The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His AchievementsBrown, William Wells
History
The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements
Brown, William Wells
African Americans -- Biography
About the year 1837, Ellis Gray Loring, Esq., took into his office, as
an errand boy, a colored lad of fifteen years of age. The youngster
had a better education than those generally of his age, which showed
that he had been attentive at school. He was not long in his new
situation ere he began to exhibit a liking for the contents of the
sheepskin-covered books that stood around on the shelves, and lay upon
the baize-covered tables. Mr. Loring, seeing the aptitude of the lad,
inquired if he wanted to become a lawyer, and was answered in the
affirmative. From that moment the errand boy became the student, and
studied with an earnestness not often equalled. At scarcely twenty-one
years of age he was admitted to the Boston bar. This was Robert Morris.
With all the prejudice before him, he kept steadily on, resolving that
he would overcome the negro-hate which stood in the way of his efforts
to prosecute his profession. Gradually he grew in practice, until
most of his fellow-members forgot his color in the admiration of his
eloquence and business talent. Mr. Morris is of unmixed blood, but not
black. Small in stature, a neat figure, smiling face, always dressed
with the greatest care, gentlemanly in manner and conversation, his
influence has been felt in behalf of his race. He is an interesting
speaker, quick in his gestures, ardent in his feelings, and
enthusiastic in what he undertakes. He rather inclines to a military
life, and has, on more than one occasion, attempted the organization of
an independent company.
At the presentation of the portrait of John T. Hilton to the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Boston, Mr. Morris made a speech, of which the
following is an extract:--
"I wish we could point to well-executed likenesses of those old colored
heroes of revolutionary memory, who so nobly, patriotically, and
willingly, side by side with their white brethren, fought, bled, and
died to secure freedom and independence to America.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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