In the Lower Congo River there is but One post, in the cataract region one. It is natural that they everywhere shrink from the fostering care your Majestys Government so eagerly proffers them. He was born in a time of slavery and he saw first hand all the problems that This letter was a catalyst for an international outcry against the regime running the Congo, which had caused millions of deaths. 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It is not my duty to criticise the unlawful and unconstitutional use of these officers coming into the service of this African State. Every charge which I am about to bring against your Majestys personal Government in the Congo has been carefully investigated; a list of competent and veracious witnesses, documents, letters, official records and data has been faithfully prepared, which will be deposited with Her Britannic Majestys Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, until such time as an International Commission can be created with power to send for persons and papers, to administer oaths, and attest the truth or falsity of these charges. Blackpast has a board It is natural that they everywhere shrink from the fostering care your Majestys Government so eagerly proffers them. Three hundred and sixteen slaves were sent down the river recently, and others are to follow. 9. Uploaded by The above speech which shows the real intention of the Christian missionary journey in Africa was exposed to the world by Mr. Moukouani Muikwani Bukoko, born in the Congo in 1915. BlackPast is dedicated to providing the inquisitive public with This letter was accessed through the These poor natives are sent hundreds of miles away from their villages, to serve among other natives whose language they do not know. "An Open Letter to His Serene Majesty Leopold II" In Archives of Empire: Volume 2. Often these ox-chains eat into the necks of the prisoners and produce sores about which the flies circle, aggravating the running wound; so the prisoner is constantly worried. were faced in America. Sentiments of American Negro Leaders on Africa From the 1800s to the I have the honour to submit for your Majestys consideration some reflections respecting the Independent State of Congo, based upon a careful study and inspection of the country and character of the personal Government you have established upon the African Continent. writing. Next came the lens act. The white man took a percussion cap gun, tore the end of the paper which held the powder to the bullet, and poured the powder and paper into the gun, at the same time slipping the bullet into the sleeve of the left arm. The State then hires these woman out to the highest bidder, the officers having the first choice and then the men. IPGS HENRY M. STANLEYS name produces a shudder among this simple folk when mentioned; they remember his broken promises, his copious profanity, his hot temper, his heavy blows, his severe and rigorous measures, by which they were mulcted of their lands. But the only thing they found in the wake of his march was misery. He turned his Congo Free State into a massive labour camp, made a fortune for himself from the harvest of its wild rubber, and contributed in a large way to the death of perhaps 10 million innocent people. source of this documents authenticity I looked at the original source first. Pixabay. When natives have persisted in trading with the trade-companies the State has punished their independence by burning the villages in the vicinity of the trading houses and driving the natives away. In a published open letter to King Leopold in 1890, Williams documented the massive enslavement, torture and killing of Africans by the king's subjects. ), and I was doomed to bitter disappointment. people of the Congos lives. It may be safely asserted that no barbarous people have ever so readily adopted the fostering care of benevolent enterprise, as have the tribes of the Congo, and never was there a more honest and practical effort made to increase their knowledge and secure their welfare. There is no white commissioned officer at these posts; they are in charge of the black Zanzibar soldiers, and the State expects them not only to sustain themselves, but to raid enough to feed the garrisons where the white men are stationed. DuBois, An Appeal to the World : A Statement of Denial of Human Rights to Minorities, (1948) United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (1960) Patrice Lumumbas Last Letter to Pauline Lumumba, (1963) Founding Charter of the Organization of African Unity, African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. But instead King Leopold II unleashed new horrors on the African continent. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like George Washington Williams, What did Williams' observe about the methods which Stanley's agents used in the Congo to convince local kings to sign treaties?, What does Williams' report about the working conditions and wages of African soldiers there? But I take the liberty to say that many of these officers are too young and inexperienced to be entrusted with the difficult work of dealing with native races. