analysis of the Thanksgiving Day Sermon by Absalom Jones PDF

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Professor: Michael Dickinson...

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Anna Chen HIST 361 Primary Source 3 September 25, 2020

A Thanksgiving Day sermon was given to the audiences of the African Episcopal Church by Absalom Jones on Wednesday February 11, 1808. The sermon was delivered specifically on the day that slave trading became illegal. Absalom thanked God for finally blessing his people with the freedom they’ve been waiting so long for. In the sermon, Absalom compared African slavery to the Israelites slavery in Egypt under the Pharaoh from the bible. He compared the living conditions of both of the events. The Israelite slaves endured harshness under the Pharaoh, “Their work was of a laborious kind: it consisted of making bricks, and travelling, perhaps to a great distance, for the straw, or stubble, that was a component part of them.” Absalom told further of their harshness in Egypt, how they barely got any food, but the food they did get contained little nourishment. Their food consisted of leeks and onions, which was a common crop among their country. Not only was the food lame, their new-born sons were taken and drowned to prevent overpopulation. Absalom compared their lives to African slavery where similar events and harshness took place. To thank God for his mercies, Absalom says that firstly, we are to praise God not just today, but everyday. He says that we should “carry grateful hearts with us to our places of abode, and to our daily occupations; and let praise and thanksgivings ascent daily to the throne of face, in our families, and in our closets, for what God has done or our African brethren.” Absalom announces that we should be grateful and bring our appreciative attitudes everywhere and spread it to our families as well. Secondly,

Absalom says that we should get together and pray because of his mercies that he has granted on us and how he gave the legislators a change of heart. Thirdly, the preacher says in his sermon “Pride was not made for man, in any situation; and, still for less, for persons who have recently emerged from bondage.” Absalom means that even the fight to end slavery has been won, we must not forget where we came from, and what we had to endure. Be peaceful and not gloat in our victory, and also to follow the gospels always. Fourthly, be appreciative and publish the celebrations of what has happened here and today. Then finally, the preacher says to remember this day every year, make it a day to remember and give thanks for the mercy that the Lord has provided us with. Remember “the history of the sufferings of our brethren” and teach this lesson to our children. Absalom ends the sermon by thanking the Lord once again for his kindness and mercies, before ending his sermon with “Amen.” This sermon given by Absalom Jones is important to the history of African Americans because it marks the beginning of a new chapter, the end of slave trading. He makes a comparison between the Israelites and African slavery. Both events went through a similar plight, terrible living and working conditions under an equally harsh master. God witnessed both counts of slavery and put an end to both to which Absalom thanks God for his mercy. Both share a connection in suffering and difficulties, both were taken from their homeland and forced to work in a new foreign environment. They both ate poorly, and worked insufferable hours and did tiring jobs for their masters. This comparison shows how slavery did not change over time, not only were African Americans enslaved but the Israelites before them. This also marks an important date, the end of slave trading, a step forward to African Americans being seen as human beings, and a step towards equality as well. This sermon also shows the excitement, gratitude, and happiness that African Americans felt for their long awaited victory in abolishing slavery....