1803 Maria W. Stewart, Activist

Photo courtesy of blackchickalittlerocked.com

contributed october 24, 2011 by: BLACKPAST

The following speech lamenting the lack of African names among the famous, was given before a racially integrated audience at the African Masonic Hall, Boston MA, in 1833

"AFRICAN RIGHTS and liberty is a subject that ought to fire the breast of every free man of color in these United States, and excite in his bosom a lively, deep, decided and heart-felt interest. When I cast my eyes on the long list of illustrious names that are enrolled on the bright annals of fame amongst the whites, I turn my eyes within, and ask my thoughts, “Where are the names of our illustrious ones?”

Where can we find amongst ourselves the man of science, or a philosopher, or an able statesman, or a counselor at law? Show me our fearless and brave, our noble and gallant ones. Where are our lecturers on natural history, and our critics in useful knowledge? There may be a few such men amongst us, but they are rare."

(xHistory xPOC xBlack xAfricanAmerican xUSA xWomen xActivist)