The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United StatesDelany, Martin Robison
History
The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States
Delany, Martin Robison
African Americans
That the continent of America seems to have been designed by Providence
as an asylum for all the various nations of the earth, is very apparent.
From the earliest discovery, various nations sent a representation here,
either as adventurers and speculators, or employed seamen and soldiers,
hired to do the work of their employers. And among the earliest and most
numerous class who found their way to the New World, were those of the
African race. And it is now ascertained to our mind, beyond a
peradventure, that when the continent was discovered, there were found
in Central America, a tribe of the black race, of fine looking people,
having characteristics of color and hair, identifying them originally of
the African race--no doubt being a remnant of the Africans who, with the
Carthaginian expedition, were adventitiously cast upon this continent,
in their memorable excursion to the "Great Island," after sailing many
miles distant to the West of the Pillars of Hercules.
We are not inclined to be superstitious, but say, that we can see the
"finger of God" in all this; and if the European race may with
propriety, boast and claim, that this continent is better adapted to
their development, than their own father-land; surely, it does not
necessarily detract from our father-land, to claim the superior
advantages to the African race, to be derived from this continent. But
be that as it may, the world belongs to mankind--his common Father
created it for his common good--his temporal destiny is here; and our
present warfare, is not upon European rights, nor for European
countries; but for the common rights of man, based upon the great
principles of common humanity--taking our chance in the world of rights,
and claiming to have originally more right to this continent, than the
European race. And had we no other claims than those set forth in a
former part of this work, they are sufficient to cause every colored
man on the continent, to stand upon the soil unshaken and unmoved. The
aboriginee of the continent, is more closely allied to us by
consanguinity, than to the European--being descended from the Asiatic,
whose alliance in matrimony with the African is very common--therefore,
we have even greater claims to this continent on that account, and
should unite and make common cause in elevation, with our similarly
oppressed brother, the Indian.
The advantages of this continent are superior, because it presents every
variety of climate, soil, and production of the earth, with every
variety of mineral production, with all kinds of water privileges, arid
ocean coast on all sides, presenting every commercial advantage. Upon
the American continent we are determined to stay, in spite of every odds
against us. What part of the great continent shall our destination
be--shall we emigrate to the North or South?
FOOTNOTE:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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