preview

How Did Frederick Douglass Contribute To The Civil Rights Movement

Decent Essays

There are many iconic authors in american literature that completely changed the way people read and write. One of these authors was Frederick Douglass and he contributed to the civil rights movement in the 1800’s. Without his work there's a chance every minority today would be far more oppressed . Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey barely even knew his own mother when he was sold into slavery in the year of 1818. At the age of eight his owner turned Frederick into a body slave. At some point in his early years, Frederick learned that knowledge could equal freedom so he taught himself to read and write (Frederick Douglass National Park Service). “Despite his difficult life and against all odds he taught himself to read becoming one of the most famous African Americans of the 19th century.” (Legacy and Significance of Frederick Douglass). His story was as much as an inspiration then as it is today.” (Legacy and Significance of Frederick Douglass). Not long after that attempted escape Frederick met a black woman named Anna Murray who swore to aid his escape. Frederick ended up taking money Anna gave him and used it to buy a ticket and board a ship to New York. He disguised himself as a sailor on the ship but once he got …show more content…

In his mind there was absolutely no chance for America to prosper if equal rights was not available to every single human being in America(Legacy and Significance of Frederick Douglass). Frederick Douglass knew how gifted he was, he knew that his spectacular vocabulary and speaking skills could help him accomplish great things. Along with the books and newspapers he wrote he gave amazing speeches. Whenever he saw the opportunity he used he oratory skills to denounce the dehumanization of the human race(Legacy and Significance of Frederick Douglass). Fredericks life story is extremely inspiring and is a perfect example of a person starting from the bottom and ending up on the

Get Access