Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was born a slave in Maryland, in 1817 or 1818. He loved to read and even memorized classical speeches. In 1838, he escaped from slavery. He settled in Massachusetts where he attended abolitionist meetings. He soon began a three-year lecture series. He traveled throughout America and Europe giving speeches.

Douglass published his thoughts in a weekly newspaper. His most important work was his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave. It was incredibly popular and, like his speeches, opened many peoples’ eyes to the horrors of slavery.

Douglass also spoke and wrote in favor of a constitutional amendment securing voting rights and other liberties for former slaves. In this manner, Douglass used his First Amendment rights of free speech and press in order to expand American freedom.

Douglass continued to work for equal rights for former slaves and for women until he died. The boy who memorized classic speeches from Roman times would spend his life delivering original and powerful speeches that changed history.