Historical Legend - Frederick Douglas
http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/1377/1/Historical-Legend---Frederick-Douglas/Page1.html
Staff Writer
By Staff Writer
Published on 02/15/2010
Frederick Douglass was born in February, 1818, near the town of Easton, Maryland. Separated from his mother when only a few weeks old he was raised by his grandparents. At about the age of six, his grandmother left him on his master’s plantation.
Later, he was sent to Baltimore to live as a houseboy with Hugh and Sophia Auld, relatives of his master. His new mistress taught him the alphabet. When her husband forbade her to continue, he made the neighborhood boys his teachers, by giving away his food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing.
Later, he was sent to Baltimore to live as a houseboy with Hugh and Sophia Auld, relatives of his master. His new mistress taught him the alphabet. When her husband forbade her to continue, he made the neighborhood boys his teachers, by giving away his food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing.
Frederick Douglass was born in February, 1818, near the town of Easton, Maryland. Separated from his mother when only a few weeks old he was raised by his grandparents. At about the age of six, his grandmother left him on his master’s plantation.
Later, he was sent to Baltimore to live as a houseboy with Hugh and Sophia Auld, relatives of his master. His new mistress taught him the alphabet. When her husband forbade her to continue, he made the neighborhood boys his teachers, by giving away his food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing.
At about the age of 12, Douglass purchased a copy of “The Columbian Orator,” a schoolbook which helped him to gain an understanding and appreciation of the power of the spoken and written word to bring about permanent, positive change. At approximately the age of 15, Douglass became a field hand, and experienced most of the horrifying conditions during legalized slavery. After an aborted escape attempt he was sent back to the Auld family, and in early September, 1838, at the age of 20, he succeeded in escaping from slavery by impersonating a sailor.
He went first to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he and his new wife Anna Murray began to raise a family. He attended abolitionist meetings, and, in October, 1841. After attending an anti-slavery convention on Nantucket Island, Douglass became a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and a colleague of William Lloyd Garrison. This work led him into public speaking and writing.
He published his own newspaper, The North Star, participated in the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, in 1848, and wrote three autobiographies. He was internationally recognized as an uncompromising abolitionist, indefatigable worker for justice and equal opportunity, and an unyielding defender of women’s rights. He became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C., and Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti.
He died on Feb. 20, 1895 after suffering a heart attack.
Later, he was sent to Baltimore to live as a houseboy with Hugh and Sophia Auld, relatives of his master. His new mistress taught him the alphabet. When her husband forbade her to continue, he made the neighborhood boys his teachers, by giving away his food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing.
At about the age of 12, Douglass purchased a copy of “The Columbian Orator,” a schoolbook which helped him to gain an understanding and appreciation of the power of the spoken and written word to bring about permanent, positive change. At approximately the age of 15, Douglass became a field hand, and experienced most of the horrifying conditions during legalized slavery. After an aborted escape attempt he was sent back to the Auld family, and in early September, 1838, at the age of 20, he succeeded in escaping from slavery by impersonating a sailor.
He went first to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he and his new wife Anna Murray began to raise a family. He attended abolitionist meetings, and, in October, 1841. After attending an anti-slavery convention on Nantucket Island, Douglass became a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and a colleague of William Lloyd Garrison. This work led him into public speaking and writing.
He published his own newspaper, The North Star, participated in the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, in 1848, and wrote three autobiographies. He was internationally recognized as an uncompromising abolitionist, indefatigable worker for justice and equal opportunity, and an unyielding defender of women’s rights. He became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C., and Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti.
He died on Feb. 20, 1895 after suffering a heart attack.