In Pennsylvania 1862-1865 - political awakening
In a February 1865 letter to the Rev. Strieby of the American Missionary Association, applying for a teaching position in one of the schools they were opening to educate newly-freed slaves, Jonathan Jasper Wright succinctly states why he is willing an eager to take on a job so far from home, in a part of the US so far away that it could have been another country -
My object is the elevation of my race…. I am willing to make any sacrifice for the upbuilding of our race who have been so long trodden down.
Another way he participated in the “upbuilding of his race” was in attending two civil rights congresses in 1864 and the beginning of 1865. The first, in Syracuse, NY, was organized by Frederick Douglass, and took place from October 4-7, 1864. Jonathan Jasper Wright was the only one of more than 120 delegates from the borough of Montrose. He didn’t have much to say that was recorded in the convention proceedings, but as a 23-year-old not long out of school, and among such august company as the already-famous Douglass, it would have been surprising if he had done.
Wright had a lot more to say at the Pennsylvania Convention, held in Harrisburg, 150 or so miles down the Susquehanna from Springville, from February 8-10, 1865.
Here we see his first encounters with political debate and discourse, and must have help hone his focus on contributing to the advancement of that group “so long trodden down.” Wright’s voice is present throughout the convention, with him weighing in passionately on education (no surprise) and on the voting franchise for Black people.
A fascinating debate arose about the suitability of white teachers educating Black students. A group of pragmatists argued that there were too few Black teachers to adequately staff the number of positions needed to educate all Black children. On the other side, Jonathan Wright argued that Black teachers, having a sensitivity and empathy with the backgrounds of their students, were uniquely qualified to educate those students.
Why did Wright believe so fervently that Black teachers were needed to educate Black children? It’s not hard to imagine that his own life experience, informed this view. While he was supported and uplifted by caring white men, such as Rev. Pride, Judge Collins, and Mr. Bentley - but at the same time encountering obstacles and underestimation at every turn - would have made him particularly sensitive to the needs of Black children for nurturing and confidence-building.
The opponents of the measure were sensitive not only of pragmatic concerns but of fairness:
Finally, wording was proposed to balance the fairness idea with Wright’s original resolution.
And this amended resolution passed the convention, making it Jonathan Jasper Wright’s first public political victory.