Maria Stewart,
Black Woman Abolitionist
Maria W. Stewart was a free black woman, born in Connecticut in
1803. She became an eloquent champion of
the rights of black and women. (In fact, she was the first American-born woman
to address public audiences.) Whereas white women focused singularly on
abolition, black women activists pursued a much broader agenda for racial
justice. The following is excerpted from Stewart’s 1831 pamphlet, “Religion and
the Pure Principles of Morality…”.
Shall it any longer be said of the daughters of Africa,
they have no ambition, they have no force? By no means.
Let every female heart become united, and let us raise a fund ourselves; and at
the end of the one year and a half, we might be able to lay the corner-stone
for the building of a High School, that the higher branches of knowledge might
be enjoyed by us; and God would raise us up, and enough to aid us in our
laudable designs. Let each one strive to excel in good housewifery, knowing
that prudence and economy are the road to wealth. Let
us not say, we know this, or we know that, and practise
nothing; but let us practise what we do know.
How long shall the fair daughters of Africa
be compelled to bury their minds and talents beneath a load of iron pots and
kettles? Until union, knowledge and love begin to flow among us. How long shall
a mean set of men flatter us with their smiles, and enrich themselves with our
hard earnings; their wives' finger's sparkling with rings, and they themselves
laughing at our folly? Until we begin to promote and patronize each other.
Shall we be a by-word among the nations any longer? Shall they laugh us to
scorn forever? Do you ask, what can we do? Unite and
build a store of your own, if you cannot procure a license. Fill one side with
dry goods, and other with groceries. … We have never had an opportunity of
displaying our talents; therefore the world thinks we know nothing. And we have
been possessed of by far too mean and cowardly a disposition, though I highly
disapprove of an insolent or impertinent one. Do you ask the disposition I
would have you possess? Possess the spirit of independence. The Americans do,
and why should not you? Possess the spirit of men, bold and enterprising,
fearless and undaunted. Sue for your rights and privileges. Know the reason
that you can attain them. Weary them with your importunities. You can but die,
if you make the attempt; and we shall certainly die if you do not. The
Americans have practiced nothing but head-work these 200 years, and we have
done their drudgery. And is it not high time for us to imitate their examples,
and practise head-work too, and keep what we have
got, and get what we can? We need never to think that any body is going to feel
interested for us, if we do not feel interested for ourselves. That day we, as
a people, hearken unto the voice of the Lord our God, and walk in his ways and
ordinances, and become distinguished for our ease, elegance and grace, combined
with other virtues, that day the Lord will raise us up, and enough to aid ago
befriend us, and we shall begin to flourish.