This document provides an overview of social media use in historic abolitionist movements and reflections on current social justice trends. It summarizes the role of Josiah Wedgwood's abolitionist pottery and medallions in spreading antislavery messages in 18th century England. In America, it discusses Thomas Clarkson and other abolitionists' use of petitions, newspapers like The Liberator, and Uncle Tom's Cabin to generate support for their cause and build opposition to slavery. The document concludes by examining modern social movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo that utilize social media platforms to organize, raise awareness, and enact disruption and change.

1. That Was Then:
Social Media in the
Historic Abolitionist Movement
and Reflections on Current Trends
Ellen Barrow
Assistant Professor
Social Sciences Librarian
Georgia State University Libraries
ebarrow@gsu.edu

2. STATEMENT ABOUT IMAGES USED----
The following presentation contains images that are in many
instances graphic and visually disturbing. Some of it will be
emotionally and intellectually challenging to engage with. I will
flag especially graphic or intense content that discusses or
represents racism and will do my best to make this room a space
where we can engage bravely, empathetically and thoughtfully
with difficult content. The use of these images makes an
impactful contribution to understanding the nature of historic
abolition and current social movements. These images should
be considered as primary source materials that should be viewed
carefully in the context of this presentation.

3. Abolition of Slavery in England
1780- 1834

4. Wedgewood
Slave Medallion
England
1787
Wedgewood, Josiah, Hackwood, Wm., & Webber, H.,
“ The Official Medallion of the British Anti-Slavery Society.” 1795.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11547241
Accessed 6 June 2019.

5. Abolition Teapot by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons,
1760-80
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Birminghm, UK.
Abolition Teapot by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, 1760-80. 2016
https://www.flickr.com/photos/birminghammag/7979829722/
Accessed September 25 2019.

6. Abolition China
England
1780-1790
Wedgewood, Josiah. “Abolition china” 1780-1790. Commonwealth Online.
http://www.commonwealthonline.org.uk/learning-teaching/learning-key-stage/key-stage-3-image-archive/
Accessed August 10, 2019.

7. “Take courage—go on persevere to the last.”
Thomas Clarkson, Age 81.
Wedgewood, Josiah. “Abolition china” 1780-1790. Commonwealth Online.
http://www.commonwealthonline.org.uk/learning-teaching/learning-key-stage/key-stage-3-image-archive/
Accessed August 10, 2019.

8. Thomas Clarkson,
British Abolitionist
G. Lobel; after H. Room Thomas Clarkson, 1760-1846
“Portrait of Thomas Clarkson holding a scroll, which reads
‘Slavery abolished, Jamaica August 1st 1838’.”
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/255158
Accessed 8 June 2019.
“I do not doubt your humanity. I do not doubt your willingness
to pity and befriend the oppressed at home, and you can
overlook this monstrous oppression, these monstrous outrages
upon human nature, which had have been brought before you,
because they take place in a foreign land. Christianity does not
confine her sympathy to country or color, but feels for all who
are persecuted wherever they may live. May I hope then that the
society which is to be formed after this meeting may meet your
encouragement and support.”
-Thomas Clarkston, 1840
The Abolition Project. Clarkson, Thomas. Draft of speech in support of new anti-slavery society. 1840.
http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/asset72970_1321-abolition.html 2007.
Accessed 17 September 2019.

9. An abstract of the evidence delivered before
a select committee of the House of
Commons in the years 1790, and 1791 ; on
the part of the petitioners for the abolition
of the slave-trade.
-- Thomas Clarkson and petitioners
Parliament, House of Commons, Great Britain, 1791
“An abstract of the evidence delivered before a select Committee of the House of
Commons in the years 1790, and 1791 ; on the part of the petitioners for the abolition of
the slave-trade.”
https://archive.org/details/abstractofeviden00grea/page/n2
Accessed 25 June 2019.

