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William Wells Brown

William Wells Brown Quotes

Novelist

William Wells Brown, born on November 6, 1814, and died on November 6, 1884, was an American novelist. His works primarily focused on the issues of slavery and racial equality, making him one of the earliest American writers to tackle these themes in the 19th century.

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All Diversity Justice Liberty Social Justice Chains Country Demand Lasts Limbs Men

Famous William Wells Brown Quotes

“Though slavery is thought, by some, to be mild in Missouri, when compared with the cotton, sugar and rice growing states, yet no part of our slave-holding country is more noted for the barbarity of its inhabitants than St. Louis.”

Country States Growing Slavery Slave Sugar Rice Cotton Missouri Barbarity

Book:The Narrative of William Wells Brown, A Fugitive Slave

Source: The Narrative of William Wells Brown, A Fugitive Slave

“This is emphatically an age of discoveries; but I will venture the assertion, that none but an American slaveholder could have discovered that a man born in a country was not a citizen of it.”

Men Country Age Born Citizens Discovery Venture Assertion Slaveholders

Author:William Wells Brown

“The duty I owe to the slave, to truth, and to God, demands that I should use my pen and tongue so long as life and health are vouchsafed to me to employ them, or until the last chain shall fall from the limbs of the last slave in America and the world.”

World Should Long Use Lasts America Fall Duty Demand Slave Tongue Chains Pens Limbs

Author:William Wells Brown

“This is called 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'; it is called the 'asylum of the oppressed,' and some have been foolish enough to call it the 'Cradle of Liberty.' If it is the 'Cradle of Liberty,' they have rocked the child to death.”

Ifs Children Has Beens Enough Home Justice Liberty Land Diversity Social Justice Brave Foolish Oppressed Cradle Asylums Land Of The Free

Book:The Works of William Wells Brown: Using His

Source: The Works of William Wells Brown: Using His

“I would have the Constitution torn in shreds and scattered to the four winds of heaven. Let us destroy the Constitution and build on its ruins the temple of liberty. I have brothers in slavery. I have seen chains placed on their limbs and beheld them captive.”

Heaven Justice Liberty Four Brother Wind Diversity Constitution Social Justice Slavery Ruins Chains Temples Torn Limbs Captives

Author:William Wells Brown

“Someone must show that the Afro-American race is more sinned against than sinning, and it seems to have fallen to me to do so. The awful death roll called every week is appalling, not only because of the lives taken, the cruelty and outrage to the victims, but because of the prejudice it fosters.”

Shows Seems Justice Race Taken Week Diversity Prejudice Victim Social Justice Cruelty Awful Fallen Outrage Sinning Afros

Author:William Wells Brown

“The last great struggle for our rights; the battle for our own civilization, is entirely with ourselves, and the problem is to be solved by us.”

Lasts Struggle Rights Civilization Battle

Author:William Wells Brown

“All I demand for the black man is, that the white people shall take their heels off his neck, and let him have a chance to rise by his own efforts.”

People Men Black Chance White Effort Demand Necks Heels Black And White High Heels

Book:William Wells Brown: A Reader

Source: William Wells Brown: A Reader

“I was not only hunting for my liberty, but also hunting for my name.”

Names Liberty Hunting

Book:The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave

Source: The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave

“Despotism increases in severity with the number of despots; the responsibility is more divided, and the claims are more numerous.”

Numbers Responsibility Claims Increase Divided Tyrants Despotism Severity Despots

Book:Clotel; or, The president's daughter

Source: Clotel; or, The president's daughter

“When this boy was brought to Dr. Young, his name being William, the same as mine, my mother was ordered to change mine to something else. This, at the time, I thought to be one of the most cruel acts that could be committed upon my rights.”

Young Mother Names Change Boys Rights Mines Committed Drs

Book:The Narrative of William Wells Brown, A Fugitive Slave

Source: The Narrative of William Wells Brown, A Fugitive Slave

About the Author

Born: November 6, 1814
Died: November 6, 1884
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 11

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Books & Sources

The Narrative of William Wells Brown, A Fugitive SlaveRelated source material

Clotel; or, The president's daughterRelated source material

The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive SlaveRelated source material

The Works of William Wells Brown: Using HisRelated source material

William Wells Brown: A ReaderRelated source material

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