On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass stood before an abolitionist group and gave one of his most famous speeches: "What To The Slave Is The Fourth of July?" That speech confronted the hypocrisy of an Independence Day in a country that still endorsed the bondage and forced labor of more than 1 in 8 of its residents. In July 2020, @npr asked five Douglass descendants to read and respond to excerpts of that speech. They reflected on America's ongoing pursuit of liberty and justice for all. This proj

From Slave to Presidential Advisor in 25 Years In 1838, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery dressed as a sailor with borrowed identity papers. Within 25 years, he was advising President Lincoln in the White House. Born Frederick Bailey with no recorded birthdate (enslaved people weren't given that courtesy), Douglass taught himself to read despite his master forbidding it. Three years after escape, he became a powerful orator. His 1845 autobiography sold 5,000 copies in four months—so successful

How Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and shook A

Frederick Douglass escape from slavery, beginning his journey to freedom and becoming a powerful voice for civil rights. #history #blackhistorymonth #educational #historicalfacts | Master Kim