URIAH BOSTON¹Uriah Boston (1815—89) was born in Poughkeepse, New York, where he owned and operated a successful barbershop. A strong supporter of the black press, Boston corresponded regularly with , and as an activist, he was best known for his support for expanding black voting rights in New York State. From 18140 to 1846 he led the Dutchess County Suffrage Committee, in 1853, he participated in the black national convention and served on the New York State Council for Colored People, and in 1855 he formed the Poughkeepse Political Suffrage Association to work for equal voting rights. Dutchess (N.Y.) , 16 June 1889; C. Peter Ripley, ed., , 5 vols. (Chapel Hill, N.C., 1985—92), 4:279-80. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

[Poughkeepsie, N.Y. April 1853.]

Mr. F. Douglass:

Sir:—

If to notify parents in blazing capitals,²Douglass published an editorial entitled "Make Your Son's Mechanics and Farmers, not
Waiters, Porters, and Barbers," which advised black men to work, save their money, and purchase land. According to Douglass, African Americans should avoid such service-related professions as barbering because they did not contribute to an "elevation of character and social standing." , 8 April 1853. as you did, not to permit their boys to learn the barbers' trade, was not an attack on that business as a business derogatory to the interests of the colored race, and of such character as to degrade them, I know not how else you could have done so. If your read-

ers did not understand you to say in that article, that barbers are a servile
class, and the barbers' trade of a servile character, then I will confess myself
mistaken, and beg your pardon for writing to you on the subject. Such is my
understanding of the matter, and I think such is the understanding of your readers. Now,
sir, in opposition to this, your opinion, I know that the barbers' business is not
degrading, nor are barbers' servile. On the contrary, they are, in every way, as
intelligent and respectable as any other class of business men, and much more so
than some others—Knowing this, as you ought to know also, I did not approve of what you said, and wishing to express my opinion in the matter, thinking that you would,
perhaps, retract, or say something to produce a correct opinion among
your readers, or, at least, so to qualify your remarks as not reflect upon
a very large class of business men among our people. But, instead, of publishing
my article, or sending it to me in silence, you, for some reason, severely and
contemptuously rebuke and ridicule me before your readers. This I regret, much
more than I should have regretted the return to me of my manuscript without
notice from you; and also, much more than I should regretted to have hard your
readres see that my letter was not fit for publication, by reason of my bad
"chirography³Handwriting, penmanship. and grammar;"
for neither of which would they have blamed you. This is all I have to say,
and therefore close by requesting you to give place to this, and therein
oblige your reader, subscriber, and well-wisher.⁴Uriah Boston's letter to Douglass was published in the 22 April 1853 issue of

Respectfully,

URIAH BOSTON.

PLSr: , 22 April 1853.