•• M M H
February 17, 1988, Portiand Observer, Page 7
Abolition, Agitation and Emancipation
The history of African people in the United States doesn't begin in 1619,
nor does it begin with the first Black people to arrive in the new world. The
history of African people in the new world must begin in Africa. Black Ame
ricas are unique in that we are the only Americans who were brought here
against our will.
There are those who give no thought to what it meant to be captured,
torn from family, friends and familiar surroundings and carried off to another
continent. Too often we are led to believe that the African continent was a
backward and uncivilized place where savages lived. The truth is that Africa
has a rich history and can boast of ancient civilizations. Anthropologists now
admit that the civilizations of the Nile Valley were influenced and shaped by
Nubian people who were black. The Ishango people lived more than eight
thousand years ago and used primitive multiplication tables long before any
Europeans. The fact is that the enslaved African was not a savage but rather
was savaged._______________________
The bruta| s|ave svstem in
the English colonies that later
became the United States
___________________________ was such that it led to suicides
and slave revolts. The names of Nat Turner and Denmark Vesey are known
to us because of their efforts to throw off the yoke of slavery. By the nine
teenth century a movement to abolish slavery in America had sprung up.
That movement came to be known as the Abolitionist Movement.
BLACKS IN POLITICS
The Abolitionist Movement was started by whites and was, for a long
time, led by whites. William Lloyd Garrison was perhaps the most promi
nent white Abolitionist. Garrison published a newspaper called "Liberator,"
which began in January, 1831. In the first issue he said, "I will be as harsh as
truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject (slavery) I do not
wish to think, to speak, or write, with moderation. No! No! Tell a man whose
house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately res
cue his wife from the hands of the ravishes; tell the mother to gradually extri
cate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; but urge me not to use
moderation in a cause like the present! I am in earnest — I will not equivo
bated the matter of slavery. The Dred Scott decision in 1857 confirmed
that the Africans in America were not "citizens" and were not entitled to
the Constitutional safeguards enjoyed by white Americans.
But the Abolitionist Movement continued to grow. In 1852 the book,
"Uncle Tom's Cabin", appeared and sold 300,000 copies. It soon was being
performed as a play all over the northern states. The story dramatized the
cruelty of the slave system built on human degredation and exploitation.
There were blacks as well as whites who believed that only sending the
slaves "back to Africa" would solve the race problem. The African nation ol
Liberia was created as a haven for freed Blacks. Men like Martin Delany
were strong advocates of establishing an African homeland. Others sug
gested Haiti or South America as more practical. Most Black people rejecte-
the idea of leaving America. Many regard it as banishment and felt them
cate - I will not excuse - I will not retreat a single inch - AND I WILL BE
HEARD."
In 1833, Garrison founded the American Anti-Slavery Society in Phila
delphia. Black men were active in the Society from its beginnings. The
Reverend Samuel Cornish, Reverend Theodore Wright of New York and
Reverend Peter Williams all served on the Society's executive committee.
The Anti-Slavery Society discovered and recruited Frederick Douglass, a
runaway slave from Maryland.
Douglass, a self-taught man with
the gift of powerful speech, became
something of a sensation. While
some white men sought to break up
Society meetings and whilte Doug
lass was frequently assaulted and
insulted, his speeches drew large
crowds that went away convinced
that slavery was wrong and had to
be abolished.
In 1852 Frederick Douglass was
invited to address the citizens of
Rochester, New York at a Fourth of
July Celebration. He told them,
"The Fourth of July is yours, not
mine.
You may rejoice, I must
mourn. To drag a man into the
grand illuminated temple of liberty,
and call upon him to join you in _______________________
joyous anthems, were inhuman
Frederick Douglass
mockery and sacreligious irony . . . Fellow citizens, above your national tur-
multous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions, whose chorus, heavy and
grievous yesterday, are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilant
shouts that reach them . . ."
The 1850s brought Black people increasing despair as the nation de-
selves entitled to the "blessings" of America.
There were conventions held by Blacks in almost every northern state
These conventions adopted resolutions protesting and condemning slavery
and demanding emancipation and full citizenship rights for all Americans
And in the South there was the Underground Railroad typified by Harriet
Tubman's daring. Thousands of Blacks escaped slavery by running away
Congress adopted Fugitive slave laws in a vain effort to thwart the effort
of free Blacks and white Christians to free those held in bondage
John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry was a signal flash to the country
that those who opposed slavery would not be forever content with polite
petitions and mass meetings. In Boston, New York and Philadelphia free
Black men and women attacked police officers attempting to arrest Biact
accused of being fugitive slaves.
The Civil War and Emancipation renewed African-American faith in the
dream of a society of free and equal citizens of every race and class. Black-
served in the Union Army as fighting men, spies, nurses and scouts. No:
until 1864 did these men receive the same pay as white soldiers. However a
total of 186,000 Black men fought for the Union Army.
Frederick Douglass described the announcement of the Emancipation
Proclamation as a "trilling experience". Indeed, it must have been.
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Grant's Shawn Hosey shoots over the Wilson defense but Grant came
up two points short in its 7S-T7 loss to Wilson.
Photo by Richard J. Brown
W ilsoti 'Shoots O ut'
G rant For W in
by Fred Hembry
On Friday, Feb. 12, 1988, Wilson
paced off with Grant High for one of
the hottest contests of the season.
This game held nothing back.
The crowd stayed on its feet from
start to finish, swaying to the beat
Of Grant's well-directed stage band,
and the sound of swishing nets.
Both teams came out crashing
the net in the first quarter ending
with an amazing, last-second
twenty-five footer by Wilson's Char
les McKinney, bringing the score to
24 Wilson, 21 Grant.
With the opening of the second
quarter, Wilson came out firing
from 'the three-point zone', with
McKinney at the trigger, answering
again with three by Craig Ford.
Wilson has an offense that seems
to focus on the three-point shot.
The three-point barrier is an area
that surrounds the key ranging from
25 to 30 feet from the hoop.
This happens to be the first year
of the three-point ruling in Oregon
schools. This gives high school
basketball a new dimension much
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Wilson is one of few teams able
to score with consistancy at this
range. They do so with an amazing
50 percent accuracy.
James Demry again answered the
call for team leadership offsetting
Wilson's perimeter jumpers with
some of his own: he hit 19 points
in all.
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Near the end of the first half,
Wilson led 45-42.
The second half barrage began
with Shawn Hosey scoring down
low, returned with the same play by
Johnny Lyday of Wilson.
The last half of this contest was
most exciting with Grant answering
Wilson almost shot for shot. Unfor
tunately, Grant was not able to
overtake the hot-handed playing of
Wilson.
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Wilson stayed ahead with last-
minute foul shooting, forced by
Grant with 20 seconds, for the 79-
77 win.
This was a truly great contest —
an excellent showcase of the three-
point game attributes. Thanks for
the show!
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