Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where
ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an
organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor
property will be safe." - Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass has been called the father of the civil rights movement. He rose through determination, brilliance, and eloquence to shape the American nation. He was an abolitionist, human rights and women's rights activist, orator, author, journalist, publisher, and social reformer.Committed to freedom, Douglass dedicated his life to achieving justice for all americans, in particular African-Americans, women, and minority groups. He envisioned America as an inclusive nation strengthened by diversity and free of discrimination. Douglass served as advisor to presidents. Abraham Lincoln referred to him as the most meritorious man of the nineteenth century. In his later years Douglass was appointed to several offices. He served as U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia during Rutherford B. Hayes' administration and President James Garfield appointed him
the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds. In 1889 President Benjamin Harrison appointed him to be the US minister to Haiti. He was later appointed by President Grant to serve as secretary of the commission of Santo Domingo. Douglass had hoped that his appointments would open doors for other African-Americans, but it was many years before they would follow in his footsteps.Douglass rose from slavery and became the leading african american voice of the nineteenth century. He soon realized his ability to read was his key to freedom. Douglass established his own weekly abolitionist newspaper the North Star, that became a major voice of african american opinion.
the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds. In 1889 President Benjamin Harrison appointed him to be the US minister to Haiti. He was later appointed by President Grant to serve as secretary of the commission of Santo Domingo. Douglass had hoped that his appointments would open doors for other African-Americans, but it was many years before they would follow in his footsteps.Douglass rose from slavery and became the leading african american voice of the nineteenth century. He soon realized his ability to read was his key to freedom. Douglass established his own weekly abolitionist newspaper the North Star, that became a major voice of african american opinion.