Boston abolitionists rallied in response to the Fugitive Slave Act, ushering in an era of more active resistance that we chronicled in episodes 15-17. This week, we’re spotlighting the role that Theodore Parker, a radically liberal Unitarian minister, played in securing the safety of self-emancipated African Americans and inciting the city to oppose slavery with violence if necessary.
Abolitionism on Trial
- The speech Parker gave that got him arrested for inciting a riot
- Boston slave riot, and trial of Anthony Burns: containing the report of the Faneuil Hall meeting, the murder of Batchelder, Theodore Parker’s lesson for the day, speeches of counsel on both sides, corrected by themselves, verbatim report of Judge Loring’s decision, and, a detailed account of the embarkation
- The Trial of Theodore Parker, for the “Misdemeanor” of a Speech in Faneuil Hall against Kidnapping, before the Circuit Court of the United States, At Boston, April 3, 1855, by Theodore Parker
- Anthony Burns, A History
- American Heretic: Theodore Parker and Transcendentalism, By Dean Grodzins
- A summary of Parker’s case from MassMoments by Mass Humanities
Boston Book Club
Boston’s Banner Years: 1965–2015: A Saga of Black Success is edited by Melvin B. Miller with the contributions of 7 writers. Miller grew up in Boston and graduated from Boston Latin School, Harvard College, and Columbia Law School. In 1965 he founded the Bay State Banner where he has served as publisher and editor for more than fifty years. The Banner describes the book as follows:
Author Melvin B. Miller believes it can be hard for the black community in Boston to maintain an inspired outlook, largely due to the lack of media attention to black achievements. This limited coverage “has created the impression of continual failure.” In Miller’s new book “Boston’s Banner Years: 1965–2015: A Saga of Black Success” (published by Archway Press), Miller refutes the negative implications of alleged black incompetence by chronicling black success in a series of journalistic accounts that highlight black achievement in Boston over the course of 50 years.
Miller has compiled an array of stories that showcase Boston’s diverse black community, offering a historical review of the multitude of black success stories in numerous fields. In addition to the 50-year period of coverage, Miller also provides an overview of the efforts black people have made to improve their status from colonial times that helped “to establish the cultural milieu in which Boston’s black community developed.”
Upcoming Event
If you’ve been listening to the show for a while, you probably know that we’re big fans of the Hamilton musical. Our one gripe with the smash hit is how unkindly it treats our local hero John Adams. That’s why we’re featuring the New Repertory Theater’s production of 1776 this week. This 1969 Tony award-winning musical follows John Adams through the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence and dramatizes his efforts to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence and to sign the document.
Following the lead of Hamilton, the cast reflects a much more diverse cast of characters than one would have found in the room where it happened. The Globe notes:
Their nontraditional casting for “1776’’ — performers of color in roles that are usually played by white actors; women portraying men, and vice versa — suggests they’re hoping to capture some of the dynamism that “Hamilton’’ engendered by telling a story of the past with the diverse voices and faces of the present.
The show only runs through December 29, but right now you can get tickets for less than $30, so it’s the perfect time to go!