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William Alien was among the many free African Americans who made their way to the United Kingdom in the first half of the nineteenth century to escape conditions in the US. He was probably best educated, and one of the few who settled in England permanently. Many African Americans - especially the temporary residents, the visiting lecturers, - found a superficial acceptance in the UK, but William Alien's life demonstrates that this was only on the surface; and that the situation for Blacks deteriorated as the century advanced. A man with his education, and teaching as well as writing experience, should not have found it difficultto earn a living. That he did, and that he and his family probably spent many years in penury, demonstrates the superficiality of English politeness to people with a darker skin.1
Early life in the North America
Born in about 1820, William was the son of a free 'mulatto' mother and a Welshman. His parents died when he was young and he was adopted by a 'relatively well-to-do' Black family.2 Through contacts with Federal troops stationed near his home following Nat Turner's Revolt, he learned some French and German. An excellent scholar, hisschoolmasterat the local elementary school sought thefinancial support of wealthy abolition ist Gerrit Smith3 to fi nance William's further education.
With this support, William enrolled at the Oneida Institute in New York state. This multi-racial school was a hotbed of abolitionist activity.4 On graduation in 1841 he taught primary or 'common school' in Troy, NY and co-edited abolitionist Henry Highland Garnet's National Watchman and participated in the Black National Convention movement. In 1847 he moved to Boston, began a clerkship in a legal firm andgave lectures as part of the anti-slavery anti-racial prejudice movement. To aid his audiences, he published a booklet of speeches by famous Blacks to which he added biographical sketches and an introduction.6 He also served asthe secretary of the Boston Coloured Citizens Association.
Probably because of his political enthusiasms, Alien left Boston to become a lecturer of Greek Languages and Literature, and 'Belles Lettres' at the Central College, McGrawville, NY.5 Founded in 1849 as an inter-racial, co-educational, anti-slavery college, the College also advocated women's rights. Though devoted to his teaching, Alien found time...