10. Diagram of the Slave ship Brookes, 1787
Clarkson, Thomas. “The History of the Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment
of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade by the British Parliament.
Diagram of the Slave ship Brookes. 1787. British Library.
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/diagram-of-the-brookes-slave-ship
Accessed July 7 2009.
Slave ship Brookes, 1787
One of the most famous images of the transatlantic slave trade, this
image of the slave ship Brookes shows each deck and cross-sections of
decks.

11. Equiano, O. “ The interesting Narrative of the the Life of Olaudah
Equiano.”. 1789. British Library.
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-life-of-olaudah-equinao
Accessed 7 July 2019.
“Is not the slave trade entirely at war with the heart of man?
And surely that which is begun by breaking down the barriers of
virtue, involves in its continuance destruction to every principle,
and buries all sentiments in ruin!”
--Olaudah Equiano

12. “Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1807,”
Great Britain.
Abolition Project “ The 1807 Act and its Effects” 2009. http://abolition.e2bn.org/slavery_113.html
Accessed August 10 2019.
Abolition Project “ The 1807 Act and its Effects” 2009.
http://abolition.e2bn.org/slavery_113.html
Accessed August 10 2019.

13. An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the
British Colonies
Received royal assent on 28 August 1833 1 August 1834
Canadian Encyclopedia. “Slavery Abolition Act 1833” 2019
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/slavery-abolition-act-1833
Accessed August 18 2019

14. Abolition in America
1619-1859

15. African Enslaved People
Arrive in Jamestown Colony, Virginia
1619
Painting by: Sydney King
National Park Service, Historic Jamestowne, King, Sydney
“African Americans at Jamestowne”
https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/african-americans-at-jamestown.htm
Accessed August 11 2019.

16. Image Source:
New York Times. The 1619 Project.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_1619_Project_wordmark.jpg
Accessed September 6 2019.
What is the 1619 Project?
The 1619 Project is a program organized by The New York
Times with the goal of re-examining the legacy of slavery
in the United States and timed for the 400th anniversary
of the arrival in America of the first enslaved people from
West Africa.

17. Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery
Philadelphia, British Colonies
1688
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_1688_Germantown_Quaker_petition_against_slavery.jpg
“Liberty should be extended to all
people, regardless of their color, and we
should act in ways to all people as we
would like done to ourselves.”
-Germantown Quaker
Petition Against Slavery
http://www.meetinghouse.info/1688-petition-against-slavery.html

18. The Emancipator
One of the earliest abolitionist newspapers, 1819.
What is unique about this publication?
Tennessee Encyclopedia, Tara Mitchell Mielnik, “ The Emancipator”
http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/the-emancipator/
March 1. 2018. Accessed September 11 2019.

19. William Lloyd Garrison
1805-1879
Abolitionist and Editor
The Liberator
Library of Congress, Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs,
“ William Lloyd Garrison, abolitionist, journalist, and editor of The
Liberator”, 1870.
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017660623/ Accessed September 10
2019.
The Liberator
a weekly abolitionist newspaper,
1831-1865
Liberator Files, “The Liberator, 1831.
http://theliberatorfiles.com/liberator-photo-gallery/
Accessed August 15 2019.
“Convince me that one man may
rightfully make another man his slave,
and I will no longer subscribe to the
Declaration of Independence. Convince
me that liberty is not the inalienable
birthright of every human being, of
whatever complexion or clime, and I will
give that instrument to the consuming
fire. I do not know how to espouse
freedom and slavery together.”
Black Past. 1854) “William Lloyd Garrison, “No Comprise with The Evil
of Slavery”November 7, 2011.
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/1854-william-lloyd-
garrison-no-compromise-evil-slavery/
Accessed September 1 2019.

20. Anti- Abolitionist Cartoon
1835
Gustin, Kelsey. The Boston Mob of 1835.
Boston Public Library
https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-boston-mob-of-1835/
Accessed August 15 2019.
Photo Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/Rare Books

21. Frederick Douglass
Abolitionist, Author,
Orator, Editor
1848
Explore PA History. “Frederick Douglass as a young man” 1848.
http://explorepahistory.com/displayimage.php?imgId=1619
Accessed August 11 2019.
The North Star, Antislavery Newspaper
Published and edited by Frederick Douglass
1847- 1851
Library of Congress. “Front page of The North Star newspaper, Rochester, New York. 1848
https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/odyssey/archive/02/0210001r.jpg
Accessed August 11 2019.

22. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
This controversial law allowed slave-hunters to seize alleged
fugitive slaves without due process of law and prohibited anyone
from aiding escaped fugitives or obstructing their recovery.
Teaching Tolerance. “The Fugitive Slave Bill of 1850.”
https://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources/texts/hard-history/the-fugitive-
slave-bill Accessed August 11 2019.

23. Impact of Fugitive Slave Act
An April 24, 1851 poster warning the "colored people of
Boston" about policemen acting as slave catchers.
Paul, Catherine A., VCU Libraries social Welfare History Project. Fugitive Slave Act
of 1850.
https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/federal/fugitive-slave-act-of-1850/
Accessed August 12 2019.

24. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1852
Billings, Hammatt. Title-page illustration for Uncle Tom’s Cabin. 1852.
(First Edition: Boston: John P. Jewett and Company) University of Missouri Archives.
http://muarchives.missouri.edu/images/exh_libraries/LE-SpecUncleTomsCabinLarge300res.JPG
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the
Lowly is an anti-slavery novel
by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
First published in 1852, the novel had a powerful
impact on attitudes on slavery and African
Americans is considered to have laid the
groundwork for the Civil War.

25. Harriet Tubman
1822-1919
Tabby Studios.
A large albumen photograph of Harriet Tubman, 1880-1900.
https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2009_50_2_001.jpgAcces
sed August 11 2019.
“If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches
in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you,
keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a
taste of freedom, keep going.”
Harriet Tubman

26. “Here, before God, in the presence of
these witnesses, from this time, I
consecrate my life to the destruction of
slavery!”
John Brown
John Brown
1846-1847
Washington, Augustus. “Portrait of John Brown”, 1846-1847.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1846-
47_John_Brown_by_Augustus_Washington_(without_frame).jpg
Accessed August 11 2019.

27. John Brown and the attack and killing of pro-slavery residents on
Pottawatomie Creek
May 1856
Bleeding Kansas Scrapbook Pottawatomie Creek and Abolitionists, 2019.
https://bleedingkansasscrapbook.weebly.com/pottawatomie-creek-and-
abolitionists.html
Accessed September 30 2019.
Bleeding Kanas Flyer, 1856
Kansas State Historical Society, “Reign of Terror Kanzas” Flyer
1856.
https://www.kshs.org/p/bleeding-kansas-bibliography/13569
Accessed 12 2019.
Bleeding Kansas
As a direct result of the Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854 there
emerged a zeal from the abolitionist movement to make
Kansas a free state.
John Brown led an attack and killing of pro-slavery settlers on
Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas in May, 1856
The conflict was characterized by years of electoral fraud,
raids, assaults, and retributive murders carried out in Kansas
and neighboring Missouri by pro-slavery "Border Ruffians"
and anti-slavery "Free-Staters”.

28. October 16, 1859
(160 Years this month)
John Brown leads a group of 22 men on a raid
Of the Federal Arsenal
Harper’s Ferry, Virginia
Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper, v. 8, no. 205 (1859 Nov. 5), p. 359.
“Interior of the engine house during John Brown's raid” 1859.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c30000/3c32000/3c32500/3c32541v.jpg
Accessed August 20 2019.

29. John Brown
Treason Flyer
November 4, 1859.
“Treason" Broadside, 1859 November 4.
Virginia Governor (1856-1859: Wise). Executive Papers of Governor Henry A. Wise, 1856-
1859.
Accession 36710. State Government Records Collection,
The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Brown_-_Treason_broadside,_1859.png
Accessed September 25 2019.
Execution of John Brown,
December 2, 1859
University at Albany, New York. “ Accomplishments and Legacy”
https://www.albany.edu/history/digital/brownslegacy/AccomplishmentsandLegacy.html
Accessed September 25 2019.

