Born into slavery,
Frederick Douglass lived to become
one of the most influential figures in African American history. As a young
man and a slave in Maryland, Frederick Douglass was recognized as a bright
young man by both blacks and whites. During his life as a slave in Baltimore
he learned to read and write and passed his knowledge along to other blacks
in Baltimore. Douglass is remembered as a great speaker. His speaking abilities
were developed in the secret debating club called the East Baltimore Mental
Improvement Society.
He escaped from slavery to New Bedford, Massachusetts
in 1838. There he discovered the newspaper of the leading white abolitionist
William Lloyd Garrison, The Liberator. Douglass and Garrison soon impressed
one another and would work together for social reform and the abolition
of slavery. Because of his speaking ability, Douglass soon became the major
drawing card at meetings of the abolitionist society. A deep melodious
voice, grace and a flair for the dramatic would allow Douglass to mesmerize
his listeners at the abolitionist meetings.
From 1845 to 1847, Douglas would travel in Great Britain
speaking for the elimination of slavery. While in Britain he expanded his
view of the struggle for human rights. He spoke in favor of Irish home
rule and eventually would speak on behalf of the landless European peasantry,
women's suffrage, prison reform, free public school education and universal
peace. In 1846 he wrote to Garrison, "I cannot allow myself to be
insensitive to the wrongs and sufferings of any part of the great family
of man[sic]."
Douglass would eventually split with Garrison and
the largely white abolitionist movement to work more closely with the Black
leaders of the time. Many of the leading black figures of the time were
critical of Douglass. They did not believe that justice could ever be achieved
for Blacks in this country while Douglass maintained an optimistic vision
for America.
During the Civil War Frederick Douglass worked as
an enlistment officer and encouraged President Lincoln to make Emancipation an issue
in the Civil War. Following the war Douglass would work for the Freedman's
Bureau, the Freedman Bank and hold various government appointments including
minister to Haiti and US marshal for the District of Columbia.
Douglass writes, "The real question, the all
commanding question, is whether American justice, American liberty, American
civilization, American law and American Christianity can be made to include
and protect alike and forever all American citizens. . ."
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