ePub The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America; 1638-1870 by W.E.B. Du Bois in History

Description

This is a memoir written by a runaway slave. From the preface: "THE idea of writing some account of my travels was first suggested to me by a gentleman who has not a little to do with the bringing out of this work. The Rev. Dr. Campbell also encouraged the suggestion. I then thought that a series of letters in a newspaper would answer the purpose. Circumstances over which I had no control placed it beyond my power to accomplish the design in that form of publication. A few months ago I was requested to spend an evening with some ardent friends of the Negro race; by the arrangement of Mrs. Massie; at her house; Upper Clapton. Her zeal and constancy in behalf of the American Slave are well known on both sides of the Atlantic. Nor is there; I believe; a more earnest friend of my kindred race than is her husband. With him I have repeatedly taken counsel on the best modes of serving our cause. Late in August last; Dr. Massie urged on me the propriety of preparing a volume which might remain as a parting memorial of my visit to England; and serve to embody and perpetuate the opinions and arguments I had often employed to promote the work of emancipation. Peter Carstairs; Esq.; of Madras; being present; cordially and frankly encouraged the project; and other friends; in whose judgment I had confidence; expressed their warmest approval. My publisher has generously given every facility for rendering the proposal practicable. To him I owe my warmest obligations for the promptitude and elegance with which the Volume has been prepared. I do not think the gentlemen who advised it were quite correct in anticipating that so much would be acceptable; in a Book from me. I should have gone about it with much better courage if I had not felt some fears on this point. However; amidst many apprehensions of imperfection; I place it before the reader; begging him to allow me a word by way of apology. I was obliged to write in the midst of most perplexing; most embarrassing; private business; and had not a solitary book or paper to refer to; for a fact or passage; my brain alone had to supply all I wished to compose or compile. Time; too; was very limited. Under these circumstances; that I should have committed some slight inaccuracies; will not appear very strange; though I trust they are not very great or material. I beg the reader generously to forgive the faults he detects; and to believe that my chief motive in writing is the promotion of that cause in whose service I live. I hope that this Book will not be looked upon as a specimen of what a well educated Negro could do; nor as a fair representation of what Negro talent can produce--knowing that; with better materials; more time; and in more favourable circumstances; even I could have done much better; and knowing also; that my superiors among my own people would have written far more acceptably. It will be seen that I have freely made remarks upon other things than slavery; and compared my own with those of other peoples. I did the former as a Man; the latter as a Negro. As a Negro; I live and therefore write for my people; as a Man; I freely speak my mind upon whatever concerns me and my fellow men. If any one be disappointed or offended at that; I shall regret it; all the more; as it is impossible for me to say that; in like circumstances; I should not do just the same again. The reader will not find the dry details of a journal; nor any of my speeches or sermons. I preferred to weave into the Work the themes upon which I have spoken; rather than the speeches themselves. The Work is not a literary one; for it is not written by a literary man; it is no more than its humble title indicates--the Autobiography of a Fugitive Negro. In what sense I am a fugitive; will appear on perusal of my personal and family history."