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Frederick Douglass: A Life from Beginning to End
Frederick Douglass * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. Slavery is a dark spot in the history of the United States, a time when the rights of African-Americans were non-existent. Slaves were beaten, mutilated, raped, and killed with impunity. Their lives were a living hell from which death was the only escape they could dare to hope for. From this darkness, many heroes emerged, one of which was a man named Frederick Douglass. Born a slave in Maryland, Douglass believed he had found the key to the power of the white man—education. He taught himself to read and write, and then he proceeded to teach other slaves to read and write as well. Inside you will read about... ✓ On the Backs of The Role of Slavery in the Economic Development of a New World ✓ Born into Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey ✓ Escape to the Douglass’ escape and early life as a free man ✓ Equality and Douglass’ Work as a Free Man ✓ Suffrage and Douglass’ Other Causes and Later Life And much more! As a slave, Frederick Douglass endured many cases of abuse and indignity while he waited to make his escape. On his third attempt, he finally succeeded, and once free, he proceeded to fight tirelessly throughout his life for the freedom and equality of all people. He was a true believer in the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence and codified in the United States Constitution. He became a celebrated orator, writer, and statesman, and he was always an abolitionist. His work in this regard helped abolish slavery in all of the United States, and he fought passionately for the equality of all people regardless of race or sex throughout the whole of his life. He is a true American hero. This book tells the compelling story of his life in succinct, yet informative detail that is both educational and entertaining.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 25, 2022
An ugly side of our Human face and our sad history in simple-plain English
(Kindle Ed., p. 6)
Slavery has been employed by numerous cultures in many parts of the world throughout history...
Yeah, it officially existed in the Korean Peninsula until 1894, and it still exists in North Korea “unofficially.”
(Kindle Ed., pp. 25-28)
“...What to the slave is the 4th of July...I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the Constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery—the great sin and shame of America...all people—men, women, and people of all races—were created equal and had the same unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as stated in the Declaration of Independence...Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Colour – God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren...”
Hail to the United Humanity: It must be equally and fairly applied with the “right” line between the capable and incapable NOT between different genders or races, which are even vague according to our true, common ori-gin (to be-gin with our true "gene/ DNA" behind all our deceiving appearances) of One Human Race.
(Kindle Ed., pp. 39-40)
He endured threats to his personal safety and that of his family while engaged in the fight for what he believed was right...Douglass was an impassioned advocate for his principles, and the principles that he saw as the foundation of the United States. He exposed and opposed hypocrisy wherever he saw it, whether it was the indifference to suffering by his beloved church or the attitude of segregation by the very people who had suffered from its corrosive effects. He was tireless in his efforts to educate the public on the savagery of the institution of slavery. Moreover, he was tireless in his efforts to fight for the equality he believed was the birthright of all people, regardless of their race or sex...Born a slave in Maryland, Douglass survived the cruel treatment he received as a slave. He endured savage beatings, and he witnessed horrific, inhumane treatment of his friends and family. Despite this, he never lost hope, and he forged ahead, educating himself so that he could escape the barbarous treatment he was subjected to, and live to see the abolition of slavery for all people. He taught himself to read and write, and from those humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the greatest orators and writers in American history. He spoke eloquently on the rights professed by the Declaration of Independence and codified in the U.S. Constitution. He read other points of view, and he thoughtfully considered those points of view. If he found validity in their opinion, he was not afraid to change his.
(Kindle Ed., p. 12)
...He is now considered one of the 100 greatest African-Americans. His life stands as an example of grace under fire. He rose from the depths of slavery to take his rightful place as a great American freedom fighter. His own words are the best testament to the strength of his character: “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”
Why one of the 100 greatest African-American, huh? NO! He should be one of the greatest “Human” Race!
I find the book flawless. I’d given it seven stars if it were allowed. Let’s take a look at the ugly side of our Human face and feel our hi-story in simple-plain English.
The whole story is quite en-/ in-form’at-ive/ -if, and the detail of this book despite its short length is amazing.
(Kindle Ed., p. 4)
...He made use of a train depot that was along one of the many routes of the Underground Railroad to make his escape. He would later assist other runaway slaves, harboring them in his home until they could safely get to other areas in the north. Douglass’ life was one of extraordinary accomplishment. As a slave, he had taught himself to read and write, and he spread that knowledge to other slaves as well. Once free, he became a noted abolitionist and strong believer in equality for all people including blacks, Native Americans, women, and recent immigrants. He wrote several autobiographies describing his experiences as a slave and his life during the Civil War. In addition to all this, he became the first African-American nominated for Vice President of the United States, and he was appointed as United States Marshal for the District of Columbia by President Rutherford B. Hayes...
It is one informative entr'/ intr'o-duct'ion, and it feels like this introduction alone is a complete biography and storybook.
(Kindle Ed., p. 2)
...Because many African slaves were baptized by the Spanish prior to leaving Africa, they were also initially brought to the American colonies as indentured servants since English law exempted Christians from slavery. Thus, many Africans in the so-called charter generation of slaves gained their freedom after finishing the period of servitude. It wasn’t long, however, before court decisions began to legitimize lifelong slavery for people of African descent...
