Karen Fombona

David Walker Demands Emancipation

(1830)

Karen Fombona

History 101 Section: 09

Feb. 24, 2015

Primary Source Readings Assignment:

Chapter 11

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David Walker Demand Emancipation

This document is about David Walker, a free African American, who wrote an appeal to

other people of color to work for the emancipation of all slaves. He mainly directs this to all

colored people, slaveholders, and Christians. The purpose of this document is to work for the

emancipation of all slaves and also to Walker lambasted slaveholders, whites, and Christians for

accepting slavery and discriminating against the people of African descent. Throughout the

document, David Walker talks about how the whites have wretched and degraded the coloured

people. He also says that he expected all the coloured men, woman and children to resist the

cruelties and murders inflicted to them by the white slaveholders. Overall this document seems

to be an inspiration to all slaves to fight for the freedom and not take anymore of the cruelties by

the white slaveholders, basically for them to defend themselves and not take anymore of the

mistreatment.

The author, David Walker, was a free African American born in North Carolina in 1785

by a free mother and a slave father. He was an activist who urged African American slaves to

fight for the freedom and equality. David Walker was the owner of a secondhand clothing store

in Boston, but in Boston he still witnessed the mistreatment and discrimination against coloured

people. Walker became involved with the Massachusetts General Colored Association, an

organization opposed to slavery and racism. In 1829, David Walker wrote an appeal in four

articles, Together with a Preamble, To the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular and

Very Expressly, to those of the United States of America Written in Boston, State of

Massachusetts, September 28, 1829. He used references within the Bible and the Declaration of

Independence to passionately argue against slavery and discrimination.

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During the 1830s discrimination was seen even in free states. Many slaves began to fight

back. For example with Nat Turner and his slave rebellion that broke out in Virginia on August

21, 1831. Just like David Walker, Nat Turner wanted the slaves to be free and fight for the

equality.

This information is important to history because we get the perspective from a free

African American who is affected by slavery. Even though he is free he still seems to be affected

by the discrimination amongst his people. Which shows us how even free African Americans

wanted the rest of their people to be free as well, for some people it wasnt just about being free

themselves but having all slaves be free.