Black Abolitionist Archive

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Advocate

Brief speech praising the work of William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, and John Brown. The speaker said that just because there is no news of discontent from the slaves in the South does not mean that they are happy with their situation.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 134 word document (text and image)

Title: John J. Gaines

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)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

Speech regarding the inhumanity of slavery, emphasizing the government backing the institution of slavery receives that keeps it strongly in place.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 973 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

Brief speech discounting the Democratic party's pro-slavery stance and the laws that had resulted from its influence.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 491 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

The speaker stressed that where there is one person legally enslaved in the U.S., there is no liberty for anyone. Slavery makes slaves of us all. When a government encourages slavery, it evokes a need to control the slaves. This requires laws which limit freedom for everyone. The speaker offered examples to substantiate his ideas.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 3,349 word document (text and images)

Title: James McCune Smith

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

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

Speech encouraging the National Council of the Colored People to continue work on the promises they established in their previous meeting. These promises included the elevation of the race through education, political advances, and civil rights in every state.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,520 word document (text and images)

Title: John Andrew Jackson

Speaker or author: Jackson, John Andrew

Newspaper or publication: Christian News

Anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience with slavery. The speaker was presenting his story and the story of one other slave in hopes of raising enough money to purchase his father's and sister's freedom.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,024 word document (text and images)

Title: John Peck

Speaker or author: Peck, John, of Pittsburgh

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

Brief speech in which the speaker stressed unity of purpose and a coordinated effort among white as well as black citizens to reach the goals of equality, moral elevation, and racial harmony.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 564 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sweat Rock

Speaker or author: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

Brief overview of a speech regarding the refusal of the government to arm and accept as soldiers African Americans during the Civil War. This situation would alter as the war neared its end.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 440 word document (text and images)

Title: James McCune Smith

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

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Farewell address given by James McCune Smith before an assembly at the university in Glasgow after receiving his degree and before returning to the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 655 word document (text and images)

Title: James McCune Smith

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

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Response to welcome home address given to James McCune Smith on his return from Scotland where he earned his degree at the university in Glasgow. The benefits of education were emphasized.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,150 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

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

Newspaper or publication: Edinburgh Observer

Speech delivered before a group of abolitionists in Edinburgh, Scotland, during a breakfast meeting. The speaker presented the perspective of the black abolitionist in the struggle for emancipation, and emphasized the politics involved as well as the injustice of slavery and slaveholding.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 970 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)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Elevator (Incomplete)

Eloquent speech regarding the positive changes the speaker could already see as a result of the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of the slaves. The speaker stressed, however, that more changes were needed before racial equality could be realized.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,141 word document (text and images)

Title: John N. Lewis

Speaker or author: Lewis, John N.

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Speech regarding the irony of missionary work in Africa by men who are slaves in the U.S. and not allowed to read the Bible. Emphasis is placed on the question of civil rights in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,278 word document (text and images)

Title: James McCune Smith

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

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Speech emphasizing the importance of education in the social advancement of the people of color.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 342 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Monthly

Speech delivered before an English audience explaining in general terms the causes and possible outcome of the Civil War. The speaker placed emphasis on the injustice of laws like the Fugitive Slave Law that were being passed in the U.S. just before the war began.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,285 word document (text and images)

Title: John S. Rock

Speaker or author: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

The speaker addressed the issue of categorizing human beings in terms of race. He noted how "...in undertaking to prove too much they prove nothing." He touched on the history of slavery and denounced the Fugitive Slave Law, predicting its downfall.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,419 word document (text and images)

Title: James McCune Smith

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

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

The speaker emphasized the benefits of an education and mechanical training for former slaves and the nominally free. He gave examples of individuals who had overcome prejudice and were working in industry based on training, initiative, and skilled talent.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 536 word document (text and images)

Title: J. L. Ward

Speaker or author: Ward, J. L., fl. 1852

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Brief speech denouncing the Fugitive Slave Bill and encouraging listeners to oppose it.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 188 word document (text and images)