It was like history gone backward, and we people find any excuse for that if that is the easier way to satisfy our greed against Humanity. The Europeans after Renaissance found a way by classifying the two types of people in simple colors: “White” and “Black.” Humans were White, whereas Blacks were deliberately NOT considered Humans being treated like animals when they were shipped to the New World.
(Kindle Ed., p. 7)
In 1640, a Virginia court ruling in the case of an African indentured servant named John Punch resulted in a sentence of lifelong slavery for attempting to flee his servitude. Two white servants who also attempted to flee were only sentenced to an additional year of servitude. Thus, the court established a precedent for two concepts: the legitimization of lifelong slavery even for some Christians, and a distinction in legal treatment between African and European defendants...
Between the White ones and some Black “things” from the wild, huh? How evil.
(Kindle Ed., p. 2)
Following the American Revolution, the newly formed United States included in part of its Constitution several provisions related to slavery, including a provision that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person. This provision had a substantial political impact. It gave the southern states, where there was far higher concentrations of slaves, more political power because it significantly increased their population counts. This gave them stronger representation in the U.S. Congress...
For the technical people'/ popul'ation growth in the South: Again, evil ... do you know what is really shocking me? The fact that even this was an improvement as slaves were not even an'y part'/ port'ion of a person before it.
(Kindle Ed., p. 8)
...In this way, a growing economy in a new nation was quite literally built on the backs of African slaves.
Pretty much like Roman Empire was, huh? Is that why the United States wants to claim that she is the successor of the ancient empire? That's just sad...
(Kindle Ed., pp. 8-9)
...It is estimated that 12 million slaves were brought to the Americas between the colonial period and 1860, with the majority of those being used in the sugar industry since the mortality rate was far higher in the areas where sugar was grown as compared with the U.S. That resulted in the need to replenish the supply of slaves constantly. In the U.S., however, at the time of the 1860 census the slave population had reached four million with the growth of that population being greater than any population in Europe and approximately twice the population growth of England.
I'm not really a big fan of any movements that blocks up the street "including" that of Black Lives Matter, but I understand why they are so mad at their own country. I think those owners did that because they were cheaper than other means of tools. The United States was not established upon true Humanity, but upon money.
(Kindle Ed., p. 9)
After the American Revolution, the U.S. Constitution contained several provisions regarding slavery, including the fact that slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of calculating state populations. With a high concentration of slaves in the southern states, this increased their population count and gave them stronger representation in the U.S. Congress. Added to that was the fact that every U.S. president elected to a second term between the first president, George Washington, and the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, was a slaveholder. These two facts allowed the southern slaveholding states to dominate both the U.S. Congress and the U.S. presidency for almost 50 years.
That was why even a war was necessary because the country had to be reborn from the bas'ic foundation when it came to Humanity, not Divinity: God this, God that, blah-blah-blah.
(Kindle Ed., p. 27)
...Spooner advocated instead for meaning-styled textualism, a method of interpretation that does not consider non-textual sources of information, such as the intention behind the law. In short, as Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr. said, “it is the law that governs, not the intent of the lawgiver.” These two methods of interpreting the Constitution are still debated today, but Spooner applied textualism to argue that the anti-slavery clauses present in the Constitution, along with the fact that there was no legal authorization for it in the slaveholding states, meant that slavery was unconstitutional. In other words, a strict reading of the laws as stated in both the Constitution and the state governments, without considering any unstated intentions of lawmakers, prohibited slavery.
Yeah, we got to do this when it comes to the law since many of us are shrewd masters of irony when it comes to our greedy interest.
(Kindle Ed., p. 10)
...The reason being that very little documentation was required to prove that an individual was a runaway slave, and judges were actually paid more to rule that someone was a runaway rather than ruling they were a free person. That resulted in the exaggeration of the number of runaways on the part of slaveholders and the subsequent capture of many free black people who were then turned over to slaveholders. The system, therefore, heavily favored the slaveholders...
Just like the reported “fake” number of the COVID-confirmed...sigh...our "blind" Capitalist system that heavily favors the giant pharmaceutical businesses.
(Kindle Ed., p. 3)
...Families were regularly torn apart as members were sold to different owners. Slaves had no rights, not even the right to life...
Like cattle...
(Kindle Ed., p. 3)
Women were raped, and men were castrated. They were regularly beaten, frequently mutilated, and often executed in the most inhumane ways. They were decapitated, torn apart by dogs, drawn and quartered, hanged, and their bodies were dismembered and/or left to rot in plain view as a warning to others who might defy their owners. To say that slavery was a living hell does not adequately describe the deplorable conditions faced by slaves...
Exactly! That is just what it is like to be a political dissident either in North Korea or China detained in one of those political camps. I can’t even imagine how horrifying it must be and wonder how come they still complain about the Western exploitation in the past calling it the inhumane Imperialism while what they are doing to their own people isn't any different.
Yet, going too far is never wise:
(Kindle Ed., p. 35)
...when there is a supposed conflict between human and national rights, it is safe to go to the side of humanity...
