Black-History.com is in its founding phase. Join the founding subscriber list →
Classroom · Grades 8–12

Martin R. Delany

Delany argued that Black Americans formed a nation within a nation, and his shifting strategies, from emigration to Union service, show how activists adapted to changing chances for freedom.

Lesson at a Glance

Grades
Grades 8–12
Time
One class period (20–40 minutes)
Standards
NCSS Themes 2 (Time, Continuity, and Change) and 9 (Global Connections); C3 D2.His.4.9-12, D2.His.5.9-12
Reading
Martin R. Delany (profile)

Big Idea

Delany argued that Black Americans formed a nation within a nation, and his shifting strategies, from emigration to Union service, show how activists adapted to changing chances for freedom.

Before Class

Students read the profile of Martin R. Delany, including the Key Dates and Sources.

Discussion Questions

  1. Delany was forced out of Harvard Medical School after white students protested. How did that experience and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 shape his argument for emigration?
  2. Delany broke with Frederick Douglass over emigration but later served as a Union Army major. Was this a contradiction or a sensible response to new circumstances?
  3. In 1876 Delany campaigned for the Democrat Wade Hampton III. Why might that decision have alienated many Black South Carolinians?
  4. Delany is often called the father of Black nationalism. What evidence in his life supports that label, and what complicates it?

Activity

Students read a short passage from Delany’s 1861 Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party explaining the purpose of the expedition, and a passage from Douglass’s 1852 Fourth of July speech. In pairs they complete a comparison chart: how each man described the condition of Black Americans, what remedy each proposed, and where each saw the future of Black people. The class then discusses why two former co-editors of The North Star reached such different conclusions in the same decade, using the profile for context (35–40 minutes).

Primary Sources

Cite this page
MLA
“Classroom lesson: Martin R. Delany.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/classroom/martin-delany/.
APA
Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Classroom lesson: Martin R. Delany. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/classroom/martin-delany/
Chicago
Black-History.com Editors. “Classroom lesson: Martin R. Delany.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/classroom/martin-delany/.
Editorial Note

By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.

← All lessons  ·  Read the profile →