Caption from poster__

 David Walker Appeal

David Walker’s Appeal, arguably the most radical

of all anti-slavery documents, caused a great stir 

when it was published in September of 1829 with

its call for slaves to revolt against their masters.

David Walker, a free black originally from the 

South wrote, “. . .they want us for their slaves, 

and think nothing of murdering us. therefore, if

there is an attempt made by us, kill or be killed

and believe this, that it is no more harm for you 

to kill a man who is trying to kill you, than it is

for you to take a drink of water when thirsty.”

Even the outspoken William Lloyd Garrison

objected to Walker’s approach in an editorial

about the Appeal.

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 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?” 

Copies of the Appeal were discovered in 

Savannah, Georgia, within weeks of its 

publication. Within several months copies were 

found from Virginia to Louisiana. Walker revised

his Appeal. He died in August of 1830, shortly

after publishing the third edition.