Black Bostonians

The book was written by James Oliver Horton to described the family life and community struggle in the antebellum North. There, slaves, businessmen, washerwomen, barbers, church goers and abolitionists lived, worked and supported each other to survive in society. Besides, the book addresses issues such as distinguishing ethnicity, gender role and the impact of racial discrimination on the relationship between African-American men and women. Moreover, the book also mentions the difficulties and processes black people encounter during the struggle for freedom.

Sarah Parker Remond (1826-1894)

• She was a Black woman who was an abolitionist and one of the most articulate public speakers of her time.
• Known as a lecturer, abolitionist, and agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society.
• An international activist for human rights and women's suffrage.
• Speeches throughout the Northeast United States against slavery.
• Representatives of the American Anti-Slavery Society to lecture on abolition and suffrage around the country.

William Cooper Nell (1816-1874)

• William Cooper Nell was an African-American abolitionist, journalist, publisher, author, and civil servant of Boston, Massachusetts.
• In the 1830s, he became politically active as a member of the Juvenile Garrison Independent Society.
• Writing for abolitionist newspapers to helped publicize the anti-slavery cause.
• Helped found the New England Freedom Association and later the Committee of Vigilance, to aid refugee slaves.
• He is noted as the first African American to serve in the federal civil service, where he worked in the post office.
• Has made a great contribution to ending segregation in the Boston public education system.

John Swett Rock (1825-1866)

• Was an American teacher, doctor, dentist, lawyer and abolitionist.
• Was one of the first African-American men to earn a medical degree.
• A member of the Boston Vigilance Committee, giving free medical services to fugitive slaves.
• Joining with other Blacks in organizing for the new, antislavery Republican Party.
• Was the first black person to be admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Closing

• Things that I love about the book:
• Very detailed and coherent description of life, family, hardship of black people.
• Combining sociological data without overwhelming historical arguments.
• There are specific data about numerical to help readers easily understand.
• Things that I dislike about the book:
• Provide completely information but dry.
• Feel bored when reading.
• There are many words in a page that make distracting when reading.

Thank you for your reading!