Martin Delany

Martin Robison Delany (May 6, 1812 - 1885) was the First Afro-American Field Officer in the United States Army. He was born a slave in Charleston, Virginia. His novel Blake: or, the Huts of America advocated black separatism.

Related Topics:
May 6 - 1812 - 1885 - United States Army - Charleston, Virginia - Black separatism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In passing the novel contained several reworkings of Stephen Foster's sentimental "Plantation Songs", a black reappropriation of minstrel-show material. For example, where Foster's "Old Uncle Ned" mourned the passing of a slave—

Related Topics:
Stephen Foster - Plantation Songs - Reappropriation - Minstrel-show

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Den lay down de shubble and de hoe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Hang up de fiddle and de bow:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:No more hard work for pool old Ned

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:He's gone whar de good darkeys go. http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/usa/olduned.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

—Delany turns this into a song of rebellion about the death of a master:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Hang up the shovel and thee hoe-o-o-o!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:I don't care whether I work or no!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Old master's gone to the slaveholders rest—

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:He's gone where they all ought to go!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~