Martin R. Delany was, over the course of a long life (1812-85), a writer, editor, abolitionist, medical student, physician and judge. He is also widely considered America’s first black nationalist. Delany’s nationalism revolved around two fundamental principles, said Molefi Asante, professor of African American studies at Temple. “One, black people must be self-determining, and two, they must be self-defining,” he said.