David Walker
African-American abolitionist (1796 to 1830); author of Walker's Appeal.
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What they believe
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Black Americans are the most degraded, wretched and abject people who have ever lived
Having travelled over a considerable portion of these United States, and having, in the course of my travels taken the most accurate observations of things as they exist—the result of my observations has warranted the full and unshakened conviction, that we, (colored people of these United States) are the most degraded, wretched, and abject set of beings that ever lived since the world began, and I pray God, that none like us ever may live again until time shall be no more.
gutenberg.orgSaid c. 1829–1830This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 19 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
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Black Americans are the most degraded, wretched and abject people who have ever lived
Having travelled over a considerable portion of these United States, and having, in the course of my travels taken the most accurate observations of things as they exist—the result of my observations has warranted the full and unshakened conviction, that we, (colored people of these United States) are the most degraded, wretched, and abject set of beings that ever lived since the world began, and I pray God, that none like us ever may live again until time shall be no more.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Slave labor is so cheap that greedy owners overlook the evils that will surely follow
The fact is, the labor of slaves comes so cheap to the avaricious usurpers, and is (as they think) of such great utility to the country where it exists, that those who are actuated by sordid avarice only, overlook the evils, which will as sure as the Lord lives, follow after the good.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Americans punish Black people for nothing but having enriched them and their country
I have therefore come to the immovable conclusion, that they (Americans) have, and do continue to punish us for nothing else, but for enriching them and their country.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
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Refutations of Jefferson written by white allies are not enough, because they are not written by Black people
For let no one of us suppose that the refutations which have been written by our white friends are enough—they are whites—we are blacks.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Unless Black people try to refute Jefferson's arguments about them, they will only confirm them
Such I do not mean—I am after those who know and feel, that we are men as well as other people; to them, I say, that unless we try to refute Mr. Jefferson's arguments respecting us, we will only establish them.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Black people, even half educated, are more humane and merciful than the most refined Europeans
I know that the blacks, take them half enlightened and ignorant, are more humane and merciful than the most enlightened and refined Europeans that can be found in all the earth.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Killing a man who is trying to kill you is no more wrong than drinking water when thirsty
Look upon your mother, wife and children, and answer God Almighty; and believe this, that it is no more harm for you to kill a man, who is trying to kill you, than it is for you to take a drink of water when thirsty; in fact, the man who will stand still and let another murder him, is worse than an infidel, and if he has common sense, ought not to be pitied.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Black Americans must prove they are men, above all by spreading education and religion among the young
You have to prove to the Americans and the world, that we are men, and not brutes as we have been represented, and by millions treated. Remember, to let the aim of your labours among your brethren, and particularly the youths, be the dissemination of education and religion.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
The mere idea of educating Black people terrifies their oppressors
The bare name of educating the coloured people, scares our cruel oppressors almost to death.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
American ministers send missionaries abroad while keeping Black people at home in the deepest ignorance
Yet the American ministers send out missionaries to convert the heathen, while they keep us and our children sunk at their feet in the most abject ignorance and wretchedness that ever a people was afflicted with since the world began.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Slavery is a worse evil than all others together and will overthrow the government unless soon ended
They have newspapers and monthly periodicals, which they receive in continual succession, but on the pages of which, you will scarcely ever find a paragraph respecting slavery, which is ten thousand times more injurious to this country than all the other evils put together; and which will be the final overthrow of its government, unless something is very speedily done; for their cup is nearly full.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
The English are the best friends Black people have on earth
The English are the best friends the colored people have upon earth.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Sadly, Black people all over the world have a mean, servile spirit
But O, my God!—in sorrow I must say it, that my colour, all over the world, have a mean, servile spirit.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
The colonization plan is a slaveholders' scheme to remove free Black people and better secure the enslaved
Here is a demonstrative proof, of a plan got up by a gang of slave-holders to select the free people of colour from among the slaves, that our more miserable brethren may be the better secured in ignorance and wretchedness, to work their farms and dig their mines, and thus go on enriching the christians with their blood and groans.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
America is more the country of Black Americans than of whites, since they enriched it with blood and tears
America is more our country, than it is the whites—we have enriched it with our blood and tears.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
If whites treat Black people as men, everyone will live together in peace and happiness
Treat us like men, and there is no danger but we will all live in peace and happiness together.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Americans must raise Black people to respectability and make a national acknowledgement of the wrongs done to them
The Americans may say or do as they please, but they have to raise us from the condition of brutes to that of respectable men, and to make a national acknowledgement to us for the wrongs they have inflicted on us.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Freed people owe thanks for their freedom to God, not to the masters who free them
You are men, as well as they, and instead of returning thanks to them for your freedom, return it to the Holy Ghost, who is your rightful owner.
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
Americans' sufferings under Britain were not a hundredth as cruel as what they inflict on Black people
Now, Americans! I ask you candidly, was your sufferings under Great Britain one hundredth part as cruel and tyrannical as you have rendered ours under you?
Walker's Appeal (1829-1830; 1848 edition) Said c. 1829–1830
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