Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland in The U.S.A,in 1818. At the time it was illegal to teach slaves to read and write, as it was observed that this made them more inclined to question their position. Frederick taught himself to read and write covertly, by watching the local white kids doing so. In 1838, he managed to escape his owner and fled on a train to Massachusetts and joined the abolitionist movement.
Frederick became a popular anti-slavery lecturer and published an autobiography Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave in 1845. The book was an instant best seller, and revealed Douglass to be a deeply gifted communicator, demonstrated by his eloquent style of expression. In fact he was so good people questioned whether his story was true.
Fearing the publicity surrounding his literacy success would alert his owner to his whereabouts, Frederick toured Ireland and it was during this time his supporters bought him from his owners and he officially became a free man. He returned to The U.S.A in 1948 and became a very important political figure, holding many government committee positions, advocating fair treatment for African Americans. Frederick was also a supporter of the women sufferage movement famously stating he could not accept the right to vote as a black man if a woman did not get to do so.
Frederick was married twice, his second marriage to Helen Pitts a well known white feminist (pictured, sitting down, her sister Eva is standing up) caused a scandal not only because she was white, but because she was 25 years younger. frederick ultimately became a wealthy man and lived a comfortable life, but continued to advocate for the rights of others until his death on Feburary 20, 1895.
A truly inspiring man. Read his autobiography its an amazing insight into the life of an extroadinary man. Its a first hand account of the cruelty suffered by slaves and their fight for not only freedom, but dignity and respect.
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