Quock Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1753 |
| Died | Unknown (before 1810) |
| Nationality | British, American |
| Occupation(s) | Enslaved person, farm worker |
| Known for | Won his freedom based on the unconstitutionality of slavery in Massachusetts |
Quock Walker, also known as Kwaku or Quork Walker (1753 – ?), was an enslaved American who sued for and won his freedom suit case in June 1781. The court cited language in the 1780 Constitution of Massachusetts that declared, "All men are born free and equal". The case is credited with helping abolish slavery in Massachusetts, although the 1780 constitution was never amended to prohibit the practice explicitly. Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to effectively and fully abolish slavery—the 1790 United States census recorded no enslaved people in the state.