Get ready to embark on a journey through time with the man who defied the shackles of ignorance and prejudice – Frederick Douglass! Like a literary locomotive, his life roared down the tracks of history, leaving an indelible mark on civil rights and human dignity. In this article, we’re unwrapping 20 eye-opening facts about the unflinching orator, writer, and abolitionist who proved that words could be mightier than any sword. So, buckle up as we ride the rails of knowledge and explore the captivating world of Frederick Douglass!
1-5 Amazing Facts About Frederick Douglass
1. He picked the surname Douglass after Sir Walter Scott’s classic poem Lady of the Lake’s hero clan.
2. Back in his youth in Baltimore, Douglass had an ally in his quest for knowledge: the mistress of his new home. She taught him the alphabet until her husband shut it down. But guess what? Our determined hero didn’t give up. He traded bread for lessons from local kids, forming his own underground academy.
3. His master didn’t want his slaves learning to read, fearing it would spark the flame of freedom within them.
4. When he was 16, he fought back against his brutal master. Edward Covey, a man who had a reputation as a “slave-breaker,” whipped Douglas regularly and almost broke him until one day, Douglass fought and came out victorious. Covey never tried to beat him again.
5. Several unsuccessful escape attempts followed until a free Black woman named Anne Murray changed his fate. With her support, he made it to freedom, cleverly disguising himself as a sailor. He was just 20.
6-10 Interesting Facts About Frederick Douglass
6. Douglass chose February 14th as his birthday after gaining freedom.
7. He soon married Anne Murray. Together, they adopted the Douglass name and raised five children in Massachusetts.
8. Despite the danger, Douglass spoke out passionately against slavery, even journeying to Ireland and England to avoid capture. His goal: to enlighten fellow slaves. He taught them to read, sometimes in groups of up to 40, which irked slave owners and led to confrontations with angry mobs.
9. Remarkably, Douglass authored three autobiographies.
10. He holds the record for being the most photographed American in the 19th century.
11-15 Surprising Facts About Frederick Douglass
11. Ever seen those old photos of him? Notice how he never cracked a smile? Turns out, he deliberately posed that way, all to shatter the myth of the “happy slave.
12. He was a Republican, and once stated “I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool Republican, and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress.”
13. When tasked with delivering a speech on Independence Day on July 4th, 1852, Frederick Douglass expressed his anger towards the lack of independence for slaves. He boldly declared that the Fourth of July was not a cause for celebration for him, stating “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
14. Black History Month (BHM) is celebrated in February because it coincides with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, both of whom made significant contributions to African American rights.
15. He was a staunch supporter of women’s rights.
16-20 Shocking Facts About Frederick Douglass
16. He served under five US Presidents, lending his expertise and insights to their administrations.
17. He received a vote for President of the United States in a major party’s roll call vote, becoming the first Black man to receive such a vote.
18. He was nominated for Vice President without his consent and never acknowledged the nomination.
19. During the Civil War, Douglass advocated for equal treatment and pay for black soldiers. Both of Douglass’s sons served in the Army, and he actively recruited other African Americans to fight alongside them. He even met with President Lincoln to discuss these issues.
20. After the war, Douglass continued to fight for the abolition of slavery and played a role in advocating for the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which granted freedom, citizenship, and voting rights to formerly enslaved individuals.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading about 20 Facts About Frederick Douglass.
In case you’re interested in reading other articles:
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