Introduction
David Walker’s Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World is a document that aimed to instill a sense of pride and dignity in the people of color and give them courage and hope even in the face of oppression they faced from the dominant community. Walker derived inspiration to write the appeal from observations and refutations from Racists like Thomas Jefferson. Biblical teachings also inspired him to campaign against oppression and equal treatment of the free and enslaved black community.
Thesis
Slavery abolishment and campaigns to end the oppression of the black community are some of the earliest forms of social reform movements that called for equal treatment of the minority population in the United States of America. In the face of oppression and slavery, violence is better than peaceful demonstrations in the quest for freedom.
Christian Doctrines
Walker, in his appeal, calls on the enslaved black people to act to free themselves from the inferiority mindset that made them subject to slavery. He uses religious doctrines to challenge further the proposed reforms that aimed to deny the black population further their freedom.[1]. Having been brought up in a community in Charleston, where churches were anti-slavery, Walker was inspired by the Christian teachings to pass the message of liberation to the dominant society and the enslaved black population.[2]. Walker condemns the dominant society of being hypocrites. He claims that the Bible advises on the equality of all men and would punish those who oppressed their fellow human beings on Earth, ‘I will not speak of the destructions the Lord brought upon Egypt due to the oppression and groans of the oppressed.’[3] Walker argues that God would punish the dominant community who supported slavery as he did to the Egyptians for oppressing the Israelites.
Walker also argues that those who believe in the Word of God can lay down prejudice against the black community. He further asserts that the followers of Christ do not see their counterparts as less of human beings and believe in God’s message that he alone is to be served, ‘God made man serve him alone.’[4] Walker campaigns against slaveholders who thought the enslaved black people could not speak for themselves and proclaims that their behavior is against the Word of God. He notes that servitude should only be left to God as he is the master of all creation, ‘Almighty is the sole proprietor of the human family.’[5] Walker also preaches to the dominant society in the United States of America that God would pass his judgment on them for their hypocrisy and bending the Biblical teachings to enslave the black people.
Observations
Walker being a great adventurer, also derives his inspiration to fight for the liberation of the enslaved population in America from his observations during his travels. He claims that during these travels, he has made observations all over the nation that the people of color are the most oppressed.[6] Walker asserts that he had a full and shaken conviction on the pathetic states of the black people’s conditions in the country. Moreover, he would not wish a similar fate for any other generation in the country, ‘I pray that none like us ever may live again until time shall pass no more.’[7] He compares the situation of his people to that of the Helots in Sparta and the Israelites in Egypt. His observations depict that the dominant society alludes to the Bible and Great History books to promote the suffering and oppression of the enslaved community.
The dominant society, especially the slaveholders, seem to justify their actions on past narrations that saw the minority groups being subjected to slavery and oppression. These groups were the Roman enslaved people and the Helots in Sparta. Walker condemned these actions and proposed that the United States of America can do better than the historical happenings. They are a self-proclaimed Christian nation founded on liberty, ‘Respecting our miseries and wretchedness in this Republican land of liberty.’ He confronts the enforcers of the status quo not to ship the free people of color back to Africa and asserts that America is their home. He condemns the government’s actions in places like Ohio and describes how his people had been beaten and driven from the country. Through his observations, Walker inspires courage in the black community and encourages them to hold on till the end as they face their adversaries who want to chase them from their homes, ‘Let no man of us budge one step.’
Refutations of Racists
Thomas Jefferson’s racist remarks on white supremacy angered Walker. Jefferson had earlier claimed that the black race was inferior to the white race in all aspects of life. He argued that for the white community to preserve their dignity and beauty, they had to view the other races as inferior as nature dictated.[8]. Moreover, in his speech, Jefferson pointed out that whites should not join the black race in liberation movements as their color stood as the obstacle to their emancipation.[9] Walker condemns the latter racist speech by using the declaration of IndependenceIndependence to challenge the hypocrisy of the nation’s leaders. For instance, the dominant society confronts their lack of understanding of their declaration that stated that every country was created equally by God, ‘Do you understand your own language?’
