorder and chaos in free state communities.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - April 8, 1837
Speaker or author: Ray, Charles B. (Charles Bennett), 1807-1886
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer emphasizes the hope and expectation for universal emancipation, civil rights, and acceptance that African Americans desire.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - July, 1838
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer rejoices over the fact that Richard Riker no longer holds the office of Recorder of the city of New York.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - June 10, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Editorial statement of the intent, motivation, and goals of the newspaper to report in a truthful, moral, and responsible manner information geared towards African American readers.
Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page
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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
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Title: Colored American - May 13, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The editor includes an excerpt from an 1827 issue of the Freedom's Journal to prove that the majority of African Americans have never agreed with the idea of colonization. Colonization presented some grand ideas and goals, but the decesdants of slaves born in the U.S. have only considered the U.S. their home. The majority of African Americans are committed to the belief that equality and racial harmony are reasonable and achievable goals in this country.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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Title: Colored American - May 27, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Despite its good intentions, the writer believes that the American Colonization movement is a politically motivated ploy to remove people of color from the U.S., and thus solve the moral problem of slavery.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - May 30, 1840
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer discusses the recent legal suit involving an African American man who is fined for operating a push cart without a license. Yet because he is African American, the city refused to issue him a license.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - May 6, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his dismay at the irony displayed in a country whose people focus on keeping the "Union" strong when there are those within its northern states who live in fear of those in the south.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - November 4, 1837
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his view that prejudice in the U.S. is difficult to comprehend and presents itself in varied forms. Skin color alone does not necessarily evoke prejudice. It seems U.S. citizens are more prejudice towards African Americans than towards people of color from other countries. He offers two anecdotes to demonstrate his point.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Jenkins, David
Newspaper or publication: Palladium of Liberty (1843 - 1844)
Brief speech on legislation that taxed African Americans but didn't offer them any of the benefits of this taxation.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 195 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Ruggles, David, 1810-1849
Newspaper or publication: Emancipator
Speech delivered before a public meeting recounting the experience of Eliza Drummings at the hands of men who were helping her escape slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 453 word document (text and images)
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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: 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)
Speaker or author: Vashon, George Boyer, 1824-1878
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Foner and Walker, Eds. -- Proceedings of the Black State Conventions 1840-1865, (1979) Vol. 1, pp. 139-166
Brief overview of speech in which the speaker expressed his view that a country that is not administered by a just and impartial government was not secure or permanent.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 377 word document (text and image)
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Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Impassioned speech given to honor the sacrifice of John Brown who was executed on this day. The speaker praises John Brown's life, although he notes that he didn't agree with his methods. He believes that John Brown was martyred in the name of freedom and justice.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 600 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Johnson, Henry W., abolitionist
Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper
Speech denouncing the motivation behind the American Colonization Society and the Fugitive Slave Bill. The speaker stressing the irony that the U.S. will welcome fleeing Hungarian refugees to its shores but does not provide a welcome to the refugees of slavery who already reside here.
Description of file(s): PDF 24 page, 2,934 word document (text and images)