David Walker and African American Wretchedness
David Walker is much known in the history of the United States for his appeal on cultural coexistence and racial tolerance. He did this through an Appeal that he wrote in four articles. Through this appeal, we get a glimpse of the American society and the sate of intercultural relations as of that time. His appeal was highly significant to the American society, as it in the best way of observing objectivity at a time that racial intolerance and racism was still rife in the United States1.
David Walkers Appeal was in four articles he wrote. These articles were titled; our wretchedness in consequence of slavery, our wretchedness in consequence of ignorance, our wretchedness in consequence of the preachers of the religion of Jesus Christ and Our wretchedness in consequence of the colonizing plan. His appeal called for understanding and fair playground for both black and white Americans. In the appeal, Walker called for whites to allow blacks to enjoy their freedom. Walker on behalf of the blacks promised that they are not cruel and would not harm anybody by being free. This offer played a significant role in having the White people giving Walker an audience.
Walkers appeal cuts across two types of audiences that he addresses. These are the whites and the black Americans at that time. By the time he wrote this book in 1929, America had a high rate of racism and racial discrimination2. Many black Americans were mistreated and treated just like animals. This is what raised the concern of Walker as a black person. In writing his works, Walker recognized that the situation was not adept at all. He advocated that both White and Black Americans had same capabilities and demanded to be handled humanely without any form of discrimination.
Walkers Appeal is particularly relevant to the Black Americans who suffered by being racially discriminated against. In his appeal, he seeks to evoke the attention of black people in claiming for their rights. By the time of the appeal, so many Americans did not have a platform with which they could have their concerns addressed. Walker was extremely significant as his appeal was amongst the first ones in putting clear the grievances of black Americans. His recognition as one of blacks in the appeal was magnanimous in arousing the desire by black Americans to fight for their rights. The language used in the appeal use quite a number of rhetoric questions such as "when shall we arise from this death-like apathy” which was so emotive3.
Walkers appeal is extremely significant to the whites. In terms of racism, walker put in mind that racism is partly psychological. It s brought about by thinking that Blacks are inferior to the whites. This made Walker tailor his message in the appeal to change this belief, in the minds of the White Americans. His appeal was carrying the message that Black Americans are as human as they are and that they should be handled with dignity. Walkers Appeal was the foundation of the end of racism and discrimination against blacks4. After few writers such as Walker came up in the United States, the fight against racism picked up, and more writers that fought for rights of the blacks came up. This protests resulted to the end of slavery in the United States a few decades to come.
Reference List
David Walker, David Walker’s Appeal, Routledge, Chapter 9, 1912. Print
