Category Archives: Black Abolitionist Archive

The Struggle for Freedom: A Sibling Rebellion

One prominent member of the Black Abolitionist movement was a man named Charles Lenox Remond (February 1, 1810 – December 22, 1873). Charles Remond was considered one of the great orators of this movement and indeed of his time, but little is remembered of him. Those in the Black Abolitionist movement who, like Remond, devoted countless hours, energy, and determination to end the horrors of slavery are overshadowed by the social memory of men like Frederick Douglas and George Washington Carver. And while most black abolitionist men are not remembered, it’s rare that anyone even knows about the existence of black abolitionist women who fought alongside these great men. Sarah Parker Remond, Charles Lenox Remond’s sister, was one of these women....

Love and Freedom

This month we celebrate two of the most valued aspects of human existence: love and freedom. Valentine’s Day (observed in remembrance of St. Valentine) focuses our collective attention on romantic love. We traditionally celebrate this holiday on February 14, by offering those dearest to us acts of love and devotion usually in the form of something sweet and beautiful: candy, flowers, poetry, sentimental cards, etc.

February is also Black History Month. This month is filled with events that recognize the contributions both powerful and inspirational of people of African descent. From its humble beginnings in 1915 (50 years after the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment officially ended slavery in this country), this formal recognition has evolved to include a strong focus on historic people and events; lectures, group celebrations, and an increased awareness of the evolution of the American identity.

The following story from the Black Abolitionist Archive is our contribution to this celebration of love and freedom....

Black Abolitionist Archive – the Canadian connection

Communication holds together the people within a defined social structure. Slavery as a social institution in the early years of this country, kept people isolated. The practice of using human beings as chattel was brought to the Americas as a matter of course in the early years of its colonizing. At that time, no one seemed to pay much attention to the idea that there was something very wrong with this practice. Soon, however, communication in the form of abolitionist newspapers began to encourage the need for dramatic change....

Black Abolitionist Archive

The Black Abolitionist archive features a portrait of Anthony Burns on the Digital Archives page. While not an abolitionist himself, Burns’ experience played a prominent role in the direction of abolition during the turbulent years of the mid-1800s. His experience, occurring soon after the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, offered a turning point for public sentiment regarding the plight of the slave....

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