Lorenzo D. Blackson

Lorenzo D. Blackson (1817-?) was born to former slaves in Christiana, Delaware, one of eleven children. He and his family prided themselves on their knowledge of their ancestors. At the age of eight or nine, he was sent to live with family friends in Baltimore, Maryland so he could get an education. As a young man, his parents hired him out, and he was a laborer in Pennsylvania.

He was raised in the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in time grew disillusioned with it because of its racism. He joined the African Union Zion Church and preached there for over fifty years.

Sources:

Blackson, Lorenzo D. “Sketch of the Life of the Author.” The Rise and Progress of the Kingdoms of Light and Darkness: Or, The Reign of Kings Alpha and Abadon, J. Nicolas, 1867, pp. 1–18.

“Farewell to Cecilton.” Unwritten History, by Levi Jenkins. Coppin, Hardpress Publishing, 2012, pp. 264–266.

“Out of Many One: 1850s-1900s.” A History of the African American Novel, by Valerie Melissa Babb, Cambridge University Press, 2017, pp. 37–39.