David Walker Appeal

In the 1820's, the abolitionist has not attracted many followers because there seemed to be no way to abandon slavery without another revolution. As the constitution stated that states can allow slavery, though the Northerners did not want slavery, they felt it was not their responsibility to fight against with it. State leaders such as John Adams who was against slavery, were scared to speak out against slavery as they fear to lose the support from the slave owners. During this critical period, people need a radical hero to facilitate the American Revolution.
In September of 1829, David Walker wrote and published APPEAL to the Colored citizens of the World, the first published work that fight against slavery and racism come from a Black man in the United States. It was one of the most inspirational political statements of the nineteenth century. The eighty-two pages pamphlet made an impassioned case against slavery and the racial discrimination.
Though David Walker’s Appeal is ideologically ambitious and historically significant, his opinions in this pamphlet are very radical. His political opinion, his challenging towards Mr. Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, his use of religions and use of language can show his radical in this pamphlet.
David Walker’s radical can be seen from his political opinion. In the preamble, David Walker declares that his motive in writing is “to awaken in the breasts of afflicted, degraded and slumbering brethren, a spirit of inquiry and investigation respecting our miseries and wretchedness in this Republican Land of Liberty!!!!!” . David Walker’s appeal was aimed towards African American slaves. The goal was to have the entire colored citizens rise up and fight against the slaveholders...

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The Appeal thus stands as an early manifestation of radical black slavery. David Walker’s Appeal is not only inspired the early abolitionists, but also facilitate the American Revolution of the abolishment for slavery. David Walker’s attitude and opinions are very radical in the Appeal; he encouraged colored slaves to fight for their freedom, challenged and questioned Mr. Jefferson (whom represented the authority) and the Declaration of Independence. In addition, he also utilized religions and the writing style in the Appeal to alert all his American fellows to abolish slavery. Though David Walker's Appeal is very radical, his behavior and action is very reasonable. Precisely because of his radical, more and more people were inspired and start to support abolition slavery. His radical is a logical extension of the principals of the American Revolution.