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
honorably mentioned in the best circles. The last words, the daring,
and the death of Attucks gave spirit and enthusiasm to the revolution,
and his heroism was imitated by both whites and blacks. His name was
a rallying cry for the brave colored men who fought at the battle of
Bunker's Hill. In the gallant defence of Redbank, where four hundred
blacks met and defeated fifteen hundred Hessians headed by Count Donop,
the thought of Attucks filled them with ardor. When Colonel Greene fell
at Groton, surrounded by his black troops who perished with him, they
went into the battle feeling proud of the opportunity of imitating the
first martyr of the American revolution.
No monument has yet been erected to him. An effort was made in the
legislature of Massachusetts a few years since, but without success.
Five generations of accumulated prejudice against the negro had
excluded from the American mind all inclination to do justice to one of
her bravest sons. When negro slavery shall be abolished in our land,
then we may hope to see a monument raised to commemorate the heroism of
Crispus Attucks.
DESSALINES.
Jean Jacques Dessalines was a native of Africa. Brought to St. Domingo
at the age of sixteen, he was sold to a black man named Dessalines,
from whom he took his own. His master was a tiler or house-shingler,
and the slave learned that trade, at which he worked until the breaking
out of the revolution of 1789, when he entered the army as a common
soldier, under Toussaint. By his activity and singular fierceness
on the field of battle, Dessalines attracted the attention of his
general, who placed him among his guides and personal attendants; and
he was subsequently rapidly advanced through several intermediate
grades to the dignity of being the third in command. He was entirely
ignorant of learning, as the utmost extent that he ever acquired was
to sign his name. Dessalines was short in stature, but stout and
muscular. His complexion was a dingy black; his eyes were prominent
and scowling, and the lines of his features expressed the untamed
ferocity of his character. He had a haughty and disdainful look.
Hunger, thirst, fatigue, and loss of sleep he seemed made to endure as
if by peculiarity of constitution. He bore upon his arms and breast
the marks of his tribe. Inured by exposure and toil to a hard life,
his frame possessed a wonderful power of endurance. He was a bold and
turbulent spirit, whose barbarous eloquence lay in expressive signs
rather than in words. What is most strange in the history of Dessalines
is, that he was a savage, a slave, a soldier, a general, and died, when
an emperor, under the dagger of a Brutus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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