African American Settlements in West Africa: John Brown Russwurm and the American Civilizing Efforts

African American Settlements in West Africa examines John Brown Russwurm's intellectual accomplishments and significant contributions to the black civil rights movement in American from 1826-1829. Amos J. Beyan explores the essential characteristics that distinguished Russwurm's ideology and action from those of other black leaders in America, Liberia and Maryland in Liberia. Beyan traces the path of his controversial decisions, from his early disagreements with African American leaders who opposed colonizing attempts in West Africa, to his support of the American Colonization Society and the Maryland State Colonization Society, two organizations that most civil rights activists viewed as racist and pro-slavery. Beyan explores the social and intellectual origins of Russwurm's efforts, exposing his underlying motives and demonstrating why Russwurm made the choices that he did.