30. US map 1856 shows free and slave states and
populations; this is "Reynolds's Political Map
the United States" (1856)
Reynolds, William C, and J. C Jones. Reynolds's political map of the United States, designed to exhibit the
comparative area of the free and slave states and the territory open to slavery or freedom by the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise. New York: Wm. C. Reynolds and J.C. Jones, 1856. Map.
Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2003627003/.
Accessed August 11 2019.

31. This is Now: Current Social Movements and Media
Reflections on Trends
Black Lives Matter
#Me Too
https://www.needpix.com/photo/748417/smartphone-notebook-social-media-twitter-facebook-instagram-internet-web-google

32. Million Hoodies March
Union Square, Manhattan, NYC
2012
Shankbone, David
“Photos from the Million Hoodies Union Square protest against Trayvon Martin's shooting death in Sanford, Florida
21 March 2012
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trayvon_Martin_shooting_protest_2012_Shankbone_25.JPG
Accessed August 22 2019.

33. Facebook post from Alicia Garza, one of the founders of Black Lives Matter#.
In response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the murder of
Trayvon Martin in July 2013.
Black Lives Matter. “ Alicia Garza’s Facebook Post” July 13 2013.
http://scalar.usc.edu/works/blacklivesmatter/media/alicia-garzas-facebook-post
Accessed August 22 2019.

34. Founded in July 2013, Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an international
activist movement, originating in the African-American community,
that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black
people.
Wikipedia Logo for Black Lives Matter organization
2015
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Lives_Matter_logo.svg

35. “Every successful social movement in this
country’s history has used disruption as a
strategy to fight for social change.”
- Alicia Garza, One of the founders of the
#Black Lives Matter movement
Wikipedia. “Alicia Garza, American activist and co-founder of Black
Lives Matter” 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alicia_Garza.jpg
Accessed August 21 2019.

36. “Hands up! Don't shoot!“
Protesting death of Michael Brown
Ferguson, Missouri
2014
Bouie, Jamelle. "Hands up! Don't shoot!" signs displayed at Ferguson protests
August 2014.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Protesters_with_signs_in_Ferguson.jpg
Accessed August 23 2019.

37. The All-Nite Images New York.
Black Lives Matter Friday
NYC action in solidarity with Ferguson. Mo, encouraging a boycott of
Black Friday Consumerism.
28 November 2014.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Lives_Matter_Black
_Friday_(15902086996).jpg
Accessed August 25 2019
“Black Lives Matter Black Friday”, November 28, 2014
New York City action in solidarity with Ferguson, Mo, by encouraging a
boycott of Black Friday Consumerism.

38. We Demand Justice for All
“We Demand Justice” protest sign.
http://www.wetheprotesters.org/signs 2013.
Accessed September 23 2019.
Trayvon Martin
Oscar Grant
Mike Brown
Sean Bell
Tamir Rice
Patrick Dorismond
Kimani Gray
Akai Gurley
Amadou Diallo
Eric Garner
John Crowford
Timothy Stansbury, Jr
Ramarley Graham
Ousame Zongo

39. Fulton, S. and Martin, T.
“Rest in Power”
Politics and Prose Bookstore, 2017.
https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780812997231
Accessed August 2019
Powells. Black Lives Matter Recommended Reading. 2017.
https://www.powells.com/post/lists/black-lives-matter-
recommended-reading
Accessed August 22 2019.
Davis. Angela, Frank Borat, Editor, Cornel West
“Freedom Is a Constant Struggle”. 2019. Accessed August 20 2019.
https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Constant-Struggle-Palestine-
Foundations/dp/1608465640

40. Art and The Black Lives Matter Movement
2013-2016
Fogg, Victoria A., “The most powerful art from the #BlackLivesMatter movement, three years in”. Washington Post.
July 13, 2016.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/07/13/the-most-powerful-art-from-the-
blacklivesmatter-movement-three-years-in/?noredirect=on
Accessed August 23 2019.

