Frederick Douglass, American Abolitionist – 1889 to 1891

Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, author, and statesman. He was born into slavery in Maryland before making his way to Massachusetts, where he rose to prominence as an abolitionist movement leader on a national and international scale.

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In addition to his three autobiographies, Douglass was well known for his powerful speeches and writing. He went to Europe to give a speech on the growing abolitionist movement, and his English supporters bought him out of slavery.

Throughout his life, Douglass remained dedicated to social justice and improvement in the African American community. He provided some guidance to Presidents Andrew Johnson and Abraham Lincoln on the Civil War and black suffrage.

Hello and welcome to today’s presentation on the Life & Legacy of prominent individuals who have shaped our history and our society.

I like to say that we can only see far ahead of us because we stand on the shudders of giants and one of such giants is Frederick Douglass. But how did it begin with him? Let’s find out.

Where it all began with Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was about six years old when he was taken to live on Colonel Lloyd’s home plantation, Wye House. And Lloyd’s plantation, according to an article on Frederick Douglass at Britannica.com functioned like a small town. That was where the Young Douglass found himself among several other enslaved children and they competed for food and other things on the plantation.

In 1826 when he was about 8 years old, he was sent to live with Hugh and Sophia Auld at Fells Point, Baltimore. Douglass will continue in this series of transfers until he eventually escapes from slavery in New Bedford, and then started to work with the American Anti-Slavery Society.

One of his best quotes is “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”

How did Douglass manage to stand out from the rest?

When he learned how to read, he became an avid reader and continued to refine his mind and his speaking ability thought out his adult life.

His eloquent augmentations and articulations in both writing and spoken words would earn him recognition as one of the top voices in the Anti-Slavery movement and among the influencer figures of the time.   

On February 20, 1895, Douglass died in his Cedar Hill home. Helen Pitts Douglass, his second wife, established the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association to preserve his legacy after his death. She bequeathed the group the house and all its belongings in her will.

In 1962, Cedar Hill became a part of the national park system, and in 1988 it was designated as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. To make his works more accessible to the public, both local and internet users, the US Library of Congress has digitized Frederick Douglass’s papers which consist of correspondence, lectures, including personal documents.

In conclusion, Douglass needs to be remembered as an American national hero who fought for equality and social justice, for all. He bravely contested racial prejudices against African Americans through his writings, speeches, and images.

Today, Frederick Douglass is seen not just for his fight against slavery in American society, but also for his role in urging the nation to uphold its principles and protect the rights of all its citizens.

Your takeaway

As a man or woman, you need to take up the challenge of shaping your own image in your society because no one is coming to do it for you. In the words of Frederick Douglass himself, “Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.” So, make your own choice and stick to it, knowing of course that you can rise and fall by them. But at least you know what you stand for, instead of a mere wayfarer who is simply following the followers.

Want to learn more about the power of storytelling? Start by DOWNLOADING a free chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.