I am a US history teacher, and would like to know of documentation of a slave earning his freedom and being able to make his way back to Africa to his or her place of origin.
2006-11-03 06:29:07 · 4 answers · asked by John M 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
This kind of thing is more difficult to find than most might think for a couple of reasons. First of all, most freed slaves preferred to stay in America. Given the harrowing ride over they undoubtedly had the first time and the expense of such journeys, I can't say that I blame them. Second of all, there weren't always people willing to keep such close account of black people in those times. But there are always a few who stand out, so I'll present one very good one for you: Ibrahima Abdur Rahman.
This gentleman was also known as 'The Prince', for the simple reason that he WAS a prince. Captured during a conflict and sold into slavery by his enemies, he ended up the property of a man in Mississippi (Thomas Foster). Having been given the best education available as a youth and mantled with the authority of his blood, most people ended up noticing and respecting Ibrahima.
He spent forty years in slavery, and was only enslaved for so long because his master found him so valuable that he wouldn't part with him at any price (many people tried to buy Ibrahima his freedom). It was only when the U.S. government forced his to sell that he did. And the former slave returned as soon as possible to his waiting homeland.
The link below gives the story in much greater detail... I found it interesting and entertaining. Hope that helps!
2006-11-03 08:10:06 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The closest I can imagine was the Armistead Affaire where after the trial of Chinque some of his comrades where given transport, although he himself chose to stay in Connecticut!
The Liberian repatriation is doubious because it was during reconstruction,ergo subsequent generations; as the Armistead Case points out, sense the importation of slaves was illegal by the 1830s.
That is not to say that Freedmen never aquired the wealth to return in fact the question had been put to a group associated with Denmark Vessy that decided that they would go only if all could go otherwise in their minds they were still owed!
It should also be pointed out the the recent trama in Rhuwanda is a back through from that Liberian Repatriation sense the returnees had extra funds and training from the states that they used to install themselves as the elite class!
2006-11-03 07:22:16 · answer #2 · answered by namazanyc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the country of Liberia in Western Africa was settled by African American slaves who when they were free returned to their ancestral home in Africa. Liberia, in fact would come from the the latin word of libero, meaning free.
2006-11-03 07:02:44 · answer #3 · answered by maryanne 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are a history teacher, then lord help your students! Go and do some real research! It is out there for the picking
2006-11-03 06:58:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