Cruelty in the Congo country
Subject(s): Black race, Colonies, Congo (Democratic Republic), Cruelty, Léopold II, King of the Belgians, 1835-1909, Rubber, Sheppard, William H. (William Henry), 1865-1927
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Booker T. Washington writes about the poor conditions currently existing in the Congo Free State. Léopold II, King of the Belgians, has created a state of extreme cruelty by removing African’s ability to independently gather and trade goods, essentially enslaving an entire nation. Washington quotes a passage from a report by William H. Sheppard to illustrate this, in which Sheppard has met with a tribe of cannibals who had been employed by the state to raid villages who had not harvested the required amount of rubber. Washington hopes by writing this article to call the attention of civilized nations to this treatment in order to improve conditions.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-08-04
Creator(s)
Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
3
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Cruelty in the Congo country. [August 4, 1904]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o299547. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915. Cruelty in the Congo country. [4 Aug. 1904]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 19, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o299547.
APA:
Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915., [1904, August 4]. Cruelty in the Congo country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o299547.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 19, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
