A Protest Ignored
"These are the reasons why we are against the traffik of men-body, as followeth." So began a protest against slavery signed by four newcomers to the New World, residents of Germantown, Pennsylvania.
The document, dated April 18, 1688, was presented at the monthly meeting for worship held at the home of Richard Worrell. That building, now gone, stood at Germantown Avenue and Wister Street.
Joel Rose, Producer and Editor
Viet Le, Rachael Berenguer and Jennifer Lynn, Associate Producers
Elisabeth Perez-Luna, Executive Producer
Kenneth Finkel, Executive Director, Arts & Culture Service
Funding was provided by The William Penn Foundation.
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Marking Pennsylvania History
Four quakers from Germantown, Pennsylvania made history in the 1680s when they signed a letter condemning slavery. It was the first written protest by white men against slavery in the Americas. WHYY's Jennifer Lynn reports. [Listen]
Back to Marking Pennsylvania History homepage.