It was first published anonymously in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country of London in December 1849,[1] and was revised and reprinted in 1853 as a pamphlet entitled "Occasional Discourse on the Nigger Question".

In its 1849 publication, a fictitious speaker makes various controversial points ranging from derogatory comments concerning the appearance and intelligence of black people to radical alternative solutions to the issue of slavery.

Throughout the delivery of the speech to the public, M'Quirk reports that members of the audience got up and left in disgust, suggesting how Carlyle expected the essay would be received.

[citation needed] John Stuart Mill's reply, in the next issue of Fraser's Magazine, under the title, "The Negro question" was also published anonymously.

[5] Mill criticised Carlyle's view of human nature, the poor, and the existing power structure's complicity in societal wealth inequality.