Date on Senior Honors Thesis

5-2021

Document Type

Senior Honors Thesis

Degree Name

B.A.

Department

History

Author's Keywords

Philadelphia; yellow fever; abolition; Atlantic World; scientific racism

Abstract

The late-eighteenth century was a crucial time for determining the social role of black people in Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania at large. In 1780, the state legislature began a gradual abolition process that contributed to a growing free Black population in the city, while many other Black Philadelphians remained in bondage. Their livelihoods remained restricted by anti-Black laws that contributed to the overall poor health of Black Philadelphians. As the yellow fever epidemic began in 1793, Philadelphia’s medical community supported racist scientific myths that Black people possessed a natural immunity to yellow fever. In an agreement with the city and Dr. Benjamin Rush, Black community leaders Richard Allen and Absalom Jones recruited Black volunteers to attend to the sick. Theories of Black immunity to yellow fever were proven wrong as volunteers contracted the disease and died. Despite their lifesaving work, Black Philadelphians were accused of theft and extortion in the press, exacerbating white fears about the growing Black population in their city. Examples of Black rebellion in the Haitian Revolution added to these fears, complicating the conversation surrounding Black people’s fitness for political participation. The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 became an opportunity for Black people in Philadelphia to publicly defend their capability for citizenship in the early American republic.

Lay Summary

The late-eighteenth century was a crucial time for determining the social role of black people in Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania at large. In 1780, the state legislature began a gradual abolition process that contributed to a growing free Black population in the city, while many other Black Philadelphians remained in bondage. Their livelihoods remained restricted by anti-Black laws that contributed to the overall poor health of Black Philadelphians. As the yellow fever epidemic began in 1793, Philadelphia’s medical community supported racist scientific myths that Black people possessed a natural immunity to yellow fever. In an agreement with the city and Dr. Benjamin Rush, Black community leaders Richard Allen and Absalom Jones recruited Black volunteers to attend to the sick. Theories of Black immunity to yellow fever were proven wrong as volunteers contracted the disease and died. Despite their lifesaving work, Black Philadelphians were accused of theft and extortion in the press, exacerbating white fears about the growing Black population in their city. Examples of Black rebellion in the Haitian Revolution added to these fears, complicating the conversation surrounding Black people’s fitness for political participation. The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 became an opportunity for Black people in Philadelphia to publicly defend their capability for citizenship in the early American republic.

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