An analytical look at Ann Arbor's abolitionist poetry and its authors.
An exploration of the life and work of William Henry Burleigh and his connection to Ann Arbor's anti-slavery newspaper Signal of Liberty. Through arousing speech-making and heartwrenching poetry, abolitionists in the 1840's brought personal issues from the private sphere into the public sphere in an effort to make known the horrors and injustices of slavery in the United States. In "poetry of everyday language," Burleigh shared the "everyday" slave experience with the world. The distinct national cultural network connected place like Ann Arbor to Burleigh's work and ideas, forming the basis for revolution and change in every town in America.
Table of Contents:
"To The Friends of Emancipation" - click here to view one of Burleigh's poetic discourses on slavery, freedom, and the meaning of family.
William Henry Burleigh - click here to learn about Burleigh's work and connection to Ann Arbor and American abolitionists' "national cultural network."
Signal of Liberty - click here to browse the pages of Ann Arbor's leading Abolitionist newspaper and its meaning in local, state, and national history.
Related Poetry - click here to view abolitionist poetry of the times and see the connections across local and national cultures.