slavery | Digital Special Collections

Tag Archives: slavery

Colonization March 2016

Colonization is the process by which one power dominates another. This can be the way a more powerful country takes control of another, but it’s also the way one culture seeks to control another by usurping the established cultural civilization of another. This has happened time and again since human beings migrated out of Africa — as they defeated tribes and gained territories, as they morphed languages and destroyed religions, they also changed their own culture. Societies have evolved by snuffing out the weaker cultures, and taking control of their languages, their rituals, the details of their social structures that made the conquered culture unique....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, archive, black abolitionist, black history, emancipation, freedom, history, slavery Linda Papa Updated: February 17, 2016

A Note on the New Year from 1855 January 2016

The following editorial was published in the Provincial Freeman newspaper on January 6, 1855. The digitized version of this editorial in the Black Abolitionist Archive allows us to bridge the expanse of 161 years, and merge in time with the author who signs her name simply as “S.” (This is probably Mary Ann Shadd who edited the newspaper during this time.) Although so much historic change has taken place since this editorial was written, it seems today’s readers will recognize how relevant the sentiments are here....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, black abolitionist, black history, celebration, history, newspaper, slavery Linda Papa Updated: January 4, 2016

“The Merry Christmas Time” December 2015

Christmas celebrations in the late 1800s weren’t anything like they are today. The focus was on church activities, caroling, and the warm gathering of family and friends. Gifts were secondary to the celebration of this holy season, and giving was more about caring than buying expensive presents. For those whose very existence depended on the kindness of strangers, support from charity and provisions for the poor were appreciated more than ever to help them through the harsh winters and desperate times....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, archival, archive, black abolitionist, black history, celebration, history, newspaper, slavery Linda Papa Updated: December 23, 2015

“Where is Charles O’Conor?” November 2015

The U.S. Civil War officially began in the early months of 1861. Rumblings of war and early warning signs were very apparent in the months and years preceding this official date, however. Members of the free black population were already taking steps during this time to sabotage what they called the “slavocracy” as an economic institution. And they were doing a great job of it. Slowly but surely each patient step toward disruption through “agitation” (as they called it), legal wranglings, and speaking engagements was making an impact....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, archive, black abolitionist, black history, editorial, emancipation, freedom, history, slavery Linda Papa Updated: October 7, 2015

Life Questions from Amos Beman August 2015

Among the hundreds of editorials and speeches housed in the Black Abolitionist archive are several audio interpretations recorded by volunteers. These audio recordings offer a unique perspective on the published work of those who worked so hard for freedom for the enslaved men, women, and children during the almost 300 year history of slavery in this country. Most of these names are lost to history, only the more influential of these abolitionists are included in our history books. The Black Abolitionist Archive in our digital special collections, hopes to change that by introducing visitors to this important collection to those whose lives made an important historical difference to the way this country understands what it means to be free. ...

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, archival, archive, black abolitionist, black history, freedom, history, publication, slavery, speech Linda Papa Updated: August 13, 2016

Defining American Slavery July 2015

In an editorial published in the the Weekly Anglo-African newspaper on March 9, 1861, there’s a review of a recent book (titled, American slavery distinguished from the slavery of English theorists, and justified by the law of nature) on the defining of slavery and of slaves as human beings. The writer of this article compares this recent publication with another book published by John H. Van Evrie (another pro-slavery writer) about the same time. The focus is on the question of whether a slave owner has the right to take the life of a slave when he chooses. And this question comes down to the definition of slavery itself....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, archival, archive, black abolitionist, black history, editorial, emancipation, history, slavery Linda Papa Updated: July 2, 2015

“Our Assumed Literary Apathy” May 2015

William Wells Brown was unique among Black Abolitionists. That he was of mixed blood, tracing his maternal grandfather to a famous name (Daniel Boone), was not too unusual for his time. He was also an escaped slave, which was also not that unusual for many Black Abolitionists. But unlike many who devoted their lives to fighting this unjust institution, he was a self-educated writer, lecturer, and historian who became the first African American to publish a novel....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, black abolitionist, black history, editorial, history, newspaper, slavery Linda Papa Updated: May 21, 2015

The Age of Inquiry May 2015

In March, 1827, Freedom’s Journal, the first black-owned and operated newspaper was established with the goal of reaching the free black population in the northeastern part of the U.S. A speech (delivered in July, 1830) by one of its founders, Peter Williams, is among some of the earliest speeches held in the Black Abolitionist archive.

Soon, other black-owned newspapers followed. Among these was Frederick Douglass’ Paper (which had evolved from his previous newspapers), and among the editors of this paper was teacher, writer, and Black Abolitionist, William J. Watkins....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, archive, black abolitionist, black history, education, emancipation, freedom, history, newspaper, slavery Linda Papa Updated: May 14, 2015

Mary Ann Shadd Cary February 2015

Among the items in the Black Abolitionists digital archive are hand-written speeches. The words of the speaker always offer insight into a perspective of history that is only left to use through text records. Yet when you add the actual handwriting, it seems to offer a connection to the writer herself in a more personal way. This speech by Mary Ann Shadd Cary is a great example....

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, African Americans, black abolitionist, black history, Canada, history, newspaper, publication, slavery, women Linda Papa Updated: January 29, 2015

Education and Slavery February 2015

Alexander Crummell, among other Black Abolitionists of his day, spoke frequently and eloquently about the plight of the slave and the cause of freedom. His thoughts were offered not just to those with the power to free the enslaved portion of the population, but to the slaves themselves, encouraging them to live full and productive lives, urging them to be strong in their religious convictions, and offering them words of hope and comfort. He also stressed the importance of education and the idea that an educated population was a successful one. Although few slaves had the option of a formal education (in most places during this time, educating the slave was illegal), this was the key to their futures. ...

Black Abolitionist Archive abolition, Africa, African Americans, black history, education, freedom, handwritten, Liberia, slavery Linda Papa Updated: February 12, 2015

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