Frederick Douglass Impact On Society

American orator and writer, Frederick Douglass was a key person during the 19th century abolitionist movement, and his ideologies and beliefs still live on till this day. He was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey February 1818 in Tuckahoe, Talbot County, Maryland. During his first six years of life, he lived with his grandparents Betsy and Issac Bailey and he had no connection with his mother or his father. Author Pamela Kester-Shelton wrote that Douglass, “ transcended the oppression of his childhood to become one of the most forward-thinking social reforms of his age” (Kester-Shelton). At a young age, Douglass was taught to read and write elementary vocabulary by his owner’s wife even though it was illegal. These small encouragements …show more content…
Although Frederick Douglass wrote several autobiographies during his lifetime, none continues to have the lasting literary impact of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself(Piano). The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, was published 7 years later after his escape from slavery and it vividly described his experiences being a slave and the relationship a slave and his owner had. In his autobiography, Douglass unveils how slaves were denied basic concepts such as their birth years to prevent them from having a least some knowledge. His narrative serves as a way to protest against slavery and it also shows how Frederick Douglass changed from a slave to a free man. The Liberator was another famous work from Douglass and it was a letter written to his former master. His letter used rhetoric to show “ the purchase of his freedom” and how “property could purchase itself”(Rowe). His letter showed how “ those excluded from the protection of the law could use the law to expose its contradictoriness”(Rowe). Later in life, Douglass would also have his own newspaper where he would try to preach his American ideals and where he would write on equal rights for slaves and women. In all of his writing, Douglass tried to provide a voice of hope for his people and he tried fight for equality. His …show more content…
As one source explains that, “ He used his oratory and writing skills throughout his life to communicate his desire to free African American slaves which led to the Emancipation Proclamation...”(University of Massachusetts History Club). Douglas was able to become the symbol of his age and he became the voice for social justice. Another source also points out how, “ His life and thought will always speak profoundly to the meaning of being black in America, as well as the human calling to resist oppression”( History.com Staff). You can also see how Douglass not only spoke to Americans, but also to the entire world. His tour England helped spread his ideologies and he was able to make an impact in the lives of all those people. Another way Frederick Douglass still continues to impact today’s society,is how he set up the stepping stone for future African Americans to take positions in government. Him becoming appointed as minister of Haiti and Marshal of the District of Columbia, go to show how African Americans are capable of taking great positions in the government. This can be proven now, for example how Barack Obama was able to become the first African American president of the United States. Frederick Douglass made a great impact during his time, but his beliefs and accomplishments are still affecting us now in today’s