African American Odyssey

Slavery, Walker's Appeal--a Call To Arms

1.      Originally published in 1829 by David Walker, who was a second-hand clothing dealer in Boston, Massachusetts, this volume was outlawed in many states because of its call for the violent overthrow of slavery. Walker, a native of Wilmington, N.C., was born September 28, 1785, of a free black mother and slave father. He advocated uncompromising resistance to slavery, contending that African Americans should fight "in the glorious and heavenly cause of freedom and of God to be delivered from the most wretched, abject and servile slavery. . ." Response: Walker and many other slaves would rather die, than live a life of excruciating misery and suffering.  This relates to the class discussion in an unusual manner.  First, in the sense of immigration, because many of the slaves were foreign born.  These immigrants did not come to America on their own free will.  Second, there was no way these immigrants could assimilate.  The color issue single-handedly denied them any sort of acceptance by the masses.

Free Blacks, The Underground Railroad

2.      Enslaved blacks and their white sympathizers planned secret flight strategies and escape routes for runaways to make their way to freedom. Although it was neither subterranean nor a mechanized means of travel, this network of routes and hiding places was known as the “underground railroad.”

Respo  Response: Due to the many hardships of slavery, most slaves wanted to run away, and many were successful.  Freedom was a major desire.  At the present time, people use all sorts of reasoning to justify their causes.  For example, many people who love to say inappropriate things tend to state that their freedom of speech is being restricted.  Basically they want the right to spew garbage at all times.  But, as the passage states everyone has to work together in order to achieve greatness.