Walker's Appeal

David Walker (1796 - 1830)

The Appeal grabbed readers’ attention in as dramatic a manner as Walker could have possibly imagined. In her book, Maria W. Stewart and the Roots of Black Political Thought, Kirsten Waters writes about how the pamphlet itself was viewed as dangerous by pro-slavery forces, while Walker actively worked to get his text in the hands of Black readers. He did not direct his writing to White audiences, and in the third edition added a special message to Black readers, saying that:

It is expected that all coloured men, women, and children† of every nation, language, and tongue under heaven, will try to procure a copy of this Appeal and read it, or get some one to read it to them, for it is designed more particularly for them.

Genre(s): History, Law, Self-Help

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Title Page, Note, and Preamble Jim Locke
00:16:50
Play 02 Article 1 Jim Locke
00:26:09
Play 03 Article 2 Jim Locke
00:33:49
Play 04 Article 3 Jim Locke
00:18:51
Play 05 Article 4, Part 1 Jim Locke
00:25:05
Play 06 Article 4, Part 2 Jim Locke
00:25:21
Play 07 Article 4, Part 3 Jim Locke
00:21:31
Play 08 In Conclusion Jim Locke
00:10:29