Celestine
Edwards, the youngest of nine children, was born on the island of
Dominica on 28th December, 1858. At the age of 12 he became a sailor.
During the next few years he developed radical opinions about politics
and became a strong supporter of human rights.
In
the 1870s Edwards he settled in Edinburgh,
Scotland. He became involved in the temperance
movement. Later he lived in Sunderland
before
moving to London. Edwards worked as a building labourer but in his
spare time he made speeches in Victoria Park about issues such as
slavery.
Edwards
helped Walter Hawkins write his autobiography,
From
Slavery to Bishopric (1891).
Hawkins,
a former slave, eventually became a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Canada. He also became editor
of the weekly Christian newspaper, Lux
(1892-1895). Edwards also became executive secretary of the Society
for the Recognition
of the Brotherhood of Man and edited its monthly journal, Fraternity
(1893-1897).
Edwards
continued to make public speeches. In Bristol
on
3rd July, 1893, Edwards spoke on lynching
in the United States. The following week he
spoke to 1,200 people in London
on
"American Atrocities". In August he was in Liverpool
lecturing
on 'Blacks and Whites in America'. Similar talks were given in Plymouth,
Aberdeen,
Newcastle,
Edinburgh
and
Glasgow.
Popular topics included 'The Negro Race and Social Darwinism' and
'Liquor Traffic to West Africa'.
Celestine
Edwards
had a strong desire to become a doctor and enrolled at the London
Hospital. However, his health was poor, and in May 1894 he returned
to his family in Dominica. He died at his brother's house on 25th
July, 1894.
(1)
Celestine
Edwards, Lux (10th December, 1892)
As long as such unrighteous
deeds as cold-blooded murders are permitted under the British flag,
as long as avarice and cupidity prompt the actions of a missionary
nation, so long we shall protest against public money being spent
in the interest of land-grabbers.
The injustice under
which the black man is smarting will come home to his oppressors'
children's children. He will surprise and disappoint those who never
dreamt that the quiet happy-go-lucky black would turn like the worm
upon those who wronged him. If the British nation stole no more,
they have stolen enough and have sufficient responsibility at home
and abroad to occupy her maternal attention for the next hundred
years. If the British nation has not murdered enough no nation on
God's earth has.
(2)
Celestine
Edwards, Lux (18th February, 1893)
The day
is coming when Africans will speak for themselves. The day is breaking,
and the despised African, whose only crime is his colour, will yet
give an account of himself. We think it no crime for Africans to
look with suspicion upon the European, who has stolen a part of
their country, and deluged it with rum and powder, under the cover
of civilisation.
(3)
Celestine Edwards, speech
in Newcastle
(3rd
November, 1894)
My ancestors proudly
trod the sands of the African continent;but from their home and
friends were dragged into the slave mart and sold to the planters
of the West Indies. The very thought that my race should have
been so grievously wronged is almost more than I can bear. Of
the condition of my people today I but tarry to say that by diligence,
thought, and care they have given the lie to many a false prophet
who, prior to their Emancipation, sought to convince the world
that the black man was in all respects unfit for freedom. Their
position today is one over which I proudly rejoice. To their future
I look with confidence.
