Alfred Niger

[1] Niger was a leading influential figure in the movement for Black suffrage in early 19th century Rhode Island, during the onset of the Dorr Rebellion.

At a Black national convention in Philadelphia in 1835, Niger, along with William Whipper and Augustus Price, was elected to draft and deliver an address to the American Moral Reform Society that explained the purpose of the organization to the general public.

The speech also called for "the elimination of 'national distinctions, complexional variations, geographical lines, and sectional bounds' in the reform society's conduct.

[9] Beginning in the early 1830s, Niger served as a Providence delegate to the New England Anti-Slavery Society, led by William Lloyd Garrison.

According to historian CJ Martin: "From then until the end of the suffrage movement, the RIASS was to be Black Providence leaders’ most powerful ally –- likely because of Niger's leadership within it."

Lemons writes; "Working against great obstacles and without aid, Negroes slowly built up modest business and financial holdings.

When the City of Providence sought to levy taxes on the increasing amounts of Black-owned property, the Black community reacted by arguing that it was taxation without representation.

[10] Following the American Revolution, unlike most nascent states, Rhode Island maintained its royal charter, originally approved in 1663 by King Charles II.

[11] By 1841, the Suffrage Party began to organize a call for a convention to draft a new state constitution, led by Thomas Wilson Dorr; they became known as "Dorrites."

[11] Historian Irving Bartlett writes that: "Acting upon a suggestion from the floor that Mr. Niger was a Negro, the Suffragists voted not to receive the majority report and the meeting immediately fell into confusion.

In November 1842, Rhode Island's new constitution, written by the General Assembly, was ratified, and extended the right to vote to "all native [male] citizens of the United States.