African-American History Month: Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895)
Frederic Douglass was born in Maryland in 1817. His mother was a slave and his father was a white man. In 1838, he escaped to the north and arrived in Massachusetts and began to speak out at abolitionist functions throughout the state.

In 1847 he published his autobiography, followed by making his mark as the founder and editor of a periodical called the North Star. Douglass was highly influential in both the black and white communities — effectively spreading the word about the paramount importance of abolishing the institution of slavery.

Sometimes inflammatory, but always expressing his heart, Douglass once wrote, "Those who enslave, rob and torment their cooks, may well expect to find death in their dinner–pots." Frederick Douglass is remembered as a man who overcame the adversities of his childhood to develop into an eloquent spokesman who transcended the color barrier so prevalent in his time.

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