2.10 Selections of letters written to newspapers, 1831–1841

Thomas L. Jennings, Letter in Freedom’s Journal, April 4, 1828

“Our claims are on America; it is the land that gave us birth. We know no other country. It is a land in which our fathers have suffered and toiled. They have watered it with their tears and fanned it with their sighs.

Our relation with Africa is the same as the white man’s is with Europe. We have passed through several generations in this country and consequently we have become naturalized. Our habits, our manners, our passions, our dispositions have become the same. The same mother’s milk has nourished us both in infancy; the white child and the colored have both hung on the same breast. I might as well tell the white man about England, France or Spain, the country from whence his forefathers emigrated, and call him a European, as for him to call us Africans. Africa is as foreign to us as Europe is to them.”

“A Subscriber,” Letter in The Liberator, September 4, 1831

“To the Editor:

The term ‘colored’ Is not a good one. Whenever used, it recalls to mind the offensive distinctions of color. The name ‘African’ is more objectionable yet, and is no more correct than ‘Englishman’ would be to a native-born citizen of the United States.

The colored citizen is an American of African descent. Cannot a name be found that will explain these two facts? I suggest one, and I beg your readers to reflect on it before you reject it as unsuitable. It is ‘Afric-American’ or, written in one word, “Africamerican.’ It asserts that most important truth, that the colored citizen is as truly a citizen of the United States as the white.”

Samuel E. Cornish and Philip A. Bell, Editorial in The Colored American, March 4, 1837

The editor, aware of the diversity of opinion in reference to the title of this “Paper” thinks it not amiss to state some reasons for selecting this name. Many would gladly rob us of the endeared name “AMERICAN,” a distinction more emphatically belonging to us than five-sixths of this nation and one that we will never yield.

But why colored? Because our circumstances require special action. We have in view objects peculiar to ourselves and in contradistinction from the mass. How, then, shall we be known and in our interests presented but by some distinct, specific name—and what appellation is so inoffensive, so acceptable as COLORED PEOPLE – COLORED AMERICANS?

William Whipper, Minutes of the Fifth Annual Convention for the Improvement of the Free People of Color in the United States (Philadelphia, 1835)

That we recommend as far as possible to our people to abandon the use of the word “colored” when either speaking or writing concerning themselves; and especially to remove the title of African from their institutions, the marbles of their churches, &c. 

William Whipper’s resolution in relation to the words “colored” and “Africans” was called up, and after an animated and interesting discussion, it was unanimously adopted.

Sidney, Letter in The Colored American (letters from March 6 and 13, 1841)

We do not think that by watering and preserving the plant that perfumes our room that therefore we dislike all other plants in the world. We do not believe that in loving our own mother’s sons, our brothers, that therefore we exclude mankind. In fine we have no sympathy with that cosmopoliting disposition which tramples upon all nationality.

And pray, for what are we to turn around and bay the whole human family? Why are we to act different from all others in this important matter? Why, because we happen to be –COLORED.

That we are colored is a fact, an undeniable fact. That we are descendants of Africans is true. We affirm there is nothing in it that we need to be ashamed of, yea, there is much that we may be proud of.

For ourselves we are quite well satisfied. And we intend, in all our public efforts, to go to the power-holding body and tell them, ‘Colored as we are, black though we may be, yet we demand our rights, the same rights other citizens have.’

Source: Call and Response, 1831–1841, pages 87–89, excerpted by the College Board.