David Walker explores the terrible effects of slavery on African Americans in greater detail in the second piece of his Appeal. In addition to discussing how slavery has harmed Black people’s lives, spirits, and prospects, he also criticizes white Americans for actively contributing to their misery.
Introduction to Wretchedness
Walker starts out by outlining the “wretchedness” that African Americans have endured as a result of centuries of slavery. According to him, slavery has deprived Black people of their humanity, freedom, and dignity, leaving them in a state of hopelessness. “We are the most vile, miserable, and miserable group of creatures that have ever existed since the beginning of time,” he writes. This severe evaluation is a reflection of the violence done upon Black people, not a criticism of Black people in general.
Walker blames this suffering on white Americans’ willful dehumanization and exploitation of Black people for financial gain. He contends that African Americans have been compelled to live in a state of ignorance, subservience, and reliance, which makes it challenging for them to overcome their situation.
Slavery’s Impact on the Mind and Spirit
Walker is particularly concerned about the psychological and spiritual damage that slavery causes. He explains how those who are enslaved are trained to believe that they are lesser and less capable, which causes them to lose their sense of value. “Our oppressors have destroyed our minds, and we have almost forgotten that we are MEN,” Walker writes.
He draws attention to the ways that the denial of education and chances for human development perpetuates this mental tyranny. Since enslaved individuals are unable to acquire the information necessary to comprehend their rights and fight injustice, Walker attacks the laws that forbid them from learning to read and write. He contends that white Americans utilize ignorance as a means of control to uphold their supremacy over Black people.
Spiritual Hypocrisy and Moral Corruption
Walker also criticizes white Americans for their hypocrisy in defending slavery while claiming to be Christians. Since genuine Christianity is irreconcilable with the brutality and injustice of slavery, he denounces the use of religion as an excuse for the enslavement of African Americans. “Can Christian Americans believe that God will allow them to own slaves and remain unpunished?” he writes.
Walker cautions that white Americans will ultimately be held responsible for their deeds by divine justice. He uses the Bible to remind his audience that God stands with the downtrodden and that the wicked will be held accountable. In addition to criticizing white Americans, this spiritual argument gives African Americans hope by urging them to believe in God’s justice.
Comparison to Other Nations
Walker contrasts the plight of African Americans with that of other persecuted people throughout history in order to highlight the depth of their persecution. He makes reference to the Israelites, who lived as slaves in Egypt until being set free by God. In support of his claim that African Americans had the same right to fight against their oppressors, he also cites the hardships of other countries that have struggled for their independence.
“Have we any other country of barbarians to turn to, who are not as vicious as the whites of America?” Walker asks. This striking analogy emphasizes how particularly horrible American slavery was and how urgently it must be abolished.
The Role of African Americans in Their Oppression
Walker criticizes Black individuals who either do not resist or participate in their own oppression, even though he largely holds white Americans responsible for the misery of African Americans. He regrets that some African Americans have embraced the idea that they are less than their oppressors, which has made it simpler for them to keep power.
Walker urges his fellow African Americans to reject the notion that they are destined to stay in slavery and to acknowledge their own value. “Let us not be discouraged any longer…we are MEN, and we must assert our rights as MEN,” he adds. His readers are supposed to feel proud, united, and determined after reading this potent appeal.
The Urgency of Resistance
Walker highlights the necessity for African Americans to struggle for their freedom and the significance of resistance. He contends that since white Americans have demonstrated no readiness to offer equality, waiting for them to do so is pointless. Rather, he exhorts African Americans to act, whether it is via organized action, education, or, if needed, insurrection.
“Killing a man who is attempting to kill you is no more harmful than drinking water when you’re thirsty,” he adds. Walker’s view that self-defense is appropriate when oppressed is reflected in this contentious statement. He views violence as a necessary response to the harshness of slavery, but he does not endorse it lightly.
Criticism of Colonization
Walker is adamantly against the American Colonization Society’s intention to colonize African Americans in Africa. He contends that because African Americans have worked and suffered to help the United States prosper, they have a right to reside here. “This country is as much ours as it is the whites,” he writes.
The goal of colonization, in his opinion, was to deprive African Americans of their proper position in American society. Walker feels that equality and justice within the US, not forced relocation, are the only ways to truly attain independence.
Hope and Faith in Justice
Walker is optimistic that African Americans would eventually attain freedom and equality in spite of the harsh realities of slavery. He declares his belief that justice will eventually be served and that Black people are resilient. “We shall rise, superior to those who would keep us in wretchedness,” the author adds.
Walker exhorts his readers to believe in God and in their own capacity to triumph over injustice. He exhorts African Americans to continue their fight for justice because he feels that it is both a moral obligation and a spiritual mandate to fight for freedom.
In his Appeal’s second essay, David Walker offers a compelling and thorough examination of the misery brought upon by slavery. He exposes the duplicity and moral flaws of white Americans while examining its effects on African Americans’ minds, spirits, and prospects. In addition to criticizing the current system, Walker’s speech exhorts African Americans to stand up to tyranny and defend their rights.
Walker conveys a powerful and timeless message of resiliency and hope by fusing theological arguments, historical references, and direct pleas to his audience. Those who fight for equality and justice in the face of injustice are still motivated by his words.
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