On March 6, 1842, Philadelphia witnessed a great coming together of its citizens. Black and white, rich and poor, came out to pay their last respects to a remarkable man who had lived among them for almost all of his 75 years. That he was a man of color was a matter of pride to those in the African- American community — and for an hour or two at least, that fact ceased to matter to many of their white neighbors.
James Forten’s rags-to-riches life was about more than the quest for wealth. He was a patriot who risked his life for the cause of Independence. He was also a tireless foe of slavery and an outspoken champion of civil rights. He would not live to see Emancipation, but he helped pave the way. His children and grandchildren would follow in his footsteps.