Nah, that can put more Human lives in jeopardy when the whole society is in trouble. You see what happened to the Roman citizens when the empire fell apart after all the people in the imperial territory were granted the Roman citizenship. The same happened to other nations throughout history since no one wanted to take care of 3D works anymore. These countries collapsed at the end as no one would take the role of laborers while their demands were growing for more and more materials and resources to match their growing expectations.
It is not the social classes we have to eliminate. What we really have to do is to learn to understand how a Human society can survive and thrive. We all have our places, and all our places and roles have very important meaning for the society as a whole. We must know this very truth and learn to thank and respect each other's role and work: Adam Smith was wrong about it.
(Kindle Ed., pp. 21-22)
Douglass, in his autobiography published in 1845— Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave —refused to discuss the specifics of how he had escaped because he believed it put those still working on the Underground Railroad, as well as any slaves who would try to escape, in danger. In fact, he criticized some of his contemporaries for revealing too much about the routes used by runaway slaves. He noted that their intent to call attention to the desperation of the situation was noble, but that by revealing, even in general terms, the routes used, they were endangering those who would use the network in the future as well as those stationmasters who were assisting the runaway slaves. His narrative at that time only discussed what led up to his escape...Douglass, in later writings after the abolition of slavery, revealed how he made his escape, which occurred on September 3, 1838...
Yeah, the same reason why there are information classified the Top Secrets, and they are NOT allowed to be open to the people'/ publ'ic until they are no longer related to the national interest and the people's lives in the nation. But some people are just babbling about their rights to know the truth...sigh. These kind of people must live in the wild alone, not in a Human society as they endanger everyone's lives.
And how insightful ... can’t deny it:
(Kindle Ed., p. 34)
...Douglass felt that passing the 15th Amendment would specifically give black women the same political influence as that which white women enjoyed at the time. Douglass believed white women had influence over politics because they had influence over the men in their lives. Douglass argued that if black men did not have the same right to vote as white men, black women were denied even that small amount of influence that their white counterparts enjoyed...
(Kindle Ed., p.19)
...He also talked about the point in time at which he resolved to escape. He had heard the words abolition and abolitionists being spoken in reference to slavery. Particularly if a slave had done something wrong, he often heard slaveholders saying it was the fruit of abolition, and that piqued his interest in the meaning of the word. He finally learned the meaning of it and discovered that there were abolition movements happening in the northern states...
OMG, talking about the moment of a man's "world-changing" epiphany! Those who have had one would definitely understand what I'm talking about.
(Kindle Ed., p. 37)
...[Frederick Douglass] also dabbled in real estate construction. In 1892, he built rental housing for blacks in the Fells Point area of Baltimore. The housing still exists. It is known as Douglass Place, and in 2003, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Just FYI, the last good-old "Confucianist" Government Officials' Exam took place in Seoul in 1892 ... the county was so slow, and no wonder it became a prey to the industrial powers, and the fate of slow Confederate States of America was the same.
(Kindle Ed., p. 35)
Douglass also argued that the United States consisted of a composite population. He articulated perhaps the first concept of the melting pot that has so often been used to describe the immigrant-based population mixture in the U.S...
A great discovery on the author's part!
(Kindle Ed., p. 36)
...He stated that it is the very composite nature of the United States that is responsible for its many triumphs. Finally, he argued that all American peoples, whether, using the words of his time, “Indian and Celt; negro and Saxon; Latin and Teuton; Mongolian and Caucasian; Jew and Gentile” were part of the United States, and as such, should enjoy the same rights and privileges of any other American. He noted that it would encourage national enthusiasm toward achieving common goals. So staunch was he in his support for composite nationalism that he strongly opposed the efforts of so-called Exodusters, African-Americans who had escaped the south and were forming all-black towns. He didn’t believe in separatism of any kind, no matter the origin...
Man, he was already a citizen of the United Humanity.
(Kindle Ed., p. 36)
He then became the president of the Freedman’s Savings Bank..
So we can guess where the family name Freedman was originated from.
Just for a laughter lol:
(Kindle Ed., p. 4)
Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Talbot County, Maryland. He was born a slave on a plantation on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay...
Jesus, he was a slave babe born with the first Roman Emperor and the first U.S. President in his name lol
The stor’y tells the clearest defect of our democracy: The only answer is a powerful Human Being with his or her righteous mind'/ ment'ality.
I end the review with the best lessons learned in this book:
(Kindle Ed., p. 19)
Escape to the North: “I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.” —Frederick Douglass
Hahaha, that's the truth about the almighty God in our mind'/ ment'ality lol
(Kindle Ed., p. 32)
“...The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
(Kindle Ed., p. 6)
Slavery has been employed by numerous cultures in many parts of the world throughout history...
Yeah, it officially existed in the Korean Peninsula until 1894, and it still exists in North Korea “unofficially.”
(Kindle Ed., pp. 25-28)
“...What to the slave is the 4th of July...I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the Constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery—the great sin and shame of America...all people—men, women, and people of all races—were created equal and had the same unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as stated in the Declaration of Independence...Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Colour – God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren...”
Hail to the United Humanity: It must be equally and fairly applied with the “right” line between the capable and incapable NOT between different genders or races, which are even vague according to our true, common ori-gin (to be-gin with our true "gene/ DNA" behind all our deceiving appearances) of One Human Race.
