Martin Delany: The Trailblazer of Black Empowerment
Written by Rough Ashlar
Martin Delany was a physician, journalist, abolitionist, and one of the most prominent African American activists of the 19th century. He was born in 1812 in Virginia and spent much of his life advocating for the rights of African Americans and working towards their liberation from slavery. In addition to his activism, Delany was also a veteran of the Civil War and was the first African American to attain the rank of Major in the United States Army.
Delany's activism was shaped by the experiences of oppression and discrimination that he faced growing up as an African American. He was a firm believer in the power of education as a tool for liberation and was one of the first African Americans to attend college. He went on to become a physician, but his medical career was cut short by his commitment to the abolitionist movement.
Delany was a leading figure in the anti-slavery movement and was a frequent speaker at anti-slavery events. He was a vocal advocate of African American emigration to Africa as a way of escaping the oppression and discrimination that was prevalent in the United States. Delany was also a proponent of self-sufficiency for African Americans and believed that they should establish their own businesses, schools, and communities to achieve independence from white-dominated society.
In addition to his activism, Delany was also an accomplished journalist and author. He wrote several books and articles that addressed the challenges facing African Americans and advocated for their rights and freedom. His most notable work, "The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States," was published in 1852 and is considered one of the most important works of African American literature.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Delany joined the Union Army and was commissioned as a Major. He was the first African American to attain this rank and played a key role in recruiting African American soldiers for the Union Army. Delany's military career was cut short by his desire to continue advocating for the rights of African Americans, and he resigned his commission in 1865 to focus on his activism.
After the Civil War, Delany continued to be an active and vocal advocate for the rights of African Americans. He was a strong supporter of Reconstruction and the efforts to rebuild the South and provide African Americans with equal rights and opportunities. He was also involved in the formation of the National Emigration Convention of Colored Men, which was dedicated to promoting African American emigration to Africa.
Delany's activism and military career reflect his commitment to the liberation of African Americans and his unwavering belief in the importance of self-determination and independence. He was a visionary who saw the potential of African Americans to shape their own destiny and was willing to fight for their rights and freedom.
Martin Delany was a member of Prince Hall Freemasonry . He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice in 1849, passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft in 1850, and was raised to the degree of a Master Mason in 1851. According to Matthew Brocks, History Of The National Grand Lodge: A Study of the Origin, Organization, Battles, Controversies and the Evolution of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge Of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, Prince Hall Origin National Compact, U. S. A., Columbus, Ohio, 1980: Martin Delany was a member and served as Worshipful Master of St. Cyprian Lodge No. 13 of Pittsburgh. As Worshipful Master of St. Cyprian Lodge, Martin Delany’s tenure serves importance in the history of Black Freemasonry in the state of Ohio. To understand the importance of we must review the work of Past National Grand Master and Historian Matthew Brock. Matthew Brock illustrates how St. Cyprian Lodges under the leadership of Worshipful Master Martin Delany was at the epicenter of the origin of Freemasonry for the state of Ohio. The origin and establishment of the Grand Lodge for the State of Ohio is narrated as follows :
On the third day of March, A. D. 1847, seven men, residents of the City of Cincinnati left that city having for their destination the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The object of that trip was to lay a foundation for the establishment of a Lodge of Free and Accepted York Masons, composed of Colored men, to be located in the city of Cincinnati. At that time there was no Masonic Lodge of Colored men west of the Allegheny Mountains, except St. Cyprian Lodge No. 13, located in the City of Pittsburgh, and working under the authority of the First Independent African Grand Lodge of North America, the Grand East of which was Philadelphia, Pa. The seven men making the trip were William Darnes, John Johnson, Joseph C. King, Shelton Morris, George Peterson, Asbury Young, and L. C. Fluellen, all the men of the highest character and possessing the respect and confidence of the community in which they lived. Three of the seven, William Darnes, John Johnson and Joseph C. King, were Masons, having visited the city of Pittburgh on a former occasion, and in the St. Cyprian Lodge aforesaid, had been initiated, passed and raised. The remaining four, Shelton Morris, George Peterson, Asbury Young and L. C. Fluellen were profanes.
The Lodge was opened with Martin Delany as W. M., George B. Vashon as Senior Warden, H. Nicholson , as Junior Warden , Halson Vashon, Secretary, Alex Ferguson, Treasurer, S. L. Collins, Senior Deacon, F. Robinson, Jr. Deacon, A. Williams, Tyler
In conclusion, Martin Delany was a pioneering figure in the struggle for African American rights and freedom. His activism and military career embody his commitment to the cause and his belief in the power of education, self-sufficiency, and self-determination. Delany's legacy continues to inspire and inform the ongoing fight for equality and justice for all people, and his contributions to the cause of African American liberation remain an important part of our nation's history.