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Leopold's Open Letter (Document A) The following is an excerpt from an open (public) letter written by King Leopold to all Belgian agents working in the Congo. Congo. Three shots were fired and the native fell dead, pierced through the head, and the trade canoe was transformed into a funeral barge and floated silently down the river. how he felt about Belgium treatment of the Natives. In the late 1800s King Leopold II of Belgium ruled the Congo as his own personal property. There many of the members of the various boards are in the education field Not one out of every twenty State-officials know the language of the natives, although they are constantly issuing laws, difficult even for Europeans, and expect the natives to comprehend and obey them. In 1890 he wrote an Open Letter to King Leopold. There are only 2,300 soldiers in the Congo. Upon the arrival of the survivors in the Congo they are set to work as labourers at one shilling a day; as soldiers they are promised sixteen shillings per month, in English money, but are usually paid off in cheap handkerchiefs and poisonous gin. This letter is in a UK documentary about King Leopold. They thought it meant complete subjugation, and they fled in confusion. These black soldiers, many of whom are slaves, exercise the power of life and death. There are instances in which they have brought the heads of their victims to their white officers on the expeditionary steamers, and afterwards eaten the bodies of slain children. For thousands of years, that territory had been conquered by nearby Netherlands, France, Germany, and Luxembourg. to an end. And, of course, many die. W. Williams, of the United States of America, 1890. Many of the issues he has with the government have to do with slavery and the We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Read More (1890) George Washington Williams's Open Letter to King Leopold on the Congo. They are ignorant of native character, lack wisdom, justice, fortitude and patience. 06/29/2020. 2021-22, Scavanger Hunt - Human anatomy scavenger hunt, Analytical Reading Activity 10th Amendment, 324069444 Introduction to Mastering Chemistry, EDUC 327 The Teacher and The School Curriculum Document, Leadership class , week 3 executive summary, I am doing my essay on the Ted Talk titaled How One Photo Captured a Humanitie Crisis https, School-Plan - School Plan of San Juan Integrated School, SEC-502-RS-Dispositions Self-Assessment Survey T3 (1), Techniques DE Separation ET Analyse EN Biochimi 1. 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I cannot deal with the dimensions of these prisons in this letter, but will do so in my report to my Government. Sick sailors frequently die on board their vessels at Banana Point; and if it were not for the humanity of the Dutch Trading Company at that placewho have often opened their private hospital to the sick of other countriesmany more might die. But to the surprise of every honest man, the thief was sheltered by the Governor General of your Majestys Government. 5 A Letter To King Leopold George Washington Williams. put together I went to their home page. To avoid that, they get interested in it, and make you murderous competition and dream one day to overthrow you. W. Williams, of the United States of America," 1890. (1885) General Act of the Conference of Berlin, (1890) George Washington Williamss Open Letter to King Leopold on the Congo, (1947) W.E.B. Major Barttelot was shot by a Zanzibar soldier, and the captain of a Belgian trading-boat was the victim of his own rash and unjust treatment of a native chief. All Rights Reserved. And all this upon the word of honour of a gentleman, I subscribe myself your Majestys humble and obedient servant. They are introduced by two methods, viz., black men are dispatched to the Portuguese coast where they engage these women as mistresses of white men, who pay to the procurer a monthly sum. He gave her tons of money, land, jewels, and even made her a baroness. Whenever children are born of such relations, the State maintains that the women being its property the child belongs to it also. It has been fabricated by a Congolese, and circulates on the Internet already for years. Mr. H. M. STANLEY, the man who was your chief agent in setting up your authority in this country, has grossly misrepresented the character of the country. His Heart of Darkness is an accurate description of the Congo drawn from his experience. SEVENTH.Your Majestys Government is engaged in trade and commerce, competing with the organised trade companies of Belgium, England, France, Portugal and Holland. Excerpts from The Crime of the Congo ''The Guilt of Delay'' (1909 . Why did Katy Perry collapse on set of American Idol? Between 800 and 1,000 slaves are sold to be eaten by the natives of the Congo State annually; and slave raids, accomplished by the most cruel and murderous agencies, are carried on within the territorial limits of your Majestys Government which is impotent. Convert always the blacks by using the whip. Leopold II was born in 1835 to King Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orleans. . The officers made a wager of 5 that they could hit the native with their rifles. Indeed the most unpractical measures have been adopted against the natives in nearly every respect; and in the capital of your Majestys Government at Boma there is not a native employed. Have courage to