(Kindle Ed., pp. 39-40)
He endured threats to his personal safety and that of his family while engaged in the fight for what he believed was right...Douglass was an impassioned advocate for his principles, and the principles that he saw as the foundation of the United States. He exposed and opposed hypocrisy wherever he saw it, whether it was the indifference to suffering by his beloved church or the attitude of segregation by the very people who had suffered from its corrosive effects. He was tireless in his efforts to educate the public on the savagery of the institution of slavery. Moreover, he was tireless in his efforts to fight for the equality he believed was the birthright of all people, regardless of their race or sex...Born a slave in Maryland, Douglass survived the cruel treatment he received as a slave. He endured savage beatings, and he witnessed horrific, inhumane treatment of his friends and family. Despite this, he never lost hope, and he forged ahead, educating himself so that he could escape the barbarous treatment he was subjected to, and live to see the abolition of slavery for all people. He taught himself to read and write, and from those humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the greatest orators and writers in American history. He spoke eloquently on the rights professed by the Declaration of Independence and codified in the U.S. Constitution. He read other points of view, and he thoughtfully considered those points of view. If he found validity in their opinion, he was not afraid to change his.
(Kindle Ed., p. 12)
...He is now considered one of the 100 greatest African-Americans. His life stands as an example of grace under fire. He rose from the depths of slavery to take his rightful place as a great American freedom fighter. His own words are the best testament to the strength of his character: “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”
Why one of the 100 greatest African-American, huh? NO! He should be one of the greatest “Human” Race!
I find the book flawless. I’d given it seven stars if it were allowed. Let’s take a look at the ugly side of our Human face and feel our hi-story in simple-plain English.
The whole story is quite en-/ in-form’at-ive/ -if, and the detail of this book despite its short length is amazing.
(Kindle Ed., p. 4)
...He made use of a train depot that was along one of the many routes of the Underground Railroad to make his escape. He would later assist other runaway slaves, harboring them in his home until they could safely get to other areas in the north. Douglass’ life was one of extraordinary accomplishment. As a slave, he had taught himself to read and write, and he spread that knowledge to other slaves as well. Once free, he became a noted abolitionist and strong believer in equality for all people including blacks, Native Americans, women, and recent immigrants. He wrote several autobiographies describing his experiences as a slave and his life during the Civil War. In addition to all this, he became the first African-American nominated for Vice President of the United States, and he was appointed as United States Marshal for the District of Columbia by President Rutherford B. Hayes...
It is one informative entr'/ intr'o-duct'ion, and it feels like this introduction alone is a complete biography and storybook.
(Kindle Ed., p. 2)
...Because many African slaves were baptized by the Spanish prior to leaving Africa, they were also initially brought to the American colonies as indentured servants since English law exempted Christians from slavery. Thus, many Africans in the so-called charter generation of slaves gained their freedom after finishing the period of servitude. It wasn’t long, however, before court decisions began to legitimize lifelong slavery for people of African descent...
It was like history gone backward, and we people find any excuse for that if that is the easier way to satisfy our greed against Humanity. The Europeans after Renaissance found a way by classifying the two types of people in simple colors: “White” and “Black.” Humans were White, whereas Blacks were deliberately NOT considered Humans being treated like animals when they were shipped to the New World.
(Kindle Ed., p. 7)
In 1640, a Virginia court ruling in the case of an African indentured servant named John Punch resulted in a sentence of lifelong slavery for attempting to flee his servitude. Two white servants who also attempted to flee were only sentenced to an additional year of servitude. Thus, the court established a precedent for two concepts: the legitimization of lifelong slavery even for some Christians, and a distinction in legal treatment between African and European defendants...
Between the White ones and some Black “things” from the wild, huh? How evil.
(Kindle Ed., p. 2)
Following the American Revolution, the newly formed United States included in part of its Constitution several provisions related to slavery, including a provision that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person. This provision had a substantial political impact. It gave the southern states, where there was far higher concentrations of slaves, more political power because it significantly increased their population counts. This gave them stronger representation in the U.S. Congress...
For the technical people'/ popul'ation growth in the South: Again, evil ... do you know what is really shocking me? The fact that even this was an improvement as slaves were not even an'y part'/ port'ion of a person before it.
(Kindle Ed., p. 8)
...In this way, a growing economy in a new nation was quite literally built on the backs of African slaves.
Pretty much like Roman Empire was, huh? Is that why the United States wants to claim that she is the successor of the ancient empire? That's just sad...
(Kindle Ed., pp. 8-9)
...It is estimated that 12 million slaves were brought to the Americas between the colonial period and 1860, with the majority of those being used in the sugar industry since the mortality rate was far higher in the areas where sugar was grown as compared with the U.S. That resulted in the need to replenish the supply of slaves constantly. In the U.S., however, at the time of the 1860 census the slave population had reached four million with the growth of that population being greater than any population in Europe and approximately twice the population growth of England.
I'm not really a big fan of any movements that blocks up the street "including" that of Black Lives Matter, but I understand why they are so mad at their own country. I think those owners did that because they were cheaper than other means of tools. The United States was not established upon true Humanity, but upon money.
