The Meeting that Launched a Movement: The First National Convention

The Title

These two documents compare the preambles to the 1830 (left) and 1831 (right) conventions. The 1830 convention title states,

“Constitution of the American Society of Free Persons of Color, for improving their condition in the United States; for purchasing lands: and for the establishment of a settlement in upper Canada, also, The Proceedings of the Convention with their address to Free Persons of Colour in the United States.”

The first article of the constitution, found within the 1830 minutes states, “This society shall be called the American Society of Free Persons of Colour.” Subsequent conventions did not retain this title.

Furthermore, note that the 1831 preamble designates itself, “the First Annual Convention of the People of Colour.” And 1832 follows the 1831 model by calling itself, “Minutes and Proceedings of the Second Annual Convention.” These titles alone demand attention. Neither of them reference the meeting of the 1830 convention. They are called by a different name and numerical sequence.

Should our definition of the first Colored Convention take this fact into account?

: The preamble to the 1830 national convention.

: The preamble to the 1831 national convention.

References

[1] “Constitution of the American Society of Free Persons of Colour, for improving their condition in the United States; for purchasing lands; and for the establishment of a settlement in upper Canada, also, The Proceedings of the Convention with their Address to Free Persons of Colour in the United States” Philadelphia, PA. ColoredConventions.org.

[2] “Minutes and Proceedings of the First Annual Convention of the People of Colour, held by adjournments in the city of Philadelphia, from the sixth to the eleventh of June, inclusive, 1831.” Philadelphia, PA. ColoredConventions.org