Walker believed that the declaration of Independence promoted happiness and peaceful coexistence between the people of color and the white community. The latter was contrary to the remarks of the President. Walker himself, born by a free mother and an enslaved father, understood both sides of the world. He condemns the ills of the slaveholders on the enslaved community. Walker further compares the situation of the people of color to that of America under Great Britain.[10]. David Walker is against the remarks of racists like Thomas Jefferson as they seemed to have not learned from history. However cruel and unjust were the British, their cruelty could not surpass what the enslaved black community was subjected to by the slaveholders. The remarks on equality by Jefferson made Walker allude to Satanic persuasions that made the White community not be humble as Christianity expects, ‘Ought they not be humble as I? Do you think they can measure arms with Jehovah?’[11]
Relationship Between the Inspirations
Walker’s sources of inspiration like doctrines from Christianity, refutations from racists, and observations are similar in that they are all inclined towards the nature of cruelty and oppression that the people of color went through in the hands of the dominant society slaveholders. The inspirations connect both historical and current situations and connect them to oppression and racism in America. For instance, Walker challenges Jefferson’s remarks using historical observations such as how the British rule was cruel on the Americans and calls for a change based on the idea that Americans ought to learn from history. Moreover, he challenges the remarks on black’s inferiority by using biblical arguments that God created everyone equal. The inspirations are also related as their all point out the need of all Americans to promote effective coexistence. The motivations call on the need to stop slavery and oppression in the United States of America.
What Intellectual Tradition Influenced Walker Most?
David Walker’s appeal was influenced mainly by religious (Christian) doctrines. He compares the oppression of the people of color under the rulership of the dominant community to biblical stories like the Israelites who were under Egyptian rulership. Moreover, he calls on enslaved people to have faith as God will deliver them from oppression as he did to the Israelites. Walker uses Biblical narrations to counter any ills on the enslaved community. For example, he calls on Christians to stop slavery and asserts that God would punish the slaveholders who dared raise arms on Jehovah. He derives his Christian doctrines from his parents, having been raised the Christian way.
Conclusion
David Walker, in his appeal, campaigned for the liberation of the enslaved black people and just treatment of the black community. He derives his inspiration to fight for his people from Christianity and observations during his travels across the nation. Moreover, racists’ remarks from people like Thomas Jefferson inspired him to challenge the hypocrisy in America as far as equal treatment of all citizens was concerned. The inspirations were related in that they act as channels through which Walker aims to pass his anti-slavery messages to the citizens of America. Christianity influenced David Walker the most in his attempts to guide the dominant society to end slavery.
Bibliography
Garnet, Henry Highland. Walker’s Appeal. BoD–Books on Demand, 2020.
Jones, Brandon, and Alvin Curette. “A Christian Critique of David Walker’s Appeal.” (2018).
Thompson, Peter. “David Walker’s Nationalism—and Thomas Jefferson’s.” Journal of the Early Republic 37, no. 1 (2017): 47-80.
[1] Jones, Brandon, and Alvin Curette. “A Christian Critique of David Walker’s Appeal.” (2018).
[2] Jones, Brandon, and Alvin Curette. “A Christian Critique of David Walker’s Appeal.” (2018).
[3] Garnet, Henry Highland. Walker’s Appeal. BoD–Books on Demand, 2020.
[4] Garnet, Henry Highland. Walker’s Appeal. BoD–Books on Demand, 2020.
[5] Garnet, Henry Highland. Walker’s Appeal. BoD–Books on Demand, 2020.
[6] Garnet, Henry Highland. Walker’s Appeal. BoD–Books on Demand, 2020.
[7] Jones, Brandon, and Alvin Curette. “A Christian Critique of David Walker’s Appeal.” (2018).
[8] Thompson, Peter. “David Walker’s Nationalism—and Thomas Jefferson’s.” Journal of the Early Republic 37, no. 1 (2017): 47-80.
[9] Thompson, Peter. “David Walker’s Nationalism—and Thomas Jefferson’s.” Journal of the Early Republic 37, no. 1 (2017): 47-80.
[10] Garnet, Henry Highland. Walker’s Appeal. BoD–Books on Demand, 2020.
[11] Jones, Brandon, and Alvin Curette. “A Christian Critique of David Walker’s Appeal.” (2018).
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