Prominent Black Abolitionists

Why This Matters

The abolitionist movement wasn't monolithic—Black activists debated fiercely over how to end slavery and what freedom should look like. You're being tested on understanding these strategic differences: moral suasion (convincing white Americans through appeals to conscience), radical resistance (calling for immediate action, including violence), and direct action (physically liberating enslaved people). These debates shaped not just the fight against slavery but also laid the groundwork for every civil rights movement that followed.

Don't just memorize names and dates. Know which abolitionists championed which strategies, how their personal experiences shaped their activism, and why their writings—especially slave narratives—became powerful political tools. The CED emphasizes that slave narratives served as "historical accounts, literary works, and political texts" designed to demonstrate Black humanity and advocate for inclusion. When you encounter an FRQ about resistance strategies or the origins of Black political thought, these figures are your go-to examples.

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Radical Resistance: Demanding Immediate Change

Some abolitionists rejected gradual approaches entirely, arguing that enslaved people had every right to fight for their freedom by any means necessary. This tradition of radical resistance challenged both the institution of slavery and the patience-based strategies of white abolitionists.

David Walker

• "Walker's Appeal" (1829)—a revolutionary pamphlet calling for immediate emancipation and, if necessary, armed resistance against enslavers
• Directly challenged Thomas Jefferson's racist claims in Notes on the State of Virginia, asserting Black intellectual and moral equality
• Foundational text for radical Black political thought—his writings inspired generations of activists and established the tradition of demanding rights rather than requesting them

Henry Highland Garnet

• "Address to the Slaves" (1843)—delivered at the National Negro Convention, explicitly urging enslaved people to resist their bondage through rebellion
• Evolved toward emigration in later years, helping establish the Cuban Anti-Slavery Society (1872) and serving as U.S. minister to Liberia
• Married to Julia Williams Garnet, who was also an activist; together they represent the collaborative nature of Black abolitionist families

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Moral Suasion and the Power of Testimony

Other abolitionists believed that exposing the horrors of slavery through personal testimony would awaken white consciences and build political support for emancipation. Slave narratives became essential tools in this strategy, combining literary power with political purpose.

Frederick Douglass

• Three autobiographies documented his experiences in slavery and became foundational texts in American literature and abolitionist politics
• Renowned orator whose speaking tours in the U.S. and Britain demonstrated Black intellectual capability and challenged racist assumptions
• Advocated for universal equality—supported women's suffrage and civil rights for all marginalized groups, not just African Americans

William Wells Brown

• First published African American novelist—his novel Clotel (1853) used fiction to expose slavery's brutalities and contradictions
• Escaped slavery and became an influential lecturer whose personal testimony moved audiences across the Atlantic
• Emphasized education as essential to Black advancement and full citizenship

Sojourner Truth

• "Ain't I a Woman?" speech—powerfully articulated the intersection of racial and gender oppression, challenging both slavery and patriarchy
• Former enslaved woman whose personal testimony gave moral authority to her advocacy for abolition and women's rights
• Worked throughout her life for social justice, demonstrating how abolitionism connected to broader reform movements

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Direct Action: The Underground Railroad and Physical Liberation

Some abolitionists moved beyond words to physically liberate enslaved people, risking their own freedom and lives. This tradition of direct action created networks of resistance that saved thousands.

Harriet Tubman

• Conductor on the Underground Railroad—made approximately 13 rescue missions, leading roughly 70 people to freedom
• Military service during the Civil War as a spy, scout, and nurse for the Union Army, becoming the first woman to lead an armed assault (Combahee River Raid)
• Known as "Moses"—this biblical comparison emphasized her role as a liberator and connected her work to African American spiritual traditions

Robert Purvis

• Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society leader—actively worked to assist escaped slaves through his home, which served as an Underground Railroad station
• Advocated for anti-slavery legislation and used his wealth and social position to advance the cause
• Promoted education and civil rights as essential components of Black advancement beyond just ending slavery

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Public Advocacy: Lectures and Organizing

Many abolitionists built the movement through sustained public speaking, organizational work, and coalition-building. These activists created the infrastructure that made abolitionism a national force.

Maria W. Stewart

• First American woman to speak publicly on political issues to mixed-gender audiences, breaking both racial and gender barriers
• Emphasized moral and intellectual development—argued that education and self-improvement were essential weapons against oppression
• Published essays and lectures that connected abolition to women's rights, anticipating later intersectional activism

Charles Lenox Remond

• Prominent lecturer who worked alongside Frederick Douglass and white abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison
• Advocated for full inclusion of African Americans in abolitionist organizations, not just as subjects but as leaders
• Testified before the Massachusetts legislature against segregated transportation, demonstrating early civil rights activism

Sarah Parker Remond

• International lecturer—spoke throughout Britain and Ireland, building transatlantic support for abolition
• Focused on intersecting oppressions of race and gender, arguing that both systems needed to be dismantled
• Worked alongside her brother Charles, representing the family networks that sustained abolitionist activism

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Quick Reference Table

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Self-Check Questions

1. Which two abolitionists most clearly represent the radical resistance tradition, and what specific texts or speeches demonstrate their approach?

2. Compare and contrast Frederick Douglass and David Walker in terms of their strategies for ending slavery. How did their approaches to moral suasion differ?

3. How did Harriet Tubman's activism differ from Robert Purvis's, and what does this reveal about the different roles abolitionists played based on their circumstances?

4. Which abolitionists explicitly connected the fight against slavery to women's rights, and how did they articulate this intersection?

5. If an FRQ asked you to explain how slave narratives functioned as political texts, which two figures would you discuss, and what specific elements of their work would you emphasize?