Monday, March 14, 2016

"HOROSCOPE"

"True hearts! Ye who desire freedom turn not aside from the real issues that call for all our labor with all our might; these are a Constitution broad as humanity to stir our intellects, and sweet HUMAN BROTHERHOOD crucified in the black man to kindle our hearts; whatever embraces not these embraces not freedom, and is unworthy of our sympathy and support. Whatever we win in the name of these, we win surely and permanently. Is it not time, now, that the people and the land are covered with false issues? Is it not time that we hold up the true ones? Regarded in its true historic light, each Presidential election is but a record of how many of the people think this, and how many of the people think that thing. Shall we not put upon the record at the ensuing election how many of the people think the U.S. Constitution establishes freedom for all human beings in the United States, and that the NEGRO IS ALSO A MAN AND A BROTHER?" P.147-148, "Horoscope (1856)," THE WORKS OF JAMES McCUNE SMITH : BLACK INTELLECTUAL AND ABOLITIONIST edited by John Stauffer (2007)