In his 1829 Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, the influential Black abolitionist David Walker wrote, “America is as much our country, as it is yours.” Yet, the conflict between belonging and excluding threads through our nation’s history from its beginning.
For the final digital speaker event that touches on David Walker’s life and legacy, Old North Foundation Executive Director Nikki Stewart moderated a panel discussion with some of Boston’s leading historians that explored questions such as:
• What does it mean to be a citizen?
• How has dominant culture limited perceptions of what it means to be “American”?
• How can communities assert belonging when their past has been erased?
• Can we collectively reclaim and restore those stories and experiences in a shared “American” history?
The Old North Foundation is committed to telling stories of active citizenship and courageous, compassionate leadership throughout history, and we are proud to have hosted this series of events on David Walker and his Appeal.
