Frederick Douglass

br Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey , February 1818 - February 20 , 1895 ) was an American abolitionist , editor , author salesman , and reformer . Douglass is one of the most prominent figures in African American history and a formidable public presence . He was a firm believer in equality of all people whether they were black , women native Americans or immigrants . He was fond of saying "I would unite with anybody to do right and nobody to do wrong " Frederick was born a slave in Maryland . He was only with his mother for a couple of

weeks , he was raised by his grandparents . His mother , Harriot Bailey , died when he was only seven years old . The identity of his father is obscure . It was said that his father was a white man , perhaps his owner . He later said he knew nothing about his father . At the age of six his grandmother took him to the plantation and left him there . At the age of eight he was sent to Baltimore to live with his owners brother Hugh Auld . It was shortly after he arrived that Mrs Auld started to teach him the alphabet and how to read . Her husband thought it was wrong saying that he would become dissatisfied with his life and have a desire for freedom . Hugh forbid his wife to continue so Douglass took it upon himself to learn The white kids in the neighborhood helped him learn and in return Douglass would give away his food . At the age of twelve he purchased a book called The Columbian Orator . It helped him to gain a different look and understanding on the power of the written and spoken words Frederick returned to the eastern shore at the age of fifteen he became a field hand . During this time he had an encounter with the "slave breaker " Edward Covey . Covey restored his sense of self-worth after the fights . At the age of eighteen he was sent back to live with the Auld family . In September 1838 he succeeded in escaping from slavery by impersonating a sailor . he then moved to New Bedford , Massachusetts where he and his newly married wife Anna Murray begin to raise a family When he had a chance , he went to abolitionist meetings . In October 1841 after one of the meetings he became a lecturer . He became partners with William Lloyd Garrison . This work led him to public speaking and writing . He also participated in the very first woman 's right conventions . He also wrote three autobiographies starting with Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass followed by My Bondage and my Freedom in 1855 and ending with Life and Times of Frederick Douglass which he wrote after the civil war in 1892 . When he returned to the United States he published his own news "The North Star . Douglass was recognized all over the world as an romising abolitionist indefatigable worker for equal opportunity and justice . Douglass fought for equality for his people . He was also recognized for...