Henry Highland Garnet

Henry Highland Garnet (1815-1882), American pastor and spokesman for racial equality during the mid-19th century. Born into slavery, Garnet traveled throughout the United States and the British Isles speaking against the slave trade. Garnet advocated closer ties between blacks in the United States and Africa and called upon black Americans to immigrate to African nations.

Garnet was born in New Market, Maryland, and moved to New York in 1824 when his family escaped slavery. His formal schooling continued for 14 years, ending with his graduation from Oneida Institute in Whitesboro, New York, in 1840. Three years later, Garnet was ordained as a minister and appointed pastor of the Liberty Street Presbyterian Church in Troy, New York. Later, he led congregations in New York City, Kingston, Jamaica and Washington, D.C.

Even before entering the ministry Garnet had identified himself with the organized movement against slavery, lecturing at the annual meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1840. The same year, he attended the first annual meeting of the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. At a national convention of free African Americans held in Buffalo in 1843, Garnet delivered 'An Address to the Slaves of the United States,' urging slaves to protest for their lives and liberties. In his speech, Garnet stated it would be better for slaves to die seeking freedom than to live in captivity. Many of the delegates to the convention considered Garnet's language too bold. Near the end of the American Civil War (1861-1865), Garnet addressed the House of Representatives, encouraging a final end to slavery.

Garnet wrote and spoke of 'the ancient fame of our ancestors,' praising Africa as an age-old leader in peace and war. Garnet often cited the role African Americans played in the American Revolution, and the accomplishments of Haitian leaders such as François Dominique Toussaint Louverture.

In 1858, Garnet founded the African Civilization Society with the mission of encouraging black Americans to immigrate to Africa. Although the organization dissolved before the end of the Civil War, Garnet maintained interest in Africa. In 1881, he was appointed U.S. minister and consul general to Liberia.