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Selected Quotes By Martin Robison Delany, Published in 1852
Taken from: The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny Of The Colored People Of The United States

His story is part of the Port Of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership exhibit "West Africans In Early America."

On Following Whites and Fighting Senselessly Over Things Controlled by Others

In conversation, in the city of New York, a few weeks ago, with a colored lady of intelligence, one of the "first families," the conversation being the elevation of the colored people, we introduced emigration as a remedy, and Central America as the place.


We were somewhat surprised, and certainly unprepared to receive the rebuking reply--"Do you suppose that I would go in the woods to live for the sake of freedom? no, indeed! if you wish to do so, go and do it. I am free enough here!" Remarking at the same time, that her husband was in San Francisco, and she was going to him, as she learned that that city was quite a large and handsome place.

We reminded her, that the industry of white men and women, in four years' time, had made San Francisco what it is. That in 1846, before the American emigration, the city contained about seven hundred people, surrounded by a dense wilderness; and that we regretted to contrast her conduct or disposition with that of the lady of Col. Fremont, a daughter of Senator Benton, who tenderly and indulgently raised, in the spring after his arduous adventure across the mountains, and almost miraculous escape, while the country was yet a wilderness, left her comfortable home in Missouri, and braved the dangers of the ocean, to join her husband and settle in the wilderness. That she was going now to San Francisco, because it was a populous and "fine city"--that Mrs. Fremont went, when it was a wilderness, to help to _make_ a populous and fine city.

About two hours previous to the writing of the following fact, two respectable colored ladies in conversation, pleasantly disputing about the superiority of two places, Philadelphia and New York, when one spoke of the uniform cleanliness of the streets of Philadelphia, and the dirtiness of those in New York; when the other triumphantly replied. –“The reason that our streets are so dirty is, that we do more business in one day, that you do in a month.”

The other acknowledged the fact with some degree of reluctance, and explained, with many “buts” as an excuse in extenuation.  Here  was a seeming appreciation of business and enterprise; but the query flashed through our mind in an instant, as to whether they thought for a moment, of the fact, the they had no interest in either city, nor its business.  If brought forcibly to our mind, the scene of two of our oppressed brethren South, fighting each other, to prove his master the greatest gentleman of the two.

On Expectations

They build coaches, vessels, cars, hotels, saloons, and other vehicles and places of accommodations, and we deliberately wait until they have got them in readiness, then walk in, and contend with as much assurance for a “right,” as though the whole thing was bought by, paid for, and belong to us.

On Bestowing White Privilege

Indeed, the most ordinary white person, is more revered, while the most qualified colored person is totally neglected.

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