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HISTORY
How Black Mutual Aid Groups Paved The Way For Racial Progress
Unity became Black Americans' most valuable asset
There's an old African proverb. "If you want to go fast, go alone. But, if you want to go far, go together." This mirrors the sentiment of Black people who founded mutual aid groups as early as the 1700s. They realized individual success was an insufficient goal. Achieving racial progress requires clearing a path wide enough for many more to pass through. That's why, whenever possible, Black Americans worked together to overcome unjust conditions. Unity became their greatest asset. Once free, they acquired skills and taught them to whom they could. An "each one, teach one," type of deal. Many founded mutual aid groups to meet the needs of the black community. In this era, black history lessons are often brushed to the side. Yet, this narrative offers valuable insights that are still applicable today.
Absalom Jones and Richard Allen founded the Free African Society in 1787. This was the earliest of its kind on record. Along with other Black Pennsylvania leaders, they offered a variety of community services. Their primary goal was "to support one another in sickness and for the benefit of their widows and children." Members paid one shilling in silver each month. They relied upon a Quaker abolitionist, Joseph Clarke, as their treasurer. An 1804 paper referred to the group as the "society of free people." One group with some of the same members focused on "educating children of African descent." They opened a local school based on the "benevolence of the community." Fifty pupils attended, they noted. Before, there were only five schools for Black students in the city. The Society of Friends opened one, the Abolition Society opened several more, and Rev. Absalom Jones ran one. These other schools were "so full that numerous applicants were refused admittance." Yet, for "a small expense," Black people had the opportunity to send their students to this new school. "Having their children educated so as to become useful members of society."
Rev. Peter Williams, Jr. helped to co-found the New York African Society for Mutual Relief in 1807. This was partly to celebrate the end of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on March 2nd of that year. Of course, the chattel…
