Colored Convention
[From the National
Slavery Standard: June 18,
1840]
In the early
1840s, Rogers was editor of the National Anti-Slavery Standard, which re-published abolitionist articles
from all over, as well as outrages from the southern press. I am assuming that
unsigned editorials can be attributed to Rogers. Overall, this is fairly well
borne-out by the style. It's worth saying that later in the 1840s his positions
were quickly radicalized, as he came to speak only for himself. For a (white) black nationalist like
me, the integrationist approach described in this piece - discouraging black abolitionists from
meeting separately from whites -
is problematic. But the article is notable for its radical
egalitarianism, asserting both that there are no colored people and that we are
all colored people.
We see by the Colored
American of June 13, that a Convention of colored citizens is proposed to be
held, August 13, to take into consideration their condition. - If our friends,
who are taking the lead in the measure, will allow a word or two, we will just
say to them, do not hold such a Convention. We are not opposed to the holding
of a convention for the purpose of seeing what can be done to remove the
disabilities of our friends the country over; but we oppose a Convention of
colored citizens. We oppose all exclusive action on the part of colored people,
except where the clearest necessity demands it. We think if such a Convention
meets, the main obstacle, upon thorough investigation, will be found to be the
wicked and damnable prejudice,
that exists against them, eating into their bones, as it were, by fire. And who
is not sharp-sighted enough to perceive, that every thing that tends to
separate the colored people from the whites, aids in building up an impassable
barrier to their progress. Now our friends may be compelled to act separately
in schools and churches and benevolent associations, or do worse. Partial
improvement and knowledge are better than ignorance and vice; and, as such may
be obtained and enjoyed by the use of efforts which, under other circumstances,
would be highly impolite, why should our friends make a move of this kind? Is
it not the grand object of our enterprise, to show that our struggle is for great
rights? Are we not purposed
to overthrow any and every arrangement of society that hinders us from the
attainment of that end? And is not the exclusion of worthy men from the pale of
society, from its blessings and privileges, on account of their complexion, the worst form of despotism - the meanest
and most unjustifiable form of tyranny! Ought not such a state of public
sentiment be frowned upon down by every man who feels that he is the image of
his God? Most certainly. Then why should our friends seek to put themselves, to
say the least, that looks like an admission of the rightfulness of such lines
of demarcation? Out upon it, brethren! A man is A MAN, and the rights of man
are what we are seeking to procure. Where, then, is the goodness or depth of
that philosophy that leads you to separate yourselves for an hour from those
coadjutors in this great work? Be not impatient! "Haste makes waste."
The fetter galls and cuts deeply, but we cannot unlock it instantly. In your
desire to become freemen, to feel the spirit of manhood come over you and
strengthen and invigorate you, be careful that you do not tear down what you
build up. You cannot be free until community shall see and feel that you are men. They do not feel it yet. The time will come
when they will acknowledge it.
"There
is in the voice of many a mighty spirit,
Loud
as the echo of three thousand years,
And
a tumultuous world stands mute to hear it,
Like
a lone man who in the desert hears
The
music of his home."
That voice gathers
strength daily. It is being heard above the din and confusion of battle, and is
sinking deep into the hearts of those who can hear the thoughts it utters.
What the aristocrats of
this land desire, is, that the people should keep a distinct and well marked
line of division between between the colored and white population. As long as
there are colored churches there will be no room for colored people in white
churches.. As long as the colored people are content with colored schools there
will be no alteration of public sentiment as respects admission. As long as
colored people hold conventions, made up exclusively of men and women of their own complexion, the
white slaver will let them hold them hold them in peace; and strength and shape
is given daily to that system of ostracism from social, political, and
religious intercourse, which of all things else crushes the colored man at the
North, and makes him twin brother to the bond-slave of the South.
Our friends may rest
assured that if the people of the North were induced to alter their conduct in
this matter, and adopt a more liberal and high minded course of action, it will
be by the most strenuous efforts of the whole Anti-Slavery fraternity. There
should be simultaneous movement in this matter. Every Abolitionist should be a
colored person in this case; and the people should be waked up to a degree of
enthusiasm in regard to the Convention, that it should exceed every thing ever
[held] in the United States. Time should be taken to discuss the measures to be
employed deliberately; and the people should be made distinctly to understand
that our country is your
country; our God your God.
If, then, the colored people ever rise to the full enjoyment of the dignity of
their nature, and obtain the respect which is their due, they will find that
the most powerful of all measures which they can put forward, will be
abstinence from exclusive action just as fast as possible, and claim and use of
the claim of to equal rights just as fast as they can. Call, then, a Convention
for the proposed purpose. Tell every Abolitionist to attend. Summon them up as
you would defend the graves of their fathers (for live men are worth more than
dead ones,) tell them that you cannot "take No, for an answer," and
that their professions are not to be the tests which you will apply. Teach them
to make common cause with you. - Teach them to forget, and forget yourselves as
fast as possible, that you are colored men and women. Do not give "color
to the idea." Break in upon those associations which injustice and deep and
outrageous hypocrisy on the part of whites, have inflicted on you. By doing so
you plant yourselves upon the heights of the battle-field: you inspect the
whole movement: you gather importance as the cause gains ground. The struggle
will be long and bitterly contested, but it must be won on our side. We may
grow grey, we may die, but our children shall sing Hallelujah, and the blessings of freedom shall be
theirs.