Contrasting Views of Douglass, Delaney, and Garnet

Throughout history, there have been many black-rights activists that use their power of speaking to fight injustice and promote equality. One of those activists, who fought for equality with the power of his words, was Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He had a vision of the roles of African Americans during and after the war to ensure they receive citizenship and freedom. Frederick Douglass faced many tribulations throughout his life and that only made his speeches for equality and justice that much more powerful because he was a victim of injustice. Douglass believed that if African Americans want to have citizenship and be seen as equals, they must prove that they deserve it. In order to prove that African Americans deserve citizenship, Douglass encouraged them to enlist and join the fight for equality. Although there were obstacles in seeing his vision implemented Douglass stood his ground and fought until his vision becomes reality.

In conclusion, Frederick Douglass was an African American slave that fought to be free. His vision of being a freeman was inspired by his desire for education and his relationship with God that taught him that God would help those that help themselves. He was one of the greatest leaders of the abolitionist movement, which help fought to end slavery in the United States. Fredrick Douglass I really respect Douglass by stepping out on faith to help the Africans Americans to have freedom as of today. He was a firm believer that trusted God 100

Frederick Douglass was a major black-male voice in the fight for women’s suffrage. Douglass unlike many men believed that women too were people and deserved all of the rights a man was given. He believed this because black men were previously apart from the equality of all men, and they too should be apart in gaining this equality for all. Douglass, along with other strong willed women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, among others, they became the forefront of Women’s Suffrage in the 1848 Convention on Woman’s Rights at Seneca Falls.

Frederick Douglass was many things; a man, an orator, a writer, an avid abolitionist, a presidential advisor and a slave. Douglass lived the majority of his life as a free man after escaping his bondage at age 20. However, everything he did and accomplished over the course of his life was influenced and affected by his past as a slave. Just as slavery shaped Douglass’s existence, the politics of the 19th century would not escape the pressure of the debate over slavery. From the American Revolution to the Civil War, slavery embedded itself into the Southern economy and culture to the point where the argument over its expansion would necessitate complex political workarounds, and break up the national political parties of the last few decades down sectional lines.

In the book, by Frederick Douglass, he advocates for the abolishment of slavery and freedom for people of color to be their own

Before delving into the observations of Henry Highland Garnet’s and Frederick Douglass’s view on slavery, it is first important to discuss how slaves were generally viewed. During the 19th century, slaves had one goal and one goal only: to flee north. The voyage to freedom was anything but easy. Because of the perceived disloyalty a runaway slave display towards his/her owner, slave owners often issues bounties for the retrieval of their slaves. If the slave were returned, they would surely be hanged, tortured, or starved to death to illustrate to other slaves the consequences of a disloyal servant. Supporters of slavery believed that if slavery was abolished, then the economy in the south would plummet faster than a shooting star. Because of the unprecedented revenue the South received from cotton sales, the majority of their reliance was on slave labor. However, abolitionists such as Garnet and Douglass not only believe that a black man had equal worth to a white man, but they also firmly demanded that a change be brought about. Over time, abolitionist became more persistent in their demands, fueling many intellectual discussions. Amongst these intellectual discussions was Garnet’s unsuccessful but brilliant speech addressing slaves and Douglas’s historic speech on the meaning of the fourth of July to a slave.

Douglass also served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for blacks. Douglass provided a powerful voice for human rights during this period of our American history. Frederick Douglass was also worked very hard in the women’s rights movement. He once said

Intro: "A battle lost or won is easily described, understood and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as observation, to appreciate it." Said Frederick Douglass on January thirteenth, 1864 during a speech for the Women's Loyal League. Frederick Douglass has been called the father of the civil rights movement from becoming a slave to one of the most powerful abolitionists that the world has ever seen. He shaped the American nation through determination and dedicating his life to achieving justice for all Americans, mainly African-Americans, women, and minority groups. Douglass served as an advisor to presidents.

Frederick Douglass believed there was an essential need for resisting slavery. He believed that a person could not alone depend on outside help, but they

Frederick Douglass has brought much attention to the wrong doings of slavery but he also brought attention to the nations other problems, like women's rights. “In 1848, he was the only African American to attend the first women's rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York…Douglass stood and spoke eloquently in favor, arguing that he could not accept the right to vote as a black man if women could not also claim that right. The resolution passed.” (biography)

Douglass was a brave man who escaped from slavery. When he arrived in the free state of New York he began to take interest in speaking about the freedom and liberty that everyone should have. “[...] never felt happier than when an anti-slavery meeting. I seldom had much to say at the meetings, because what I wanted to say was said so much better by others. But, while attending an anti-slavery convention [...] I felt strongly moved to speak [...]

Frederick Douglass’s books and speeches had led to the division of the North and the South. During the Civil War Douglass had been a strong believer in the Union. He had even convinced Abraham Lincoln to let African Americans enlist in the army. He had put up recruitment posters saying “Men of color, to arms.” He had been convincing Lincoln of black rights from the start of the war. Even though at the end of the war slaves had earned their freedom, they were still discriminated against.

The south did not practice the right that the Declaration Of Independence had given us stating that all men are created equal. Throughout Douglass’ narrative he shows the reader his mindset and what he does to overcome the challenges that he faces.

Buccola, Nicholas. "Each for All and All for Each: The Liberal Statesmanship of Frederick Douglass." Review of Politics 70.3 (2008): 400-419. Print. The author talks about how Frederick Douglass slavery led him to appreciate human interdependence and reject liberalism. Douglass’s aim was undoubtedly liberal but he thought these aims could only be realized in a community of individuals who felt strongly about one another. The author’s idea is to explore how Douglass faced these challenges and liberal statesmanship.

Fredrick Douglass also came to exude a great sense of racial pride as his life progressed. At first, his only perception of his people was that of a lowly slave nation. Yet, he was dedicated to trying to improve their lot. After his fellow slaves learned that he was literate, they “insisted that I must keep a Sabbath school.” He agreed to this proposal because he felt that the only shot his “brothers” had at gaining their freedom was through the power of the written word. Later, when he and his fellow slaves were jailed after their plans to escape to freedom were revealed, he states that “our greatest concern was about separation.” Douglass felt a sense of responsibility and kinship towards the members of his own race, and was loath to break these bonds. His racial pride reached its peak when he saw the houses that the free blacks in the North lived in. Douglass proudly writes that “I found many, who had not been seven years out of their chains, living in finer houses, and evidently enjoying more of the comforts of life, than the average of slaveholders in Maryland.” When Douglass saw how well some of his kinsmen were living, he could not help but change his impression of his people being a downtrodden slave nation. He came to recognize his race for what they truly were: a people equal in stature to any other, even the lofty Caucasians.