Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

History

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Existing historiography on Black abolitionists in the nineteenth century has focused more on the interracial interactions and dialogues between Black and white abolitionists than on intraracial dialogues among Black abolitionists. The focus on the interactions between white and Black abolitionists obscures the unique interchange of ideas that are occurring in Black political spaces between Black people. Black abolitionists articulated a more expansive definition of abolition, demanding the end of slavery and all forms of racial discrimination. Black abolitionists’ definition of abolition set them apart and at times put them into direct conflict with white abolitionists. A Few More Dead Kidnappers argues that it was the intraracial discourse between Black abolitionists that shaped and forced the antislavery movement toward the political goals of the Black community. As a result, Black abolitionists created their own political thought tradition separate from that of white abolitionists, which led to unique political actions. This dissertation focuses on “conversational histories,” the editorials, letters, debates, speeches, and pamphlets of Black abolitionists, to demonstrate the shaping of this political thought tradition. Furthermore, this dissertation re-centers Black abolitionists as the intellectuals of the antislavery movement, recovering their ideas and demonstrating how they shaped the direction and tenor of American abolition.

Date

5-25-2026

Committee Chair

Roberts, Kodi

LSU Acknowledgement

1

LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment

1

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Available for download on Thursday, May 26, 2033

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