(Kindle Ed., p. 9)
After the American Revolution, the U.S. Constitution contained several provisions regarding slavery, including the fact that slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of calculating state populations. With a high concentration of slaves in the southern states, this increased their population count and gave them stronger representation in the U.S. Congress. Added to that was the fact that every U.S. president elected to a second term between the first president, George Washington, and the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, was a slaveholder. These two facts allowed the southern slaveholding states to dominate both the U.S. Congress and the U.S. presidency for almost 50 years.
That was why even a war was necessary because the country had to be reborn from the bas'ic foundation when it came to Humanity, not Divinity: God this, God that, blah-blah-blah.
(Kindle Ed., p. 27)
...Spooner advocated instead for meaning-styled textualism, a method of interpretation that does not consider non-textual sources of information, such as the intention behind the law. In short, as Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr. said, “it is the law that governs, not the intent of the lawgiver.” These two methods of interpreting the Constitution are still debated today, but Spooner applied textualism to argue that the anti-slavery clauses present in the Constitution, along with the fact that there was no legal authorization for it in the slaveholding states, meant that slavery was unconstitutional. In other words, a strict reading of the laws as stated in both the Constitution and the state governments, without considering any unstated intentions of lawmakers, prohibited slavery.
Yeah, we got to do this when it comes to the law since many of us are shrewd masters of irony when it comes to our greedy interest.
(Kindle Ed., p. 10)
...The reason being that very little documentation was required to prove that an individual was a runaway slave, and judges were actually paid more to rule that someone was a runaway rather than ruling they were a free person. That resulted in the exaggeration of the number of runaways on the part of slaveholders and the subsequent capture of many free black people who were then turned over to slaveholders. The system, therefore, heavily favored the slaveholders...
Just like the reported “fake” number of the COVID-confirmed...sigh...our "blind" Capitalist system that heavily favors the giant pharmaceutical businesses.
(Kindle Ed., p. 3)
...Families were regularly torn apart as members were sold to different owners. Slaves had no rights, not even the right to life...
Like cattle...
(Kindle Ed., p. 3)
Women were raped, and men were castrated. They were regularly beaten, frequently mutilated, and often executed in the most inhumane ways. They were decapitated, torn apart by dogs, drawn and quartered, hanged, and their bodies were dismembered and/or left to rot in plain view as a warning to others who might defy their owners. To say that slavery was a living hell does not adequately describe the deplorable conditions faced by slaves...
Exactly! That is just what it is like to be a political dissident either in North Korea or China detained in one of those political camps. I can’t even imagine how horrifying it must be and wonder how come they still complain about the Western exploitation in the past calling it the inhumane Imperialism while what they are doing to their own people isn't any different.
Yet, going too far is never wise:
(Kindle Ed., p. 35)
...when there is a supposed conflict between human and national rights, it is safe to go to the side of humanity...
Nah, that can put more Human lives in jeopardy when the whole society is in trouble. You see what happened to the Roman citizens when the empire fell apart after all the people in the imperial territory were granted the Roman citizenship. The same happened to other nations throughout history since no one wanted to take care of 3D works anymore. These countries collapsed at the end as no one would take the role of laborers while their demands were growing for more and more materials and resources to match their growing expectations.
It is not the social classes we have to eliminate. What we really have to do is to learn to understand how a Human society can survive and thrive. We all have our places, and all our places and roles have very important meaning for the society as a whole. We must know this very truth and learn to thank and respect each other's role and work: Adam Smith was wrong about it.
(Kindle Ed., pp. 21-22)
Douglass, in his autobiography published in 1845— Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave —refused to discuss the specifics of how he had escaped because he believed it put those still working on the Underground Railroad, as well as any slaves who would try to escape, in danger. In fact, he criticized some of his contemporaries for revealing too much about the routes used by runaway slaves. He noted that their intent to call attention to the desperation of the situation was noble, but that by revealing, even in general terms, the routes used, they were endangering those who would use the network in the future as well as those stationmasters who were assisting the runaway slaves. His narrative at that time only discussed what led up to his escape...Douglass, in later writings after the abolition of slavery, revealed how he made his escape, which occurred on September 3, 1838...
Yeah, the same reason why there are information classified the Top Secrets, and they are NOT allowed to be open to the people'/ publ'ic until they are no longer related to the national interest and the people's lives in the nation. But some people are just babbling about their rights to know the truth...sigh. These kind of people must live in the wild alone, not in a Human society as they endanger everyone's lives.
And how insightful ... can’t deny it:
(Kindle Ed., p. 34)
...Douglass felt that passing the 15th Amendment would specifically give black women the same political influence as that which white women enjoyed at the time. Douglass believed white women had influence over politics because they had influence over the men in their lives. Douglass argued that if black men did not have the same right to vote as white men, black women were denied even that small amount of influence that their white counterparts enjoyed...
(Kindle Ed., p.19)
...He also talked about the point in time at which he resolved to escape. He had heard the words abolition and abolitionists being spoken in reference to slavery. Particularly if a slave had done something wrong, he often heard slaveholders saying it was the fruit of abolition, and that piqued his interest in the meaning of the word. He finally learned the meaning of it and discovered that there were abolition movements happening in the northern states...
