David Walker

Personal Statement: Hello, my name is David Walker, born on September 27th, 1796 in Wilmington, North Carolina. I am an African Abolitionist, and grew up a free black as my mother was free, and my father was a slave who died before my birth. Although I was born a free man, I witnessed the harsh abuse that slavery has on people. As I saw the people around me entrapped as slaves, I knew that I would need to to do something to help them out. On one account, I witnessed a son forced to beat his mother to death. With this, I needed to move out of town and I decided to move to Boston. I ran a used clothing store in Boston to make money, as I helped out the poor and needy.

Issue: Although there was many issues during my time, I was destined to help those enslaved. Being a free black at this time allowed me to help my brothers and sisters in their fight for freedom. I had what it took to help create uprising among the slaves to fight for their freedom. The slaves deserved respect and it seemed as if they didn't realize that hope and change was possible. I knew that one day there would be no slavery in the states. That there would eventually be a time where blacks and whites were free together. I was a strong abolitionist and didn't let anything stop me from spreading my ideas.

Solution: I was also a writer for the Freedom Journal, which was a pro-abolitionist newspaper. Actually, the first journal written by blacks. I invested more time writing my Appeal though. This was to free the slaves and I had a rough time moving the pamphlet. I used sailors to bring the pamphlets to the south since my shop was right next to a waterfront in Boston. Because of the Appeal that I wrote, many southerners wanted me dead because it was written to motivate the slaves and bring hope to them that one day they would be free. Many of my dearest family members and friends told me to flee to Canada so that my death wasn't because of a bounty.  I was determined to stand my ground and not let anything take away my dedication to help keep the slaves' hopes up. Somebody must die in this cause I may be doomed to the stake and the fire, or to the scaffold tree but it is not in me to falter if I can promote the work of emancipation. Since there was a bounty over my head, I must have done something right in the attempt to spread new information to slaves to cause change in the ideas and believes of those entrapped.

Relationship With Others: I would feel comfortable next to any of this fine ladies and gentlemen; Henry Thoreau, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Horace Greeley, Adin Ballou, Theodore Parker, Wendell Phillips, Arthur Tappan, John Greenleaf Whittier, or Theodore Dwight Weld. This is because all of those listed were in some way shape or form abolitionists and opposed slavery. From everyone attending the dinner, I would feel
especially comfortable with Frederick Douglass, due to him being a run-away slave.