Black Abolitionists in the Age of Jackson: Catalysts in the Radicalization of American Abolitionism

Blacks were signif'ly involved in the abolitionist crusade, but more specifically, the more radical antislavery offensive of the early 1830's & 1840's was to a large extent inspired, & not infrequently directed, by black abolitionists. This black contribution has been largely ignored by historians, as Illustrated by David Donald, LINCOLN RECONSIDERED: ESSAYS ON THE CIVIL WAR (New York, NY: Alfred Knopf, 2nd Ed, 1956). Donald's failure to recognize (or acknowledge) the role of Negroes in the abolitionist movement raises serious doubts about the conclusions he draws in his reconsideration of the abolitionists. What made blacks abolitionists in greater proportion than whites, catalytic agents in the radicalization of Amer abolitionism is related to the fact that black leaders could not identify with certain features of the Amer character, eg, conservatism, belief in the sanctity of private property as the cornerstone for all other liberties, etc. Negroes, vis-avis the white majority, had literally nothing to lose. This disposed them more readily toward extremism & militancy. Thus, the change in Amer abolitionism which occurred in the 3rd decade of the 19th cent is traced to the change in views of Negroes re the ethos of the abolitionist crusade, the goals to be achieved, & the methods to be used in accomplishing objectives. They lost faith in moral suasion & the appeal to right reason as a solution to rampant Amer racism. They went beyond their white supporters in bringing the abolitionist rhetoric down from the rarefied realms of abstraction to the more mundane, but real issues which affected the quality of life for Negro Amer's. M. Maxfield.