William Wells Brown Quote "...one of the most cruel acts..."

William Wells Brown Quote;

"When this boy was brought to Dr. Young, his name being William, the same as mine, my mother was ordered to change mine to something else. This, at the time, I thought to be one of the most cruel acts that could be committed upon my rights." William Wells Brown

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William Wells Brown Quote "...the battle for our civilization..."

William Wells Brown Quote;

"The last struggle for our rights, the battle for our civilization, is entirely with ourselves." William Wells Brown

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William Wells Brown Quote "...they follow courage..."

William Wells Brown Quote;

"People don't follow titles, they follow courage." William Wells Brown

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William Wells Brown Quote "...Despotism increases in severity..."

William Wells Brown Quote;

"Despotism increases in severity with the number of despots; the responsibility is more divided, and the claims are more numerous." William Wells Brown

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William Wells Brown Quote "...rise by his own efforts..."

William Wells Brown Quote;

"All I demand for the black man is, that the white people shall take their heels off his neck, and let him have a chance to rise by his own efforts." William Wells Brown

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William Wells Brown Quotes

William Wells Brown


(November 6, 1814 – November 6, 1884)

from wikipedia.org
A prominent African-American abolitionist lecturer, novelist, playwright, and historian. Born into slavery in the Southern United States, Brown escaped to the North in 1834, where he worked for abolitionist causes and was a prolific writer. His novel Clotel (1853) is considered the first novel written by an African American; it was published in London, where he was living at the time. Brown was a pioneer in several different literary genres, including travel writing, fiction, and drama.

Lecturing in England when the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law was passed in the US, which required people in the North to aid in the capture of fugitive slaves, Brown stayed for several years to avoid the risk of capture and re-enslavement. After his freedom was purchased by a British couple in 1854, he and his family returned to the US, where he rejoined the abolitionist lecture circuit. A contemporary of Frederick Douglass, Wells Brown was overshadowed by the charismatic orator and the two feuded publicly.


1. All I demand for the black man is, that the white people shall take their heels off his neck, and let him have a chance to rise by his own efforts. William Wells Brown

2. Despotism increases in severity with the number of despots; the responsibility is more divided, and the claims are more numerous. William Wells Brown

3. People don't follow titles, they follow courage. William Wells Brown

4. The last struggle for our rights, the battle for our civilization, is entirely with ourselves. William Wells Brown

5. When this boy was brought to Dr. Young, his name being William, the same as mine, my mother was ordered to change mine to something else. This, at the time, I thought to be one of the most cruel acts that could be committed upon my rights. William Wells Brown

Harry Bridges Quote "...I head a machine..."

Harry Bridges Quote;

"I'm a machine man, and I head a machine." Harry Bridges

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