"National Negro Convention"(9-20-1830)

The first National Convention met in Philadelphia.This group gathered for express purpose of abolishing slavery and improving the status of African American.It started with a question asked by by by sixteen-year -old free African American named Hezekiel Grice,troubled by "the hopelessness of contending against oppression in the United States," wondered if African Americans should be encouraged to emigrate,to Canada.Such a question,he thought,should be carefully considered,so he proposed that a convention be held where the matter could be discussed.He wrote to several,African American leaders who approved of the proposal,and on this date in 1830,the ten-day National Negro Convention began.Forty African Americans from nine states attended the meeting,including Bishop Richard Allen.From meeting emerged a new organization,the "American Society of Free People for improving their condition in the United States;for purchasing lands;and for the establishment of a settlement in the Province of Canada,"of which Richard was named president.As can be taken from the society's descriptive title,the answer to Hezekiel's original question was not cut clear.Yes,moving to Canada was encouraged,especially for African Americans with children,the society also acknowledged the need to improve the lives of those who remained in the U.S.The first meeting of the National Negro Convention would initiate a trend that would continue for the next three decades.The formation of another organization had been recommended one which would be called the "American Society of Free Persons of Labor."This group would branch out to several states and hold their conventions.These,in turn,would lead to the formation organizations.The number of conventions,held local,state,and national levels,blossed to such a level that, in 1859,one paper would report that "colored conventions are almost as frequent as church meetings."