Fredrick Douglass the Political Activist When you think of influential black leaders who comes to mind? Some familiar names are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and Jesse Jackson. Before all these greats there was Fredrick Douglass, the pioneer of major black social movements. Frederick Douglass stands as a powerful symbol of African American leadership and perseverance due to his ability to re-claim manhood, create space for African American political involvement, and breaking silence through oratorical declamation. Growing up and gaining manhood is very important in every young boys life. Fredrick Douglass grew up and never personally knowing his father. The memory of his mother was blurry as well.
She lived a little more than twelve miles away from were he stayed. He recalls one of his mothers rare visits, She had walked the twelve mile to see me after along days work and brought me a ginger cake. I drifted off to sleep and the next morning she was gone. I do not remember ever seeing her again (Foner 15).
Fredrick spent his early childhood with his grandparents in their slave cabin. When Fredrick Douglass turned 8 years of age he moved to Baltimore, Maryland to live with Hugh Auld to be a household servant.
This marked one of the turning points in Fredrick Douglasss life in becoming a man. During his stay with the Hugh family he developed a burning desire for literacy. Hearing his new mistress, Sophia Auld, read the bible and other literacys fueled Douglasss desire to learn how to read. Sophia taught Fredrick three or four words, but the lessons ended as soon a Hugh Auld learned of the teachings he said learning will spoil the best nigger in the world (Foner 17).
The Essay on Fredrick Douglass 4
Fredrick Douglass' narrative is a dramatic testimony of human will. His story is intriging as well as compelling. This man lived in an era that we currently study with amazement. He saw and understood the institution of slavery and the white man's ideology, behind it. The "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass", was written by himself following his escape to New Bedford, New England. The ...
However, the flame was already lit; Fredrick began teaching himself how to read. He went as far as pulling schoolboys aside in remote places and turning them in to schoolteachers. Young Fredrick Douglass would get old news paper clipping from the gutter and pay for his lessons with slices of bread (Foner 17).
This was the first step of Fredrick gaining his manhood, which was learning how to read. From the books young Douglass was reading he started to learn more about the evils of slavery. Douglasss hatred of slavery grew greater and more extreme with the every day rigors of the plantation system. This hatred did not escape Mr. Aulds knowledge because Douglass did not hide the way he felt. Douglass infuriated Mr.
and Mrs. Auld by his refusal to call his owner Master instead of Captain (Foner 19).
When Douglass began to teach Sunday school to young colored children, Master Auld decided that it was time to give Douglass a taste of discipline and crush his spirit. Mr. Auld hired out Douglass to a man named Edward Covey, a professional slave breaker. For seven months Douglas was over worked, under feed, and flogged daily.
He was indeed broken in body, soul and spirit (Foner 19).
Therefore, Douglass considered killing Mr. Covey and then taking his own life. Desperate and scared with a touch of hope Douglass found the courage to turn on Mr. Covey and fight back. The result of the scuffle was Covey stopped whipping Douglass and ignored him for the rest of his stay. This battle with Mr.
Covey was a turning-point in my career. I was a changed being after that fight. I was nothing before, I was a man nowwith a renewed determination to be free (Frederick Douglass 22).
Fredrick Douglasss literacy and willingness to take on any challenge eventually led him to prosperity. In 1838, he escaped from his slave master, Auld. Fredrick got married and went away to New York. There he found a hard backbreaking job where he was perfectly happy because there was no one standing over him.
He was now free and able to create space for political involvement. Before Douglass left Baltimore, throughout his reading he had already gained knowledge about Abolitionists and their work to end slavery. Douglass was not satisfied with sitting at home and being thrilled to the paper(Foner 25).
The Term Paper on Frederick Douglass: His Slavery Years
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the United States was a young nation divided by numerous philosophical and political differences. Arguably, slavery was the most divisive issue at the time. There were individuals who spoke out against slavery; perhaps the most eloquent anti-slavery voice belonged to Frederick Douglass. Douglass was an American abolitionist who altered American views concerning ...
Douglass reported to the anti-colonization meeting of the Negro citizens of New Bedford at the Christian Church. He immediately became active in the African Colonization Movement by giving speeches and attending social meetings. Soon Douglas became a Chairman at the meeting called to censor the Maryland Colonization Society.
Shortly afterwards he met William Lloyd Garrison who was a well-known Abolitionist. No face and form ever impressed me with such sentiment as did those of William Lloyd Garrison (Douglas 29).
But Douglass was not limited to help from only his brothers; in the U.S. Douglass expanded his political voice and worldwide views due to overseas travel. Douglass stayed four months in Europe and was welcomed with open arms. The entire meeting that was held in Europe was a success.
The warm and generous cooperation extended to me by the friends of my despised race(Douglass 65).
Douglass could not believe the response he was getting from his speeches in Europe. Also, the lack of prejudice and the open doors he received filled Douglasss heart with joy. When Fredrick Douglass returned home he had a goal in mind that would help spread the anti-slavery cause. With help from his English friends he was able to obtain a printing press and raised nearly two thousand dollars. The goal Douglass had in mind was to start an anti-slavery newspaper.
The history of Negro journalism in the U.S. before 1847 was not much of a confidence booster for the project. But even without the approval of his friend Garrison, Douglass made it happen and called the newspaper The North Star. Though the paper made it through its first year, at first it was not a great success because of the lack of funds and support. But a woman named Julia Griffiths and the Negro women of Philadelphia came to the papers rescue. With a good business sense, Julia Griffiths devoted her self entirely to The North Star and took care of all financial aspects as well. She did all this by sponsoring fairs, raising funds, and mailing numerous personal appeals for financial aid.
If it wasnt for the tireless effort of Julia Griffiths the paper would have been forced to suspend publication(Chesebrough 21).
The Essay on Frederick Douglass Freedom Speech
Frederick Douglass's “What is your 4th of July to me” speech is a very moving speech. In his speech, he talks about how the United States, is hypocritical in all of eachs preachings. The liberty, justice for all, equality, and many other phrases stated in the constitution and other American documents are hypocritical. Slavery is going on in the United States at this time and they are preaching ...
Even though the paper was a great success, what people really wanted to see were the speeches Douglass gave. When Fredrick Douglass spoke he always told the whole truth about the subject he was addressing. Fredrick Douglass was known for breaking the silence in his speeches and maintaining authenticity as a black man. Through all the speeches Fredrick Douglass ever addressed every one of them were direct, fierceful, vivid, and with sarcasm(McPherson 37).
He never once lost sight of who he was and where he came from. There were plenty of white Abolitionists who fought and spoke side by side with Douglass, but none of them could make the listeners re-live the horror of slavery.
Douglass could testify to the evil of slavery(McPherson 37).
Fredrick Douglass had a way of speaking the unspeakable. Without his bravery and courage people would not understand the reality or truth behind slavery. He practiced what he preached by getting politically involved in the government to make sure his voice was heard. If it was not for his perseverance and self-motivation he would never have became such an influential leader, and never would have gained his manhood. With all this in mind, Fredrick Douglass was in fact a power symbol of African American leadership and perseverance.
Fredrick Douglass the Political Activist
