Henry Highland Garnet (1815-1882) delivers a fiery abolitionist and Black nationalist speech, “A Call to Rebellion,” at the National Convention of Colored Citizens. He is opposed by the nonviolent followers of William Lloyd Garrison led by Frederick Douglass. Born enslaved in Chesterville, Kent County, Henry Highland escapes at age 9 with his family and is raised in New York City. Trained at the abolitionist African Free School, he becomes a minister. He is a gifted orator who believes in militant abolition, preaching that African Americans should take matters into their own hands and not depend on others. He supports the movement to send free Blacks to Cuba, Mexico and Africa. After traveling to England and becoming a missionary to Jamaica, he returns to the U.S, supporting John Brown’s raid in 1859 and during the Civil War supports Colored Troops. In 1865, Garnet is the first Black American to preach to the U.S. House of Representatives, calling for the passage of the 13th Amendment. After the war, he holds several posts as a Presbyterian minister and in 1882 is sent to Liberia as the U.S. Ambassador where he dies soon after his arrival.
For More Information
Henry Highland Garnet Park, Baltimore Heritage
Henry Highland Garnet, Wikipedia
Black past, Henry Highland Garnet speech, Let the Monster Perish
