Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party

"Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party" by Martin Robison Delany is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. This work documents Delany's expedition to the Niger Valley in Africa, reflecting on the social and political movements among African descendant communities in the United States and their aspirations for emigration and self-determination. Delany's emphasis on the potential for African development and industries, particularly cotton, suggests a deep commitment to creating a prosperous future for people of African descent. The opening of the report reveals organized political movements aimed at advocating for the emigration of black Americans and the establishment of a presence in Africa. Delany discusses significant early conventions, such as the National Emigration Convention held in Cleveland, where plans for black emigration were solidified. The document outlines the intentions behind the Niger Valley Exploring Party and Delany's personal objectives, including comprehensive investigations of Africa's geography, climate, resources, and the welfare of its inhabitants, establishing a scientific foundation for potential settlement and economic development. Delany's experiences, observations, and correspondence highlight not only his determination but also the complex dialogue surrounding race and opportunity in both America and Africa. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Martin Robison Delany was an American abolitionist, journalist, physician, military officer and writer who was arguably the first proponent of black nationalism. Delany is credited with the Pan-African slogan of "Africa for Africans." Born as a free person of color in Charles Town, Virginia, now West Virginia, and raised in Chambersburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Delany trained as a physician's assistant. During the cholera epidemics of 1833 and 1854 in Pittsburgh, Delany treated patients, even though many doctors and residents fled the city out of fear of contamination. In this period, people did not know how the disease was transmitted.