Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was an American slave, abolitionist, and writer in the 1800’s. He was a firm believer in the equality of all people no matter what race, gender, or ethnicity they were. Douglass escaped from slavery in 1838 and became a preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Many African Americans believed that black churches provided the participants with leadership opportunities and a place where they would not be discriminated against, since these things where not available in white churches. Although Douglass was a preacher at a black church, he still thought that these churches were also responsible for maintaining segregation. He also believed that because of this, they were upholding the ideas of whites that there should be racial inequality.

Frederick Douglass wrote an autobiography called Narrative of the Life of an American Slave. In this book, he claimed that Christianity was hypocritical and that the churches provided slave owners support to continue the cruelty of slavery. He still had a deep love for Christ; however, he did not agree that Christianity in America was correct for promoting and allowing slavery, which made them hypocrites.  During this time, Christians were using the bible to defend their practice of slavery.

These events led to the Civil War, which aimed to end slavery in America. Because of this, Douglass thought that African Americans should be able to participate in the fight for their freedom. He also pushed the argument of suffrage for African Americans. The 15^th amendment allowed all citizens the right to vote without being discriminated against because of their race, but this did not include giving women the right to vote. He was a participant in the women’s rights movement, but his support for this amendment may have caused some separation from that movement. Frederick Douglass was a very influential man that is important to the history of America and how people can now gather and live together regardless of race and free from discrimination.