Sarah's Awaking by David Walker

ovithanos

Dec 22

David Walker was an American abolitionist who published "An Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World." His work was a call to action for Black unity against slavery and discrimination. Sarah Grimke was another American abolitionist who also focused on women's rights. Her letters were later compiled and published as "Letters on the Equality of Sexes and the Condition of Women." Both Walker and Grimke experienced racial discrimination in their family. Walker's father was enslaved, and Grimke had three biracial nephews. Both individuals used religion as a basis for their emotional calls. Walker thought the way to equality was through self-improvement and religion. Likewise, Grimke was a Quaker, and her beliefs were guided by her religion. She believed that slavery, and oppression in general, was not God's will. Both authors may have been influenced by the Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival during that time. This movement supported the idea that to save one's soul, temperance and acceptance of others was required.

David Walker was born September 28th 1796 and died August 6th, 1830. He was an American abolitionist, writer, and anti-slavery activist. Though his father was enslaved, his mother was free; therefore, he was free as well (partus sequitur ventrem). In 1829, while living in Boston, Massachusetts, with the assistance of the African Grand Lodge (later named Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of Massachusetts), he published An Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, a call for black unity and a fight against slavery.

First published 1830
Ovi Publishing December 2023