What was the Free African Society do?

The mission of the group was to provide fellowship, a place of worship, and monetary support for members and their families in case of sickness or death. The FAS constituted the first African American mutual aid society in Philadelphia and one of the first such organizations for African Americans.

What is the Free African Society in Fever 1793?

In 1793, Dr. Rush would become very well known as one of the many doctors who mistakenly believed blacks were immune to yellow fever. Based on this belief, the mayor of Philadelphia called upon the Free African Society to organize nurses who could care for the sick and bury the dead when the epidemic struck that year.

What are African societies?

Introduction. African societies are complex and diverse, requiring an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate and understand the continent’s economic, political, social, and cultural institutions and change.

What was the main goal of the Free African Americans?

Among the first organizations of its kind in America, the Free African Society’s main goal was to provide aid to newly freed blacks so that they could gather strength and develop leaders in the community.

When was the Free African Society founded?

April 17, 1787Free African Society / Founded

On April 12, 1787, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones founded the Free African Society in Philadelphia to be a multi-denomination mutual aid organization for freed people so that they could gather strength and develop leaders in the community.

Why does Mattie seek out the Free African Society in Chapter 21?

Although Matilda can barely care for herself at this point, she is motivated to seek help now that she is in a caretaker role. Always resourceful, she remembers the crucial work of the Free African Society and seeks them out, reuniting with Eliza.

What is the nature of African society?

The synergetic nature of the African society is what made two or more individuals to pool their resources together and uplift each other economically through the system of contributions called osusu. Apart from this, they even cooperated in the building of houses and doing other things for their fellow members.

What are the characteristics of African society?

Characteristic cultural traits— such as collective and legislative group festivals; poetry, hagiology, and historicity; and the mobilization of labor for maintenance of the irrigation system—are assembled in a configuration of great continuity (J. Berque 1955).

Who was a member of the Free African Society?

Throughout the late 18th century, the FAS served as one of the city’s leading black philanthropic organizations. Besides Jones, its members included notable African American abolitionist men such as Cyrus Bustill, James Forten, and William Gray. With the exception of Forten, most of the founding men were former slaves.

How did slaves gain their freedom?

Many slaves became free through manumission, the voluntary emancipation of a slave by a slaveowner. Manumission was sometimes offered because slaves had outlived their usefulness or were held in special favor by their masters. The offspring of interracial relations were often set free.

What is the free African society?

The Free African Society is a foundation to advance the state of the Black African diaspora in Philadelphia and greater Philadelphia region to bring together the resources, skills, and talents that empower the infrastructure of Black industries and institutions.

What did the free African society do for the poor?

They designed the Free African Society as a mutual aid society to help support widows and orphans, as well as the sick or unemployed. They supported the education of children, or arranged apprenticeships if the children could not attend one of the free schools that were developed.

Who was a member of the free African society?

Notable members included African American abolitionists such as Cyrus Bustill, James Forten, and William Gray. The Free African Society (FAS) developed as part of the rise in civic organizing following American independence in the 1776 to 1783 Revolutionary War; it was the first black mutual aid society in Philadelphia.

Why did the Quaker society move to the African School?

The Society soon became too large to meet in Richard Allen’s house and its meetings moved to the Quaker African School House. In 1789, the Society more closely aligned itself with the Quaker faith and its meetings began to mimick Quaker services.