Liberian Dreams: Back-To-Africa Narratives from the 1850s [Paperback]

Wilson Jeremiah Moses (Author, Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0271017112 | ISBN-13: 978-0271017112 | Publication Date: April 1, 1998

In the early nineteenth century, the American Colonization Society was formed for the purpose of encouraging emigration of free blacks to Africa. While intent on ridding the United States of what the Society's members saw as a dangerous black population, the association also attracted some liberals who viewed its goals as an incentive toward emancipation. Attitudes among African Americans toward colonization were varied, some viewing it as an opportunity to start new lives in a free country and others seeing in it a deceptive scheme of the white man. But when the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850 put the freedom of every person of African descent in jeopardy, many began to consider emigration their only option. This collection of historic documents illuminates the debate on emigration through the narratives of four black men who in 1853 traveled to the new black nation of Liberia. Their accounts offer surprisingly different views and insights on the young country and provide both endorsements and condemnations of the colonization effort. Liberian Dreams contains four selections that have never before been published in a single volume: William Nesbit's attack on Liberia and its sponsors, Samuel Williams's spirited defense of the black republic in response to Nesbit, Daniel Peterson's pro-emigration tract commissioned by the ACS, and Augustus Washington's balanced critique of both sides of the issue. Each account offers a perspective not found in the others, and together they cover nearly the full range of debate among black Americans of that time. These narratives shed light not only on the experience of creating a new country but also on the conflict among African Americans over the colonization effort, and they offer a unique opportunity to witness African Americans encountering Africans and their cultures. The selection by Augustus Washington in particular reveals the insights of an educated community activist with a sure understanding of the issues at stake. Historian Wilson Moses, who has published widely on African American history and black nationalism, provides an introduction that expertly places the selections in context.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wilson Jeremiah Moses is Professor of History at Penn State. Among his other books are Black Messiahs and Uncle Toms: Social and Literary Interpretations of a Religious Myth (Penn State, 1993) and The Golden Age of Black Nationalism (Oxford, 1988).

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0271017112
• ISBN-13: 978-0271017112
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,032,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > History > Africa > Liberia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting Historical Opinions, January 20, 2005

By 

Ethel Knuckles - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liberian Dreams: Back-To-Africa Narratives from the 1850s (Paperback)

This book reflects on the relocation of slaves back to Africa and their resettlement in Liberia. The narratives are all by slaves, some expressing their content and others their discontent. As a Liberian, it was funny to find one of the major complaints was lack of bread, only rice and cassada (cassava as spelled in this writing), our favorite staple foods. Other aspects of life complained about were (which we consider parts of everyday life) : driver ants, palm oil, jiggers, and yes a freed slave in 1853 complains about a skin disease called craw-craw.

The two most interesting points in this book for me: One content slave pointed out that he left America because he knew in his heart there had to be somewhere on this earth where the black man could be free. Another discontent slave, who hustled his way back to America, said he would rather be a slave in America than live in Liberia without any hope.
In life there are leaders and followers, some saw an opportunity for a new beginning and others saw too much work ahead of them when leaving a country where everything was already established. Regardless of who we identify with, I am grateful to have come upon this work which provided me some insight into the history of my country.