OMG, talking about the moment of a man's "world-changing" epiphany! Those who have had one would definitely understand what I'm talking about.
(Kindle Ed., p. 37)
...[Frederick Douglass] also dabbled in real estate construction. In 1892, he built rental housing for blacks in the Fells Point area of Baltimore. The housing still exists. It is known as Douglass Place, and in 2003, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Just FYI, the last good-old "Confucianist" Government Officials' Exam took place in Seoul in 1892 ... the county was so slow, and no wonder it became a prey to the industrial powers, and the fate of slow Confederate States of America was the same.
(Kindle Ed., p. 35)
Douglass also argued that the United States consisted of a composite population. He articulated perhaps the first concept of the melting pot that has so often been used to describe the immigrant-based population mixture in the U.S...
A great discovery on the author's part!
(Kindle Ed., p. 36)
...He stated that it is the very composite nature of the United States that is responsible for its many triumphs. Finally, he argued that all American peoples, whether, using the words of his time, “Indian and Celt; negro and Saxon; Latin and Teuton; Mongolian and Caucasian; Jew and Gentile” were part of the United States, and as such, should enjoy the same rights and privileges of any other American. He noted that it would encourage national enthusiasm toward achieving common goals. So staunch was he in his support for composite nationalism that he strongly opposed the efforts of so-called Exodusters, African-Americans who had escaped the south and were forming all-black towns. He didn’t believe in separatism of any kind, no matter the origin...
Man, he was already a citizen of the United Humanity.
(Kindle Ed., p. 36)
He then became the president of the Freedman’s Savings Bank..
So we can guess where the family name Freedman was originated from.
Just for a laughter lol:
(Kindle Ed., p. 4)
Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Talbot County, Maryland. He was born a slave on a plantation on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay...
Jesus, he was a slave babe born with the first Roman Emperor and the first U.S. President in his name lol
The stor’y tells the clearest defect of our democracy: The only answer is a powerful Human Being with his or her righteous mind'/ ment'ality.
I end the review with the best lessons learned in this book:
(Kindle Ed., p. 19)
Escape to the North: “I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.” —Frederick Douglass
Hahaha, that's the truth about the almighty God in our mind'/ ment'ality lol
(Kindle Ed., p. 32)
“...The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
April 10, 2017
“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
Slavery was a festering sore on the North American colonies from almost their conception. As time passed, the colonies prospered, and eventually united against a common enemy, the slavery sore, though covered over, has turned into a cancer that will continue to grow as time passes. Today I find it inconceivable that the nation’s founding fathers could conceive and create a beacon of freedom while holding humans in perpetual servitude. Major composer and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson writes: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Aside from the suspect grammar and punctuation, this remains a moving and inspiring statement that can still send chills up your spine; yet Jefferson, like many of the founding fathers, held people against their will, depriving them of the very rights they declare to be self-evident.
Frederick Douglass aka Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland in1818. He escaped slavery in 1838 and moved north. He was active in the antislavery movement and, with his eloquent speaking ability, was a popular speaker. He later traveled to England and Ireland, winning support for the abolitionist’s cause. Douglas married Anna Murray, a freed slave, in 1838. He continued to fight for equal rights for both Negros and women for the rest of his life, impacting the nation but not succeeding to achieve his ultimate goal of complete equality.
I found this narrative inspiring and interesting but found myself being bogged down in an originalism/textualism quagmire. Ultimately the waters are cleared and the life, trials, and times of a remarkably strong man are exposed as a shining lesson to all. Acknowledging the fact that the United States was a “melting pot” of nationalities, religions, cultures, and colors, Douglass was an advocate of migration and immigration. The thought brought a smile to my face when I think of President Trumps “Mexican Wall”, “Immigration Ban”, and “America First” campaign rhetoric.
The hunger and thirst for knowledge are a constant for most people. What makes the world and its diversity in peoples and cultures what it is today? Reading this abbreviated tome is sure to inspire many to delve deeper into this remarkable life of struggle and hope.
Frederick Douglass
Slavery was a festering sore on the North American colonies from almost their conception. As time passed, the colonies prospered, and eventually united against a common enemy, the slavery sore, though covered over, has turned into a cancer that will continue to grow as time passes. Today I find it inconceivable that the nation’s founding fathers could conceive and create a beacon of freedom while holding humans in perpetual servitude. Major composer and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson writes: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Aside from the suspect grammar and punctuation, this remains a moving and inspiring statement that can still send chills up your spine; yet Jefferson, like many of the founding fathers, held people against their will, depriving them of the very rights they declare to be self-evident.
Frederick Douglass aka Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland in1818. He escaped slavery in 1838 and moved north. He was active in the antislavery movement and, with his eloquent speaking ability, was a popular speaker. He later traveled to England and Ireland, winning support for the abolitionist’s cause. Douglas married Anna Murray, a freed slave, in 1838. He continued to fight for equal rights for both Negros and women for the rest of his life, impacting the nation but not succeeding to achieve his ultimate goal of complete equality.
