David Walker vs Frederick Douglas Essay Example

hypocrisy of American liberty and equality, its empty slogans and hollow mockery. By doing this Douglass not only inciting his black fellow men to rebel against such unjust and oppressive system but also uncovering the naked truth to the authority and to the people who are celebrating the Independence Day. Douglass by referring to the past is pointing out to the systematic development of slavery in the United States.

David Walker's Appeal was a radical, revolutionary call for slaves to revolt against their masters in contrast to Frederick Douglas’ more mild-mannered Independence Day allocution. Published in 1829, Walker’s Appeal had a significant impression in the South on both slaves and slave owners. The articles were articulate and militant in their bitter denunciation of slavery, those who profited by it, and those who willingly accepted it. Walker called for vengeance against white men, but he also expressed the hope that their cruel behavior toward blacks would change, making vengeance unnecessary.

His message to the slaves was direct: if liberty is not given you, rise in bloody rebellion. The document was also primarily meant to be an inspiration to black slaves, instilling pride in it’s black readers and substantiating their grounds for demanding changes. Walker also speaks out against colonization and slavery, and he urges both free and enslaved blacks to seize hold of his belief that America is the land of the free, arguing that this concept is all inclusive and pertains to blacks and whites alike. He asserts that slavery is wrong for both moral and religious reasons.

His argument exposes and refutes the white man’s justification of slavery via a mixture

of well used sarcasm and signifying through and through Biblical references to the white man’s own religion. In his Appeal, David Walker screams and encourages slaves to rise up and resist the oppression of slavery with the support of numerous Biblical references and themes. In his opening paragraphs Walker argues: “Reverend gentleman got up and told us that slaves must be obedient to their masters … must do their duty to their masters or be whipped … the whip was made for the backs of fools, &c.

Here I pause for a moment, to give the world time to consider what was my surprise, to hear such preaching from a minister of my Master, whose very gospel is that of peace and not of blood and whips, as this pretended preacher tried to make us believe sons who are acquainted with history, and particularly the Bible, who are not blinded by the God of this world, and are not actuated solely by avarice--who are able to lay aside prejudice long enough to view candidly and impartially, things as they were, are, and probably will be--who are willing to admit that God made man to serve Him alone, and that man should have no other Lord or Lords but Himself--that God Almighty is the sole proprietor or master of the whole human family, and will not on any consideration admit of a colleague, being unwilling to divide his glory with another. ”

The goal of the Appeal was to instill pride in its black readers and give hope that change would someday come. It spoke out against colonization, a popular movement at the time that

sought to move free blacks to a colony in Africa. America, Walker believed, belonged to all who helped build it. He went even further, stating, "America is more our country than it is the whites -- we have enriched it with our blood and tears. " He then asked, "will they drive us from our property and homes, which we have earned with our blood? " Walker’s intention was to give blacks a reason to fight for something that was simply fair and right; and it worked.

Many blacks did indeed become inspired through Walker’s words and in turn successfully created a rebellion that helped contribute to their efforts. A key difference between Mr. Douglas and Mr. Walker is that Douglas was born into slavery whereas Walker was not exposed to the rigors of slavery that occurred in the south and was not put in a position where he had to fight for his freedom at an early age. Perhaps both men’s contrasting upbringing plays a role in to why one had a more radical mindset than the other. In order to successfully escape from being enslaved, an individual must have impeccable patience or face dealing with severe consequences.

This mindset shaped and molded how Douglas went on to lead people against the unrighteous act of slavery. In conclusion, both men as demonstrated in their respective documents displayed passion for what they felt was genuinely right and that was that blacks should be equal to whites and no longer enslaved. Both men had different styles to how they felt this key issue should have been addressed. So what was the result for both

men? Mr. Walker mysteriously disappeared and was found to have been killed due mainly to his radical approach that upset many whites. In contrast, Mr. Douglas lived a long and prosperous life and was able to witness the strides for equality that he set forth for before he died of a heat attack at the age of 78.