JOHN BERRY MEACHUM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING FREE BLACKS

"Many of the colored people are free, and have neither master nor owner. Then surely you can train up your children in the way they should go, and when they grow old they will not depart from it. If you fail to do what is in your power to do with these children how can you look for a blessing. In time past, your fathers were deprived of this blessing, and of course they could not be charged with not raising their children in the right manner; that is, if they did all they could according to their situation. But as you are free, (thanks be to God for it,) the guilt comes on your own head. Industry and education should be your concern about this young race. Look over the whole world, and see the nations all endeavoring to advance to a higher state of life.

Industry and good education is the principal way of advancing in life. Look at the Friends or Quakers. They go on with steady habits. All things are clean and nice around them. They raise their children to be industrious and give them a good education. Can we not take pattern by them?"

Source: John B. Meachum, An Address to All the Colored Citizens of the United States (Philadelphia: King and Baird, 1846).