I found this narrative inspiring and interesting but found myself being bogged down in an originalism/textualism quagmire. Ultimately the waters are cleared and the life, trials, and times of a remarkably strong man are exposed as a shining lesson to all. Acknowledging the fact that the United States was a “melting pot” of nationalities, religions, cultures, and colors, Douglass was an advocate of migration and immigration. The thought brought a smile to my face when I think of President Trumps “Mexican Wall”, “Immigration Ban”, and “America First” campaign rhetoric.
The hunger and thirst for knowledge are a constant for most people. What makes the world and its diversity in peoples and cultures what it is today? Reading this abbreviated tome is sure to inspire many to delve deeper into this remarkable life of struggle and hope.
October 1, 2017
This is a short biography by Hourly History of the American Civil Rights activist during the late 19th Century, Frederick Douglass.
The book starts with the practice of slavery in the United States, followed by the early life of Frederick Douglass and his eventual escape from slavery, becoming a well-known orator and writer and eventually, an activist for abolition of slavery and equal voting rights for African Americans and women.
The book started well, giving a background into the practice of slavery, the punishment for escaping and the risks involved and the eventual escape by Douglass. The book also elaborated well on his activism and his quest for acquiring knowledge and also, had a touch upon his personal life. To be fair, I have heard of activists such as Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King Jr. but I had never heard of Frederick Douglass and considering that position, I felt that the book gave me a good insight into the personality as well as the history of slavery in the United States.
I felt that the book overrated his bid for the office of the Vice-President of the United States, considering, he didn’t run for any major party and attained negligible votes. Even if the book had to mention that, they also should have given the information that he ran along with an independent and didn’t secure significant votes.
I enjoyed reading the book, I feel Douglass is not a personality touched upon by many of the books on Civil Rights movement, unlike the others I have already mentioned and I am glad that I read the book. I would award the book a rating of four on five.
The book starts with the practice of slavery in the United States, followed by the early life of Frederick Douglass and his eventual escape from slavery, becoming a well-known orator and writer and eventually, an activist for abolition of slavery and equal voting rights for African Americans and women.
The book started well, giving a background into the practice of slavery, the punishment for escaping and the risks involved and the eventual escape by Douglass. The book also elaborated well on his activism and his quest for acquiring knowledge and also, had a touch upon his personal life. To be fair, I have heard of activists such as Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King Jr. but I had never heard of Frederick Douglass and considering that position, I felt that the book gave me a good insight into the personality as well as the history of slavery in the United States.
I felt that the book overrated his bid for the office of the Vice-President of the United States, considering, he didn’t run for any major party and attained negligible votes. Even if the book had to mention that, they also should have given the information that he ran along with an independent and didn’t secure significant votes.
I enjoyed reading the book, I feel Douglass is not a personality touched upon by many of the books on Civil Rights movement, unlike the others I have already mentioned and I am glad that I read the book. I would award the book a rating of four on five.
September 23, 2022
Advocate for equality
Frederick Douglas' name is familiar from a general study of the era before and during the Civil War. But I did not know a lot about him. This short book introduced me not only to Douglas' personal background and his work as an abolutionist, but informed me of the scope of his vision. He was not just an advocate for black people, he fervently believed in equality for all, including women, immigrants, and Native Americans. He was so far ahead of his time, we still have not caught up to his vision.
Frederick Douglas' name is familiar from a general study of the era before and during the Civil War. But I did not know a lot about him. This short book introduced me not only to Douglas' personal background and his work as an abolutionist, but informed me of the scope of his vision. He was not just an advocate for black people, he fervently believed in equality for all, including women, immigrants, and Native Americans. He was so far ahead of his time, we still have not caught up to his vision.
October 5, 2017
Frederick Douglass: A Life from Beginning to End
By: Hourly History
I am a lover of history. Yet, I am not married to history. I do not know it well. However, Frederick Douglass has always been, to me, a fascinating figure from the past. The book is brief, but well written. It touches on the most important moments of Douglass’s life—his birth, his bondage, his escape to the North. It speaks of his most famous orations and his successes. It briefly delves into his personal life and the last moments of his time on earth.
Frederick Douglass: A Life from Beginning to End by Hourly History is a but a scratch on the surface of this man’s life story. And that’s exactly what it intends to be—an appetizer.
One reviewer wrote, “I will say this book has sparked an interest for me to read Frederick Douglass' autobiography and it also taught me some things I did not know.” (PATOLA Oct 2, 2017 Amazon Reviewer)
Consider then A Life from Beginning to End to be a success.
If you are looking for an in-depth moment-by-moment accounting of the life of Frederick Douglass, you will not find it here. However, if you are looking for something light to digest with a small glass of wine, something to give your evening a little flavor, you have settled on the perfect “snack”.
My only complaint with this endeavor is: to a small degree the author followed advice given to ME in my junior year of High School by a thesis writing instructor: “tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told you them.”
The book is somewhat repetitive.
However, at the risk of repeating myself… Try it. You’ll like it. And you’ll learn something too.
