Hello, my name is Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, I was born into slavery on December 23 1815 in the state of Maryland. I am an abolitionist and believe that slavery is an abomination and should be forbidden.
As a man who was born into slavery, I can personally say that there are lots of hardships to those affected by slavery. The abuse and the torture that they go through is inhumane and cruel treatment.
At the age of 9, me and my family got lucky and we were able to escape from Maryland when we had to head to a family funeral in another part of the state and we headed to New York City and escaped our owner. I was able to continue my studies in New York City for a long time however, unfortunately years into my studies my family was being searched for by our slave owners and while my parents weren’t captured and taken back to the plantation, my sister was captured. I spent lots of time walking around New York City looking for her. After this I went back to my studies in New York City and began working on my revolution.
I am here to convince you all that slavery is a wrongful and shameful practice and why it should be abolished. The practice of slavery because of its inhumane concept and practice. This practice is torture and this practice has no moral positive impact on the slaves or the good of mankind. Slavery has created divides social divides between different communications and communities.
During my time in New York City in education I started a ‘call to rebellion’ movement. During this movement I delivered an amazing speech in August of 1843 where slaves should turn against their masters. I gave this speech at the National Negro Convention in Rochester, New York and while this speech was not well received by some of my other fellow abolitionists, I believe that we should not put up with slavery and the abuse that owners put us all through. While in New York City I also sheltered fugitive slaves at the Liberty Street Church.
Another reason slavery is so terrible is the emotional and physical abuse that slaves endure makes everything harder for slaves. This abuse is something that leads to health problems and ailments for slaves that have long term consequences which can include physical and mental health problems. The poor working conditions that they have to work under also causes problems for the slaves and their health.
I also believe that slaves who are captured up north who escaped should not be taken back by their owners as prisoners. I have witnessed some of these hardships first hand as I have seen lots of people who were affected by slavery including my own family.
In 1850, I went and traveled to England to speak out against slavery and I also went to England to help African-Americans immigrate to other lands in Africa such as Liberia. When the Civil War started I went to help recruit black soldiers to fight for the Union side of the war. It was during this time I was nearly attacked in the New York Draft riots in 1863 and while I was not hurt I could have been due to my activism.
I also was the first African-American to deliver a sermon to the United States Congress in 1865. During this sermon I urged Congress to adopt the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. During the speech I stated that: “If slavery has been destroyed merely from necessity, let every class be enfranchised at the dictation of justice. Then we shall have a Constitution that shall be reverenced by all, rulers who shall be honored and revered, and a Union that shall be sincerely loved by a brave and patriotic people, and which can never be severed.”
After the Civil War ended I continued to act as an abolitionist and helped to end slavery in other parts of the world such as Brazil and Cuba. In 1881, President James A. Garfield appointed me to be the Ambassador to Liberia and Minister to Liberia and I lived my lifelong dream of living in Africa. In conclusion, my views on slavery is that it should be abolished and I stand by the work I have done to help get rid of slavery once and for all.
Work Cited:
https://time.com/5124917/black-history-month-henry-highland-garnet/
https://www.biography.com/activists/henry-highland-garnet
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Highland-Garnet
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