admit it; you are not going to teach them what they know already. He let the King know A cap was placed upon the nipple of the gun, and the black brother was implored to step off ten yards and shoot at his white brother to demonstrate his statement that he was a spirit, and, therefore, could not be killed. This was, however, an unusual case of generosity and clemency; and there is only one post that I know of where there is not to be found children of the civil and military officers of your Majestys Government abandoned to degradation; white men bringing their own flesh and blood under the lash of a most cruel master, the State of Congo. His last appearance in the Congo produced a profound sensation among them, when he led 500 Zanzibar soldiers with 300 camp followers on his way to relieve EMIN PASHA. There is no white commissioned officer at these posts; they are in charge of the black Zanzibar soldiers, and the State expects them not only to sustain themselves, but to raid enough to feed the garrisons where the white men are stationed. The laws printed and circulated in Europe for the Protection of the blacks in the Congo, are a dead letter and a fraud. Other officers have served the State faithfully, and deserve well of their Royal Master. Stop being so hateful Black did nothing to you! They eat their rice twice a day by the use of their fingers; they often thirst for water when the season is dry; they are exposed to the heat and rain, and sleep upon the damp and filthy decks of the vessels often so closely crowded as to lie in human ordure. In the Lower Congo River there is but One post, in the cataract region one. For this work the Arab Governor is to receive five hundred stands of arms, five thousand kegs of powder, and 20,000 sterling, to he paid in several instalments. A scholarly primary source written by George Washington Williams. The labour force at the stations of your Majestys Government in the Upper River is composed of slaves of all ages and both sexes. But to the surprise of every honest man, the thief was sheltered by the Governor General of your Majestys Government. I was a little shocked reading some of the African American history in one place that will provide me with a resource to use once I It taxes all trading companies and exempts its own goods from export-duty, and makes many of its officers ivory-traders, with the promise of a liberal commission upon all they can buy or get for the State. SECOND.Your Majestys Government has established nearly fifty posts, consisting of from two to eight mercenary slave-soldiers from the East Coast. Se continui ad utilizzare questo sito noi assumiamo che tu ne sia felice. Public domain image. ), and I was doomed to bitter disappointment. history of African Americans in the United States and people of They make no report as to the number of robberies they commit, or the number of lives they take; they are only required to subsist upon the natives and thus relieve your Majestys Government of the cost of feeding them. Other officers have served the State faithfully, and deserve well of their Royal Master. The letter created a . SECOND.Your Majestys Government has established nearly fifty posts, consisting of from two to eight mercenary slave-soldiers from the East Coast. am teaching history. A few hours later the Procurer-General searched his room and found many more stolen bottles of wine and other things, not the property of servants. During thirteen years only one white man has lost his life by the hands of the natives, and only two white men have been killed in the Congo. They are the greatest curse the country suffers now. TWELFTHThe agents of your Majestys Government have misrepresented the Congo country and the Congo railway. The African soldiers and labourers of your Majestys Government fare worse than the whites, because they have poorer quarters, quite as bad as those of the natives; and in the sheds, called hospitals, they languish upon a bed of bamboo poles without blankets, pillows or any food different from that served to them when well, rice and fish. The African soldiers and labourers of your Majestys Government fare worse than the whites, because they have poorer quarters, quite as bad as those of the natives; and in the sheds, called hospitals, they languish upon a bed of bamboo poles without blankets, pillows or any food different from that served to them when well, rice and fish. 4 blackpast/george-washington-williams-open-letter-king-leopold- Allegations fly on social media, Volunteers to be paid 3,500 to get infected with coronavirus, Katy Perrys pregnancy and wedding plans with Orlando Bloom. You will find many other books, which will be given to you at the end of this conference. In 1870 roughly 80 percent of Africa south of the Sahara Desert was governed by indigenous kings, chiefs, and other rulers. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives. Whenever children are born of such relations, the State maintains that the women being its property the child belongs to it also. Required fields are marked *. And make sure that niggers never become rich. Washington Williams, George. He allows his personal feelings on the subject the shine through in his George Washington Williams, 1889. Posted on August 20, 2009 September 3, 2019 by contributed by: BlackPast. The Book of Negroes is a series of documents listing persons of African ancestry who were evacuated from the United States at the end of the American Revolution. The white man explained his intimate relation to the sun, and declared that if he were to request him to burn up his black brothers village it would be done. Overall this letter held a lot of information. They are ignorant and cruel, because they do not comprehend the natives; they are imposed upon them by the State. Cruelties of the most astounding character are practised by the natives, such as burying slaves alive in the grave of a dead chief, cutting off the heads of captured warriors in native combats, and no effort is put forth by your Majestys Government to prevent them. T have heard an officer of the Belgian Army pleading the cause of a white man of low degree who had been guilty of beating and stabbing a black man, and urging race distinctions and prejudices as good and sufficient reasons why his client should be adjudged innocent. July 18th, 1890. Under Leopold II's administration, the Congo Free State became one of the greatest international scandals of the early 20th century. As to the significance of this move Europe and America can judge without any comment from me, especially England. Meet the man who has donated blood every week for 60 years! Twelve charges against the governemt. Early and Personal Life. 1 had never been able to conceive of Europeans, establishing a government in a tropical country, without building a hospital; and yet from the mouth of the Congo River to its head-waters, here at the seventh cataract, a distance of 1,448 miles, there is not a solitary hospital for Europeans, and only three sheds for sick Africans in the service of the State, not fit to be occupied by a horse. Force them to pay you in sign of recognition goats, chicken or eggs every time you visit their villages. I make reference to their Mystic System and their war fetish warfare protection which they pretend not to want to abandon, and you must do everything in your power to make it disappear. But the only thing they found in the wake of his march was misery. They were a newly independent country . There has been, to my absolute knowledge, no honest and practical effort made to increase their knowledge and secure their welfare. Your Majestys Government has never spent one franc for educational purposes, nor instituted any practical system of industrialism. . Indeed the most unpractical measures have been adopted against the natives in nearly every respect; and in the capital of your Majestys Government at Boma there is not a native employed. Follow us @kineticslive, Milestone: BMORENEWS.coms 10th Anniversary: 12/12/12 :: EARLY REGISTRATION, Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) (16841706) Saint of Congo. When I arrived in the Congo, I naturally sought for the results of the brilliant programme: fostering care, benevolent enterprise, an honest and practical effort to increase the knowledge of the natives and secure their welfare. The other method is by capturing native women and condemning them to seven years servitude for some imaginary crime against the State with which the villages of these women are charged. To discover the Against the deceit, fraud, robberies, arson, murder, slave-raiding, and general policy of cruelty of your Majestys Government to the natives, stands their record of unexampled patience, long-suffering and forgiving spirit, which put the boasted civilisation and professed religion of your Majestys Government to the blush. There, dear patriots, are some of the principles that you must apply. and more. The propensity for violence is . without having to search in multiple areas for the information. One copy is held with the Guy Carlton Papers in The National Archives of Great Britain in Read More(1783) The Book of Negroes, General Act of the Conference of Berlin Berlin, Germany Signed February 26, 1885 CHAPTER I DECLARATION RELATIVE TO FREEDOM OF TRADE IN THE BASIN OF THE CONGO, ITS MOUTHS AND CIRCUMJACENT REGIONS, WITH OTHER PROVISIONS CONNECTED THEREWITH Article I The trade of all nations shall Read More(1885) General Act of the Conference of Berlin, George Washington Williams, An Open Letter to His Serene Majesty Leopold II, King of the Belgians and Sovereign of the Independent State of Congo By Colonel, The Honorable Geo. These piratical, buccaneering posts compel the natives to furnish them with fish, goats, fowls, and vegetables at the mouths of their muskets; and whenever the natives refuse to feed these vampires, they report to the main station and white officers come with an expeditionary force and burn away the homes of the natives. After much begging the black brother aims the gun at his white brother, pulls the trigger, the gun is discharged, the white man stoops . George Washington Williams(October 16, 1849 August 2, 1891) was a soldier in the American Civil War and in Mexico before becoming a Baptist minister, politician, lawyer, journalist, and writer on African-American history. The white brother took from his pocket a cigar, carelessly bit off the end, held up his glass to the sun and complaisantly smoked his cigar to the great amazement and terror of his black brother. 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