Frederick Douglass : A Prominent African American Social Reformer

Fredrick Douglass (1818-1945), both a fugitive slave and a free man, was one of the most courageous and influential leaders of the abolitionist movement. His narrative, published in 1845, illustrates his childhood and early manhood experiences as a salve, as well as his escape to the North and find of freedom. Within his narrative entitled “The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass,” Douglass argues that in order to achieve physical freedom, a slave must seek knowledge and an education.

The accepted time with God and His cause is the ever-living now" (Douglass, 1852. Drawing some comfort in the fact that America is a "young" country, he warns that even young great countries are not impervious demise from within (Douglass, 1852). His oration becomes biting and accusatory, and he wonders aloud why he was asked to deliver the speech at such a celebration, declaring the "Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must morn" (Douglass, 1852). While he understands that "pride and patriotism" cause American's to celebrate the holiday, he calls for citizen's to live in the present, and not "wear out and waste the hard-earned fame of your fathers to cover your indolence" (Douglass, 1852). By comparing his countrymen to the "children of Jacob" basking in the shadow of Abraham's greatness while "they repudiated the deeds which made his name great", Douglass is reminding his fellows that the same thing was being done across their country. "Washington could not die till he had broken the chains of his slaves. Yet his monument is built up by the price of human blood, and the traders in the bodies and souls of men shout - "We have Washington to our father."" (Douglass, 1852). It is here that Douglass questions the motives of those who called upon him to speak this day, and ask what he and those he fights for have to do with the holiday. "Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?" (Douglass, 1852). He schools his audience that no, these great principles are not extended equally among the people. "The blessings in which you … rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence … is shared by you, not by me" (Douglass,

On July 4, 1852, former slave and American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass is invited to speak before an abolitionist audience in Rochester, New York. Although the speech should address the greatness and freedom of the nation on independence day, Frederick Douglass uses his platform to display his displeasure with the meaning of freedom in white America. Therefore, the sole purpose of his speech is to unmask the hypocrisy of a nation who dares celebrate freedom and independence while keeping African American slaves. To Douglass, the 4th of July is a constant reminder of the unfairness of the political and social core of the nation. As a social activist and most importantly a former slave, Frederick Douglass uses multiple rhetorical strategies to indict America on the immoral practice of slavery.

Having been a slave, Douglass already knew firsthand what it was like to be considered “property” and the struggle of having to work for white men who treated them like animals. Lincoln knew that slavery was immoral and sought to abolish it even though he was not an abolitionist and was a Republican white man. In Douglass’s speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July” he says, “Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery? Is that a question for Republicans?” (Douglass 291). Douglass was giving this speech to the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society and is saying in this quote that he should not have to explain why slavery is wrong and why it should be abolished. President Lincoln was one of the few who did believe slavery was a terrible thing and in

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2005. Print. This a book about Frederick Douglass’s remarkable life. He was born a slave in 1818 on a plantation in Maryland. He taught himself how to read and write becoming a renowned writer and orator. This book accounts the daily horrors of his time as being a slave, and eventually recounts his time as a civil rights activist, newspaper writer, and spokesperson. He lived through the civil war, the end of

Frederick Douglass was an African-American abolitionist leader and intellect. He was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland. While a slave, he learned to read and write from his slave owners, white children, and other people in the community. He endured 21 years of slavery before escaping to freedom the North. He became an anti-slavery speaker. Douglass encouraged the United States of America to preclude slavery up to the Civil War.

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery and through self education gained his freedom and became a

Frederick Douglass was an African American slave in the 1840’s who shared his struggles in his narrative in order to show how he succeeded and achieved his goals that were seemingly impossible for a slave. Douglass was one of the few slaves who safely escaped, and was given the opportunity to speak publicly about his experiences. This was a way for him to truly share his horrific experiences he endured as a slave, but to also share his daily struggle of cruelty because of his race. By sharing his story, Douglass has shaped the lives of future generations of African Americans and shown what it means to rise above it and make something of himself, and to never give up.

Frederick Douglass is a well known and famous intellectual, writer, activist, public speaker, and abolitionist. He was born on a Maryland Plantation in the early 1800’s, and died in 1895. He wrote many autobiographies detailing the struggles of slavery and his life as an abolitionist, he spoke out against the racist south, he spoke and wrote for his own antislavery newspaper, and he regularly attended and held antislavery conferences and meetings. He was a very accomplished man with a very interesting life.

Frederick Douglass was a former slave who worked and powered to be free coming across many hurdles. Despite his rough beginnings, Douglass became a well written author who later wrote three autobiographies and a multitude of speeches that later aided in the abolition of slavery. He went on to become one of the most profound black American leaders of the 18th century, he helped shape and lead the way for the anti-slavery movement.

These words meant that we were completely free from all British Rule and we were independent states that held absolutely no allegiance to the British Crown and had no connection between them. Our Founding Fathers helped make this resolution and to this day we continue to reap the benefits of their success. On July 4th, 1776 our Founding Fathers along with others joined together to sign the Declaration of Independence!

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey who later changed his name to Frederick Douglass, was born February 1818 and died February 20, 1895 was an African-American social activist, abolitionist, orator, writer, and political leader. After evade from vassalage in Maryland, he became a public driver of the abolitionist motion from Massachusetts and New York, convenient character for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writings. In his time he was described by abolitionists as a living contrasted-specimen to slaveholders ' arguments that captive lacked the mental capacity to activity as independent American citizens. Northerners at the time found it powerful to believe that such a numerous orator had once been a slave.

Frederick Douglass was born February 1818 in Tuckahoe, Maryland. For a child that was born into slavery, life was hard. The exact birthday of Douglass is unknown. Later, Douglass chose the date February 14 to be his birthday. Douglass live with his maternal grandmother Betty Bailey. At a very young age Douglass was chosen to live in the big house with the owner of the plantation who is also his father. Douglass mother died at the age of 10. 12 When Auld forbade his wife’s lessons, Douglass continued to learn from white children and others in the neighborhood. It was through reading that Douglass’s ideological opposition to slavery began to take shape. He read newspapers avidly and sought out political writing and literature as much as possible.

Frederick Douglass was one of the many African Americans who faced oppression. He was born into slavery in Maryland. Douglass escaped to Massachusetts, where he quickly became one of its most powerful speakers, lecturing against slavery and campaigning for civil rights of all people. As a

Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist who escaped from slavery after teaching himself how to read. He went on to be a leading spokesperson for abolishing slavery and racial equality.