National Emigration Convention

The National Emigration Convention was a meeting of African Americans advocating for their civil rights and discussing the need for political representation. It was held in Cleveland, Ohio from August 24 to 26 of 1854. Articles and letters documented its discussions and debates.[1] It was led by Martin Delany.[2] A. A. Anderson published the 77 page Proceedings of the National Emigration Convention of Colored People Held at Cleveland, Ohio, On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, The 24th, 25th, and 26th of August, 1854 in Pittsburgh in 1854.[3]

Women delegates included Mary Ann Shadd Cary.[4] A Board of Commissioners headquartered in Pittsburgh was chosen with Delany as president and William Webb and Charles W. Nighten as commissioners.[5] Nighten lived in New Castle, Pennsylvania.[6]

John Malvin requested to speak at the convention in opposition to emigration but was denied.[5] Malvin was a carpenter in Virginia before settling in Cleveland, Ohio.[7][8] He was a civil rights leader, school organizer,[7] and became a leader in the Colored Conventions Movement.[9]

Canada, Africa,[4] Central America, and South America were proposed as locations for settlement.[5] Martin Delany visited Liberia and made plans to assist Blacks in relocating there.

A second convention was held in 1856.[10] Delany led the emigration movement until it peaked in 1861.[5] Frederick Douglass was not invited to participate.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Emigration Convention of 1854". Retrieved Sep 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "A Black Nationalist Manifesto, 1854". tildesites.bowdoin.edu.
  3. ^ "Proceedings of the National Emigration Convention of Colored People Held at Cleveland, Ohio, On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, The 24th, 25th, and 26th of August, 1854 · Colored Conventions Project Digital Records". omeka.coloredconventions.org.
  4. ^ a b "Colored Conventions Movement". Black Print - Online exhibitions across Cornell University Library. September 19, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "NATIONAL EMIGRATION CONVENTION OF COLORED PEOPLE | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University". case.edu. May 11, 2018.
  6. ^ DeVivo, Anita; Society, Lawrence County Historical (Sep 18, 2010). Cascade Park. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-7316-8. Retrieved Sep 18, 2025 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b "MALVIN, JOHN | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University". case.edu. May 11, 2018. Retrieved Sep 18, 2025.
  8. ^ "John Malvin (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved Sep 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "John Malvin". Retrieved Sep 18, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Colored Emigration Movement · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database". nkaa.uky.edu.
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