41. A Closer Look
Left: Tes One, Right: Carrly Larson
Fogg, Victoria A., “The most powerful art from the #BlackLivesMatter
movement, three years in”. Washington Post.
July 13, 2016.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-
entertainment/wp/2016/07/13/the-most-powerful-art-from-the-
blacklivesmatter-movement-three-years-in/?noredirect=on
Accessed August 23 2019.

42. #MeToo
Founded 2006 by Tarana Burke, Social Activist
The goal of this organization was to empower women of color
who had been sexually abused.
In 2017, Alyssa Milano shared stories of sexual harassment in the
entertainment world by having people post #MeToo on social
media.
She then acknowledged the earlier movement founded by Tarana
Burke

43. McCammon, Sarah. “In The Wake Of #MeToo, More Victims Seek Help For Repressed Trauma.”
National Public Radio. December 27 2017.
https://www.npr.org/2017/12/27/573146877/in-the-wake-of-metoo-more-victims-seek-help-for-repressed-trauma
Accessed August 22 2019.
# Me Too Survivor’s March
Damian Dovarganes/AP

44. A group in a “living display” during
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
Ellsworth Air Force Base
Rapid City, South Dakota 2016
Ellsworth Airforce Base. “Sexual Assault and Awareness and Prevention Month Kicks Off with Living Display”. April 11 2016.
https://www.ellsworth.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/807213/sexual-assault-awareness-and-prevention-month-kicks-
off-with-living-display/
Accessed August 23 2019.

45. ‘Time’s Up’
Support at the Golden Globes
Tarana Burke, Ava DuVernay, Michelle Williams and others
The Lily News.
“Tarana Burke, Kerry Washington and others on ‘Time’s Up’ and sexual misconduct at the Golden Globes”
Januury 8, 2017.
https://www.thelily.com/tarana-burke-kerry-washington-and-others-on-times-up-and-sexual-misconduct-at-the-golden-globes/
Accessed August 23 2019.

46. Penguin Random House. Kantor, J. and Ywohey, Megan.
“She Said Breaking The Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a
Movement.” 2019.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586563/she-said-by-
jodi-kantor-and-megan-twohey/
Accessed August 23 2019.
Mashable. Gallucci, Nicole and Tesma, Martha “ 10 books to read during the
#MeToo era.
March 11, 2015.
https://mashable.com/2018/03/11/books-by-women-me-too/
Accessed September 24, 2019.
Mashable. Gallucci, Nicole and Tesma, Martha “ 10 books to read during the #MeToo era.
March 11, 2015.
https://mashable.com/2018/03/11/books-by-women-me-too/
Accessed September 24, 2019.

47. Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom.
Hooij Charlotte “Let’s Talk About Violence Against Women.” November 25 2018.
https://www.wilpf.org/lets-talk-about-violence-against-women/
Accessed August 22 2019.

48. #MeToo
Women’s March 2018
Philadelphia, PA.
Kall, Robert. “ Women’s March, Philadelphia. January 20 2018.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:-womensmarch2018_Philly_Philadelphia_-MeToo_(25934196348).jpg
Accessed September 24 2019.

49. “ Don’t Tread on Me”
Artist: Michelle Erickson
Breaking the Chains: Ceramics and the Abolition Movement
Online Exhibit Washington and Lee University, 2018.
Erickson, Michelle. Made in the USA Series “Don’t Tread On Me” 2018.
Mug,” University Collections of Art and History: Online Exhibits, accessed September 24, 2019, https://exhibits-ucah.omeka.wlu.edu/items/show/30

50. Do we have a ‘theme’ going on here?
Gadsen, Christopher. Gadsen Flag. 1775. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gadsden_flag.svg
Accessed September 26 2019.

51. Goalcast. Margaret Mead Quotes. 2019.
https://www.goalcast.com/2018/04/09/11-margaret-mead-quotes/
Accessed September 26 2019.

52. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE TODAY!
Contact/Questions:
Ellen Barrow
Assistant Professor
Social Sciences Librarian
Georgia State University Libraries
ebarrow@gsu.edu
678 891-3645
Clock. William Scafe. London 1730. 2011.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scafe.jpg
Accessed September 24 2019.