Honoring the life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass, born into slavery in 1818, never knew the precise date he was born, but later chose Feb. 14, as his birthdate. We urge all Americans to consider the ideas, life and legacy of the great abolitionist, author and statesman. Douglass’ life is a testament to the horrors of America’s past, the importance of liberty and the value of freedom of thought.
While enslaved, Douglass secretly learned to read. “Knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom,” he later said. At the age of 20, Douglass successfully escaped to New York. From that point on, Douglass became a sharp and invaluable critic of the institution of slavery.
Early on, he agreed with abolitionist contemporaries, such as William Lloyd Garrison, that the United States Constitution was at its core a proslavery document and that the United States then was predicated on an evil foundation.
But Douglass ultimately came to the conclusion that the United States was in fact predicated on powerful, liberatory values that in his mind ultimately extended to all people.
“The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common,” he said in a speech delivered on July 5, 1852, reflecting on the July 4 holiday. But, Douglass argued, the blessings enjoyed by Americans ought to be.
“There is not a man beneath the canopy of heaven that does not know that slavery is wrong for him,” he argued.
With the principles in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in mind, Douglass defended the Constitution from criticisms that it upholds the institution of slavery, arguing that “interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a glorious liberty document.” In making this case, Douglass forced Americans to confront the grotesque discrepancy between the nation’s stated principles and the realities at hand, and thereby contributed greatly to helping America come closer to fulfilling its ideals.
From the abolition of slavery to fighting racial discrimination to advocating for the right of women to vote, Douglass always showed a commitment to individual liberty and a commitment to engaging with the ideas of those he disagreed with.
Frederick Douglass’ fight for freedom and justice must never be forgotten.