Article II
In this article, Walker discusses his opposition to Christians, and partly blamed them for slavery. Quickly bringing up religion, he does not understand why they do not follow the light that God has blessed them with. "Fortune and misfortune, two inseparable companions," he says, "...will continue to take place among men until God shall dash words together."
Walker says that blacks must unite as one if they will ever overcome the oppression from whites. He goes on to give examples of moments in history when the underdogs have an unexpected win, and explains the story of Hannibal. He tells of how Carthage had been un-united, and that was the reason behind their loss.
"They were dis-united, as the coloured people are now, in the United States of America, the reason our natural enemies are enabled to keep their feet on our throats."Walker touches on the topic of Thomas Jefferson, and says that Jefferson owns many slaves and is fully aware that slavery in unjust. This emphasize how Americans support slavery though they know African Americans could revolt.
Walker has strong faith, and believes if God would bless them to rise above slavery they shall. He is strongly opposed to slavery, stating that he thinks it is awful the amount of abuse used, specifically mentioning pregnant women suggesting owner’s lack of boundaries.
“These are some of the productions of ignorance, which he will see practised among my dear brethren, who are held in unjust slavery and wretchedness, by avaricious and unmerciful tyrants, to whom, and their hellish deeds, I would suffer my life to be taken before I would submit.”
He lastly emphasizes on the need to enlighten blacks, because it is the faults of blacks for remaining oppressed because they are ignorant. He wants all blacks to not only join together, but to also understand the situation they are in so they can better overcome it.
To further express his point, Walker illiterates a story that he came across in which blacks overthrew a slave wagon. Two men managed to unchain themselves, and started to fight. Knowing that the wagoner (Petit) would come to stop it, they waited for the right moment and seized him. They beat him with clubs, and killed him. Allen, another man there to oversee the passage who came to rescue him was also killed. The third white man there to oversee the passage was a man named Gordon. He was held down by two men and was shot at. Both bullets grazed his head, but his was not killed. Then they beat him with clubs as well and left him for dead. They retreated to the woods with around $2,400. An unnamed woman helped Gordon mount his horse and got away with his life.
Walker included this story to show that African Americans are betraying their own kind by helping the white people, and that this is the result of black ignorance.
Walker says that blacks must unite as one if they will ever overcome the oppression from whites. He goes on to give examples of moments in history when the underdogs have an unexpected win, and explains the story of Hannibal. He tells of how Carthage had been un-united, and that was the reason behind their loss.
"They were dis-united, as the coloured people are now, in the United States of America, the reason our natural enemies are enabled to keep their feet on our throats."Walker touches on the topic of Thomas Jefferson, and says that Jefferson owns many slaves and is fully aware that slavery in unjust. This emphasize how Americans support slavery though they know African Americans could revolt.
Walker has strong faith, and believes if God would bless them to rise above slavery they shall. He is strongly opposed to slavery, stating that he thinks it is awful the amount of abuse used, specifically mentioning pregnant women suggesting owner’s lack of boundaries.
“These are some of the productions of ignorance, which he will see practised among my dear brethren, who are held in unjust slavery and wretchedness, by avaricious and unmerciful tyrants, to whom, and their hellish deeds, I would suffer my life to be taken before I would submit.”
He lastly emphasizes on the need to enlighten blacks, because it is the faults of blacks for remaining oppressed because they are ignorant. He wants all blacks to not only join together, but to also understand the situation they are in so they can better overcome it.
To further express his point, Walker illiterates a story that he came across in which blacks overthrew a slave wagon. Two men managed to unchain themselves, and started to fight. Knowing that the wagoner (Petit) would come to stop it, they waited for the right moment and seized him. They beat him with clubs, and killed him. Allen, another man there to oversee the passage who came to rescue him was also killed. The third white man there to oversee the passage was a man named Gordon. He was held down by two men and was shot at. Both bullets grazed his head, but his was not killed. Then they beat him with clubs as well and left him for dead. They retreated to the woods with around $2,400. An unnamed woman helped Gordon mount his horse and got away with his life.
Walker included this story to show that African Americans are betraying their own kind by helping the white people, and that this is the result of black ignorance.