eBook David Walker's Appeal - Journal of Pan African Studies

It is a fact, that in our Southern and Western States, there are millions who hold us in chains or in
slavery, whose greatest object and glory, is centered in keeping us sunk in the most profound
ignorance and stupidity, to make us work without remunerations for our services. Many of whom
if they catch a coloured person, whom they hold in unjust ignorance, slavery and degradation, to
them and their children, with a book in his hand, will beat him nearly to death. I heard a wretch
in the state of North Carolina said, that if any man would teach a black person whom he held in
slavery, to spell, read or write, he would prosecute him to the very extent of the law.--Said the
ignorant wretch. It is a fact, that in all our Slave-holding States (in the countries) there are
thousands of the whites, who are almost as ignorant in comparison as horses, the most they
know, is to beat the coloured people, which some of them shall have their hearts full of yet.
"a Nigar, ought not to have any more sense than enough to work for his master." May I not ask to
fatten the wretch and his family?--These and similar cruelties these Christians have been for
hundreds of years inflicting on our fathers and us in the dark, God has however, very recently
published some of their secret crimes on the house top, that the world may gaze on their
Christianity and see of what kind it is composed.--Georgia for instance, God has completely
shown to the world, the Christianity among its white inhabitants. A law has recently passed the
Legislature of this republican State (Georgia) prohibiting all free or slave persons of colour,
from learning to read or write; another law has passed the republican House of Delegates, (but
not the Senate) in Virginia, to prohibit all persons of colour, (free and slave) from learning to
read or write, and even to hinder them from meeting together in order to worship our maker!
Now I solemnly appeal, to the most skilful historians in the world, and all those who are mostly
acquainted with the histories of the Antediluvians and of Sodom and Gomorrah, to show me a
parallel of barbarity. Christians!! Christians!!! I dare you to show me a parallel of cruelties in
the annals of Heathens or of Devils, with those of Ohio, Virginia and of Georgia--know the
world that these things were before done in the dark, or in a corner under a garb of humanity and
religion. God has however, taken of the fig-leaf covering, and made them expose themselves on
the house top. I tell you that God works in many ways his wonders to perform, he will unless
they repent, make them expose themselves enough more yet to the world.--See the acts of the
Christians in Florida, South Carolina, And Kentucky--was it not for the reputation of the house
of my Lord and Master, I would mention here, an act of cruelty inflicted a few days since on a
black man, by the white Christians in The Park Street Church, in this (City) Which Is Almost
Enough To Make Demons Themselves Quake And Tremble in Their Firey Habitations.--Oh! My
Lord How Refined In Iniquity the whites have got to be in consequence of our blood. The Blood
of our fathers who have been murdered by the whites, and the groans of our Brethren, who are
now held in cruel ignorance, wretchedness and slavery by them, cry aloud to the Maker of
Heaven and of earth, against the whole continent of America, for redresses.
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David Walker’s Appeal by David Walker
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook