Frederick Douglass was a nineteenth century eminent figure of United States, belonged to the time period when African-Americans like him were shackled by the White Americans into slavery. He spoke for all African-Americans facing the hardships of slavery and advocated civil rights and is recognized for his contributions as an orator, writer, social reformer and statesman.
In February 1818, in Talbot County, Maryland, U.S., Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born into slavery. As a common customary act, he was separated from his mother at a very early age after which his maternal grandmother looked after him. In his autobiography, he stated that he heard whispers about his father being the owner of the plantation he lived in. On his grandmother’s demise, he was given to the Auld’s family. When he turned twelve his owner’s wife began to teach him alphabets, even though it was prohibited by the law. As Mr. Auld discovered about it he strongly disapproved of teaching a slave, so the lessons were discontinued. However, Douglass did not give up and secretly learned to read and write with the help of other white children.
Gradually, Douglass developed a sense of justice and equality through his practice of reading. He soon became an avid reader of newspaper and political literature. With the newfound clarity, he felt the responsibility of sharing his wisdom with other enslaved black people and began teaching them the New Testament. A lot of people attended his lessons before other plantation owners sabotaged the congregation permanently. Later, he was sent to a cruel plantation owner who brutally abused him. On his second attempt at escape he finally succeeded with the help of a free black woman, Anna Murray, whom he later married. They settled in Massachusetts and adopted the name Douglass. He joined a black church and during the meetings he told the group his story. He then began to regularly lecture the fellow members on abolition of slavery. His rhetorical skills and powerful speech had his lecture published in weekly journal, The Liberator, ran by William Lloyd Garrison.
Henceforth, began a new chapter in Douglass’s life when William Lloyd Garrison persuaded him to write and publish his memoir. His autobiography, titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, appeared in 1845. It became a bestselling literary work in United States and was later translated into several other languages. While it gained positive feedback from the readers, it also made the critics suspicious of foul play for it was hard for them to believe that someone born into slavery can write in such a sophisticated manner. Douglass revised his biography and published three more versions, elaborating and adding to the events in his lifetime. In 1855, My Bondage and My Freedom was published, almost three decades later he penned Life and Times of Frederick Douglass and its revised version came out in 1892.
The publication of his autobiographies stirred up trouble for him regarding his runaway slave status. He evaded the consequences by departing to Ireland and then Britain. Finally, he earned his freedom in Europe through his moving anti-abolitionist speeches. On his return to U.S as a free man, he published several newspapers advocating the abolition of slavery. The newspapers include Frederick Douglass’ Paper, The North Star, New National Era and Douglass’ Monthly. Besides, he was also the proponent of women’s right. During civil war he became a chief figure and served numerous high political positions. In fact, he became the first African-American ever to be nominated for the vice presidency of the United States.
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