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Jan 1, 1503
Spanish Bring Enslaved Africans to the "New World"
Walker references Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish friar who is most known for defending Indigenous people in the Americas and freeing them from slavery but less known for influencing the enslavement and removal of African peoples, whom the Spanish brought to the Americas (documented) as early as 1503. However, in his footnotes, Hinks states that, "Walker’s assertions that Las Casas was integral to the importation of Africans into New Spain in 1503 and 1511 are wrong" (120). -
Period: Jan 1, 1503 to
David Walker's Influence and Influences
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Dutch Bring Enslaved Africans to Jamestown
Some sources say 1619 and others say 1620, but Walker says that in 1620, a Dutch ship brough 20 enslaved Africans to Jamestown, Virginia. Each of the enslaved was sold to the highest bidder. -
Miscegenation Laws
Laws preventing interracial marriages in the US date back as early as 1664 in Maryland. Walker attempts to subvert the ideology behind these laws by stating that he would never want to marry white person (Walker 11). -
US Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America is signed into law. At the end of his Appeal, Walker quotes directly from the Declaration in order to highlight one particular line, which states: "We hold these truths to be self evident-- that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights [...]." Specifically, Walker asks, "Do you understand your own language?" (85). He enunciates the words "ALL" and "EQUAL." -
Thomas Jefferson Publishes *Notes on the State of Virginia*
Walker condemns Jefferson for his physical descriptions of enslaved African Americans, among other statements. He says of Jefferson, "This very verse, brethren, having emanated from Mr. Jefferson, a much greater philosopher the world never afforded, has in truth injured us more, and has been as great a barrier to our emancipation as any thing that has ever been advanced against us" (29). -
David Waker, Born
There is speculation regarding the exact year of David Walker's birth. Some sources say he was born in 1795, others say 1796. Peter Hinks, editor of the U Penn edition, uses the date 1796. Walker was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to a free black woman and a male slave. However, his father died before Walker was born. In a 2001 article, Hasan Crockett dates Walker's birth September 28, 1785. Ironically, Walker's *Appeal was also published on Spetmeber 28 (1829). -
Period: to
David Walker's Life
David Walker lived approximately 34 years. He wrote his Appeal the year before he died from consumption. -
African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church
Richard Allen founds the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia in 1816. Walker becomes a devout follower of Allen. He cites one of Allen's letters to the editor of Freedom's Journal in its entirety in his Appeal. -
American Colonization Society
As Hinks states, Walker refers to the innaugural meeting of the Ameican Colonizaton Society, an organization whose purpose was to remove free blacks from the US to Africaa, where they could not advance but, they funders argued, could "exercise greater selfdetermination" (123). *man pictured in photo is Henry Clay, one of the ACS members -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise is signed into Federal law, and Missouri enters the union as a slave state. It was not repealed until 1854. -
Liberia
Liberia is founed by freed American slaves in the west coast of Africa. -
Walker Settles in Boston
Walker settles in Boston, Massachusetts. From there he writes his appeal. -
Walker Marries Eliza Butler
Walker marries Eliza Butler. -
Walker Initiated into Prince Hall Masonry
In July 1826, Walker is initated into Prince Hall, or African, Masonry at Boston’s famous African Lodge #459 (xxiii). -
Period: to
*Freedom's Journal* and *The Rights of All*
This represents the period for te first African American newspaper (Freedom's Journal) and the newspaper to supercede it (The Rights of All). -
*Freedom's Journal* Established
The first African American newspaper, Freedom's Journal, is established by Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm. David Walker worked as a subscription agent for the newspaper. -
Richard Allen and *Freedom's Journal*
Richard Allen publshes a letter to the editor in Freedom's Journal, which Walker cites in its entirety. -
Walker Delivers Speech
In the Fall of 1828, Walkers delivers a speech to the General Colored Association of Massachusetts, during which he calls for the political organizing of the black community. His final words during this talk were: "I verily believe that God has something in reserve for us, which when he shall have poured it out upon us, will repay us for all our suffering and misery" (Crockett 306). This can, perhaps, be seen as a precursor to his written appeal the following year. -
*The Rights of All* Established
The Rights of All superceded Freedom's Journal. It was also run by Samuel Cornish. -
Walker Publishes *Appeal*
Walker publishes the first edition of his Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World. This pamphlet is often regarded as the most radical of all anti-slavery documents. Walker uses the word "wretched" over 150 times throughout the work. Peter Hinks says, "Displaying a vehemence and outrage unprecedented among African American authors of the time, Walker's Appeal decried in vivid and personal terms the uniquely savage, un-Christian treatment blacks suffered in the United States" ("Walker"). -
David Walker, Died
Only several days after his daughter dies of consumption, and within a year of publishing his Appeal, Walker dies on August 6, 1830, also from consumption (xliv). -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
According to Hinks,
"Some contemporaries suggested that the evangelical Appeal helped spur Nat Turner to his bloody judgments in Southampton County, Virginia, in August 1831. This remains, however, only speculation" (xlii).
