Profiles of Black Friends Who Shaped History
Friends General Conference (FGC) offers this resource to share the stories of African American Quakers. Specifically, these profiles highlight Black Friends who made important contributions to the Quaker community and to society. Some African American Quakers featured here lived as far back as the colonial period. Others lived more recently.
Why Black Quaker History Matters
Learning about African American Quakers helps all Friends understand the full history of the Quaker faith. In particular, these stories show how Black Friends have shaped the Quaker path for hundreds of years. Furthermore, these profiles remind us that People of Color have always been part of the Religious Society of Friends.
Many people do not know about this long history. As a result, FGC created this resource to help fill that gap. By sharing these stories, FGC hopes to honor the legacy of Black Friends and inspire new generations.
Using These Black Quaker Profiles
FGC encourages meetings to use these profiles in First Day school (the Quaker term for religious education classes for children). In addition, these stories work well in adult education programs and other learning settings. Whether for young people or adults, these profiles offer meaningful lessons about faith, courage, and justice.
Teachers and facilitators can use these resources in many ways. For example, meetings might feature one profile per month during First Day school. Alternatively, adult study groups could read and discuss all three profiles together.
Featured Profiles of Black Friends
The following profiles tell the stories of three important African American Quakers:
- Paul Cuffe (1759-1817) – A successful ship captain and businessman who worked for the rights of Black Americans. Cuffe also supported efforts to help free Black people build new lives. He is one of the earliest well-documented African American Quakers.
- Vera Green (1928-1982) – An anthropologist and scholar who contributed to the study of African American culture and community. Green’s work helped others understand the experiences of Black Americans.
- Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) – A civil rights leader who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. Rustin worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He remains one of the most influential African American Quakers in modern history.
Additional Resources on African American Quakers
For those who want to learn more about African American Quakers, The Black Quaker Project offers many helpful resources. For example, their 2022 Black Quaker Lives Matter Film Festival & Forum shared films and discussions about important Black Quakers. These included Howard Thurman, Bayard Rustin, Mahala Ashley Dickerson, and Paul Robeson.
FGC’s Ministry on Racism program continues to support Friends of Color today. This program creates spaces for community building, worship, and connection. The Ministry on Racism program also helps meetings learn about the history of African American Quakers and other Friends of Color.
Get Involved
FGC welcomes Friends who want to help share these important stories about Black Quakers. Please email the Ministry on Racism team at alician@fgcquaker.org or shainar@fgcquaker.org to learn more about African American Quaker history or to get involved with the Ministry on Racism program.