Two Unreconciled Strivings
Race
|
"The origin and purpose of African colonization. : Being the annual discourse
delivered at the sixty-sixth anniversary of the American colonization society,
held in the New York avenue Presbyterian church, Washington, D. C.,
Sunday, January 14, 1883, : by Edward Wilmot Blyden ... Pub. by request of
the Society."
|
Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832-1912) was President of Liberia College in Monrovia, Liberia. He
outlines the reasons for African colonization by American blacks; the purpose of the American Colonization Society
(founded in 1816 to resettle American blacks in a colony on the African coast); the creation of the Colony of Liberia;
and the current state of the country (which declared its independence in 1847). Blyden appeals for more African-American colonizers.
|
There are Negroes enough in this country to join in the return-descendants of Africa enough, who are faithful
to the instincts of the race, and who realize their duty to their fatherland. I rejoice to know that here where
the teachings of generations have been to disparage the race, there are many who are faithful, there are men and
women who will go, who have a restless sense of homelessness which will never be appeased until they stand in the
great land where their forefathers lived; until they catch glimpses of the old sun, and moon and stars, which still
shine in their pristine brilliancy upon that vast domain; until from the deck of the ship which bears them back
home they see visions of the hills rising from the white margin of the continent, and listen to the breaking music
of the waves-the exhilarating laughter of the sea as it dashes against the beach. These are the elements of the
great restoration. It may come in our own life time. It may be our happiness to see those rise up who will formulate
progress for Africa-embody the ideas which will reduce our social and political life to order; and we may, before
we die, thank God that we have seen His salvation; that the Negro has grasped with a clear knowledge his meaning
in the world's vast life--in politics-in science-in religion.
Full text
(Library of Congress/Daniel A. P. Murray Pamphlet Collection)
|
|