By: Hourly History
I am a lover of history. Yet, I am not married to history. I do not know it well. However, Frederick Douglass has always been, to me, a fascinating figure from the past. The book is brief, but well written. It touches on the most important moments of Douglass’s life—his birth, his bondage, his escape to the North. It speaks of his most famous orations and his successes. It briefly delves into his personal life and the last moments of his time on earth.
Frederick Douglass: A Life from Beginning to End by Hourly History is a but a scratch on the surface of this man’s life story. And that’s exactly what it intends to be—an appetizer.
One reviewer wrote, “I will say this book has sparked an interest for me to read Frederick Douglass' autobiography and it also taught me some things I did not know.” (PATOLA Oct 2, 2017 Amazon Reviewer)
Consider then A Life from Beginning to End to be a success.
If you are looking for an in-depth moment-by-moment accounting of the life of Frederick Douglass, you will not find it here. However, if you are looking for something light to digest with a small glass of wine, something to give your evening a little flavor, you have settled on the perfect “snack”.
My only complaint with this endeavor is: to a small degree the author followed advice given to ME in my junior year of High School by a thesis writing instructor: “tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told you them.”
The book is somewhat repetitive.
However, at the risk of repeating myself… Try it. You’ll like it. And you’ll learn something too.
January 1, 2019
One of the Greats
Now often glossed over in history classes, the abolitionist movement and Frederick Douglass are worthy of study and consideration. This quick to read book gives a basic overview of the life of Frederick Douglass and perspectives on his life and work. A good read.
Now often glossed over in history classes, the abolitionist movement and Frederick Douglass are worthy of study and consideration. This quick to read book gives a basic overview of the life of Frederick Douglass and perspectives on his life and work. A good read.
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October 27, 2019Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey
After reading this it seemed like I read an entire 300 page book on the life of Frederick Douglas. I've always wanted to know more about him and I'm glad I took the time with this book. I'm more inclined to dig a little more deeper thanks to Hourly History.
After reading this it seemed like I read an entire 300 page book on the life of Frederick Douglas. I've always wanted to know more about him and I'm glad I took the time with this book. I'm more inclined to dig a little more deeper thanks to Hourly History.
April 30, 2021
Great history lesson for equality
I really enjoyed this history lesson, I hope to go further into his life by reading his autobiographies! It is so inspiring to see one human’s tireless efforts to fight for decency of humanity. We all need to hear these lessons in present day circumstances.
I really enjoyed this history lesson, I hope to go further into his life by reading his autobiographies! It is so inspiring to see one human’s tireless efforts to fight for decency of humanity. We all need to hear these lessons in present day circumstances.
August 31, 2019
Advocate that education is the true liberater
Born into slavery, he taught himself to read and write, and from those humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the greatest orators and writers in American history.
Born into slavery, he taught himself to read and write, and from those humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the greatest orators and writers in American history.
February 10, 2021
Never gave up, hero?
This was as graphic as I want to go. I cannot imagine reading his 3 books. I'm amazed that with all that he witnessed, he was able to continue fighting for all people.
This was as graphic as I want to go. I cannot imagine reading his 3 books. I'm amazed that with all that he witnessed, he was able to continue fighting for all people.
April 17, 2021
Disconnected narrative
The author leaves the reader with a frustration of trying to weave together the events mentioned in scattered format. Has some interesting points, redundant at times.
The author leaves the reader with a frustration of trying to weave together the events mentioned in scattered format. Has some interesting points, redundant at times.
June 5, 2021
Worth the read. I am sure there are much better writings from Douglas but this was free on Audible. Written i think soon after his escape, it is interesting how careful he is not to reveal information the slaves could use.
August 7, 2017
A True American
This man is a National Hero he fought for every group who had no rights I wish he'd been President
This man is a National Hero he fought for every group who had no rights I wish he'd been President
February 26, 2018
WOW!!! Knew nothing about him. Was never taught about him in school so this was a massive eye opener. Truly awe-inspiring individual
April 18, 2018
On more horrid record of America's darkest period.
May 22, 2019
A great man and American legend. The content was overly repetitious, but it contained a decent sketch of his life and accomplishments.
April 30, 2020
An introduction to the life of Frederick Douglass. An interesting read.
February 18, 2022
Outstanding Black leader
I learned many things about Frederick Douglass by reading this short sketch of his life and times . I recommend this as a quick history read.
I learned many things about Frederick Douglass by reading this short sketch of his life and times . I recommend this as a quick history read.
July 25, 2022
Excellent, compact, exhaustive story with a good conclusion.
August 16, 2020
I recently read this book for class and was left truly unsatisfied. I believe that Frederick Douglass is way more exciting than this book lets on. I think that this is a book that is necessary but would definitely wait till the college or graduate level to introduce it. Its length is deceptive because although it is short the depth and weight of his work is very serious and needs to be handled as such. I also think that if it is introduced to early it could potentially be a turn off for kids going into history.
July 15, 2021
Frederick Douglass Never Giving Up
This is a good book for quick information. Would and could have better if author did not repeat some information or history, two or three times in the entire book. There would have been more space for more information on Frederick Douglass.
This is a good book for quick information. Would and could have better if author did not repeat some information or history, two or three times in the entire book. There would have been more space for more information on Frederick Douglass.
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April 28, 2017good
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