David Walker
In the context of early 19th-century abolitionism, David Walker’s rejection of colonization and endorsement of resistance reveals how his ideas were shaped by this broader failure of American society.
What is the nation’s inability to reconcile slavery with its ideals of liberty and equality?
Compared to gradualist or moral-suasion abolitionists, David Walker’s Appeal stands out because it justified this response to oppression as morally legitimate.
What is violent resistance or rebellion?
David Walker’s insistence on immediate abolition and full citizenship anticipates later Black activism by emphasizing this enduring goal across the 19th century.
What is racial equality and full civil rights?
The suppression of David Walker’s Appeal by Southern authorities demonstrates its historical significance by revealing their fear of this consequence.
What is the political and social destabilization of slavery through enslaved resistance?
By blending Christian morality, Enlightenment natural rights, and militant rhetoric, David Walker constructed an argument that slavery was incompatible with this foundational principle.
What is moral justice in a democratic society (or human equality under natural law)?