Today is the birthday, in 1766, of James Forten, an American abolitionist and businessman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An early Black Patriot and advent supporter of American independence, he was perhaps one of the most prominent wealthy Black Americans of the post colonial era.
James Forten was born free on September 2, 1766, in Philadelphia, one of two children of Thomas and Margaret Forten; a Philadelphia sailmaker, Thomas Forten was the grandson of a slave who had “freed himself.” At the age of 14, during the Revolutionary War, Forten served on the privateer Royal Louis, commanded by Captain Stephen Decatur Sr. The Royal Louis was captured by a Royal Navy warship. Captain John Beazley, who had captured the privateer, was impressed with Forten and offered Forten the opportunity to be educated in Great Britain with his son, Henry, but Forten replied, “I have been taken prisoner for the liberties of my country, and never will prove a traitor to her interest.” Beazley instead saw to it that he was treated as a prisoner of war along with the rest of the crew of the Royal Louis.
When Forten returned to Philadelphia in 1790, he became apprenticed to sail-maker Robert Bridges, his father’s former employer and a family friend. Forten learned quickly in the sail loft. This was where the large ship sails were cut and sewn. Before long, the young man was promoted to foreman. At Bridges’ retirement in 1798, Forten bought the sail loft. By developing a tool to help maneuver the large sails, by 1810, Forten had built up one of the most successful sail lofts in Philadelphia. He created the conditions he worked for in society, employing both black and white workers. Because of his business acumen, Forten became one of the wealthiest Philadelphians in the city, black or white.
in 1801, he was among the signers of a petition to the U.S. Congress calling for the abolition of the slave trade and the modification of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793.” In 1813 he wrote a pamphlet called Letters From A Man of Colour, published anonymously. He denounced a bill under consideration in the Pennsylvania legislature that required all black emigrants to Pennsylvania to be registered with the state, and protested treating free blacks any differently than whites.
In the early 19th century, some black and white Americans supported movements to “resettle” free blacks on the African continent, in Canada, or in Haiti, which achieved independence from France in 1804. The American Colonization Society (ACS) was formed in December 1816, organized to found the colony of Liberia in West Africa. It offered to help blacks to go there voluntarily, with provisions of aid for supplies, housing and other materials. Made up of abolitionists, slaveholders, and missionaries, its members supported voluntary relocation of free blacks and newly freed slaves to Africa, to solve the “problem” of blacks in American society.
To address community concerns and discuss the potential for colonization in Liberia, James Forten worked with Bishop Richard Allen of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent black denomination in the United States; Absalom Jones, and James Gloucester to organize a meeting on this topic in Philadelphia. Their announced meeting in January 1817 at Bethel AME Church drew 3,000 attendees from Philadelphia. Hearing the strong views of this public forced a dramatic turning point for these leaders. At the meeting, Forten called for a vote, asking who favored colonization. Not one man said yes. When he asked who was against it, the crowd resounded with “No!” that made the hall ring. All claimed the US as their own, and wanted to gain their full civil rights there as citizens.
Forten helped William Lloyd Garrison start up his newspaper, The Liberator, in 1831, supporting it financially. He frequently published letters in it, as “A Colored Man of Philadelphia.” Garrison also wrote articles against colonization, describing the poor living conditions in Liberia. They wanted others to know that the ACS was not necessarily working in the best interest of black Americans.
Forten’s family carried on his work. Harriet Forten Purvis formed the first biracial women’s abolitionist group, the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. She hosted anti-slavery events at her home and with her husband Robert Purvis ran an Underground Railroad station. His grandson, Charles Burleigh Purvis was a physician in Washington, D.C. He was among the founders of the medical school at Howard University. He was the first African-American physician to attend a sitting president of the United States when he attended President James Garfield after he was shot by an assassin in 1881. Granddaughter Hattie Purvis was an African-American abolitionist, suffragist and a member of the temperance movement. She was part of the second generation of American suffragists. Purvis worked closely with Susan B. Anthony.
Watercolor of abolitionist James Forten (1766-1842) believed to have been painted during his lifetime.
Someone’s having a party!!!
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Welcome to Scotland!!
2025 is playing…
Hope you had a good Labor Day!
BADA BING!
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A 309 credit score protects you from identity theft. Follow me for more security advice.
Today is the birthday, in 1951, of Mik Kaminski, violin, with Electric Light Orchestra, who had the 1979 UK No.3 & US No.4 single ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ plus 26 other Top 40 hits. ELO have sold over 50 million records worldwide. Here’s ELO with some shuffle girls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuiMQPc5aKA
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