Alfred Niger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred Niger
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| Born | 1797 |
| Died | August 25, 1862 |
Alfred Niger (born 1797, died August 25, 1862) was an important Black activist. He lived in Providence, Rhode Island, and worked as a barber. Alfred Niger was a key leader in the fight for Black people's right to vote in Rhode Island. This was in the early 1800s, around the time of the Dorr Rebellion.
In 1831, William Lloyd Garrison hired Alfred Niger. Niger became an agent for The Liberator newspaper across Rhode Island. He also worked as an agent for Freedom's Journal in Providence.
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Early Life of Alfred Niger
Alfred Niger was born in 1797. His parents were Theophilus Niger and his wife. He was likely born in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. He was baptized there in 1808.
From 1824 until he died in 1862, he lived and worked in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a barber. On November 4, 1827, Alfred Niger married Julia Bowen in Providence. By 1850, they had at least three children. Their names were Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alexander Petion. Alexander was named after Alexandre Pétion, a famous leader.
Joining Black National Conventions
Starting in the 1830s, Alfred Niger became active in the Black national convention movement. These conventions were meetings where Black leaders discussed important issues.
At a convention in Philadelphia in 1835, Niger was chosen for a special task. He, along with William Whipper and Augustus Price, had to write a speech. This speech was for the American Moral Reform Society. It explained the group's goals to everyone.
The men said that bad morals caused prejudice against Black people. They believed that improving morals would help Black Americans. The speech also asked for an end to differences based on race or location.
Working with the Anti-Slavery Society
In the early 1830s, Alfred Niger became a delegate from Providence. He attended meetings of the New England Anti-Slavery Society. This group was led by William Lloyd Garrison.
In 1836, Niger and other Rhode Islanders started their own group. It was called the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society (RIASS). Alfred Niger was one of only two Black men in the group. Historian CJ Martin says that the RIASS became a strong ally for Black leaders in Providence. This was likely because of Niger's leadership.
By 1837, Niger was on the RIASS's powerful Executive Committee. He probably helped write the committee's plans that year. Two of these plans focused on ending slavery in the South. They also aimed to remove all differences based on skin color. These differences went against the United States Declaration of Independence's idea of equality.
In 1846, Niger also served as a delegate from Providence to the American Anti-Slavery Society.
Fighting for Black Suffrage
Historian Stanley Lemons explains that the Black community in Providence was not very organized until the 1820s. But by the 1830s, it had grown into a strong community. It had churches, schools, clubs, businesses, and reform groups. The opening of the African Union Meeting House in 1820 marked the start of this growth.
Lemons notes that Black people slowly built up businesses and savings. They faced many challenges without much help. By 1841, they owned grocery stores, shoe repair shops, and clothing stores. In 1822, the total value of Black-owned property was about $10,000. By 1839, it was between $35,000 and $50,000. Amazingly, two-thirds of Black people in Providence owned their own homes.
Alfred Niger was part of this growing community. He owned his home and ran his own barber business. When the City of Providence wanted to tax the increasing amount of Black-owned property, the Black community protested. They argued it was taxation without representation. This means they were being taxed but had no say in the government.
At a protest meeting at the African Union Meeting House, Alfred Niger was chosen as the secretary. George C. Willis was the chairman. Both Niger and Willis worked with William Lloyd Garrison. This connected them to the antislavery movement.
Alfred Niger and the Dorr Rebellion
After the American Revolution, Rhode Island kept its old royal charter from 1663. This charter said that only men who owned property could vote. By the early 1800s, many men in Rhode Island could not vote.
Two main groups formed. The Suffrage Party wanted to expand the right to vote with a new constitution. The Legal Party wanted to keep the old rules and their power.
By 1841, the Suffrage Party began to organize a meeting to write a new state constitution. This group was led by Thomas Wilson Dorr, and they were called "Dorrites." As they organized, they had to decide about Black people's right to vote. Before 1822, Black men who owned property could vote in Rhode Island. But a new law in 1822 made it illegal.
In August 1841, as the Dorrites formed the People's Convention, Alfred Niger tried to vote. The rules for choosing delegates did not say only white people could vote. But Niger was still turned away. Historian Van Gosse notes that the Legal Party used this to show that the Dorrites were not truly "democratic."
At a Suffrage Party meeting in Providence on September 27, 1841, names were put forward for treasurer. Alfred Niger was one of them. Historian Irving Bartlett writes that someone pointed out Niger was Black. The Suffragists then voted not to accept the report, and the meeting became chaotic. Mr. Field, who had suggested Niger, explained his actions. He said he was against Black suffrage but wanted the party to decide on the issue. He wanted to know how many people in his party supported Black voting rights.
A motion to remove the word "white" from the convention's rules was defeated. The vote was 46 to 18. After this, many Black men and white abolitionists left the Suffrage Party. They joined the Legal Party. Hundreds of Black men joined Providence's local defense group in the summer of 1842.
In November 1842, Rhode Island's new constitution was approved. It was written by the Rhode Island General Assembly. This new constitution gave the right to vote to "all native [male] citizens of the United States." This made Rhode Island possibly the first state to allow Black men to vote in the United States.
Later Life and Death
According to historian CJ Martin, Alfred Niger's sons followed his path. They became professionals in Providence's Black community. Alexander, one of his sons, became the first Black man to work in printing in the city. He also likely became the first Black member of a printing union in Providence. He was one of its founding members in 1857.
Alfred Niger passed away on August 25, 1862, in Providence, Rhode Island. He is buried in the Locust Grove Cemetery in Elmwood, Providence, Rhode Island.
See Also
