Oration By Frederick Douglass

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A keynote address to the Ladies' Anti-slavery Sewing Society in Rochester, New York. The speech "is an indispensable document of Americana, and by far the most important speech delivered by an Afro-American relating to the Fourth of July celebration ... perhaps the greatest oration of Douglass's life" (Blockson). It was first published within Douglass's newspaper on July 9th and then printed and distributed in pamphlet form the following week.

Written to honour the life of the eponymous abolitionist and activist, ‘John Brown’ is the transcript of a speech delivered by Douglass in 1860. While some saw Brown as a radical and a criminal, Douglass saw his friend as a man prepared to sacrifice his life so that others might be free. Passionate and powerful, the speech not only extolls Brown’s virtues, but also highlights the political and social issues faced by African Americans at the time. ́John Brown ́ is an important read for anyone with an interest in social justice and injustice. Frederick Douglass (1818-1995) was an American abolitionist and author. Born into slavery in Maryland, he was of African, European, and Native American descent. He was separated from his mother at a young age and lived with his grandmother until he was moved to another plantation. Frederick was taught his alphabet by the wife of one of his owners, a knowledge he passed on to other slaves. In 1838, he successfully escaped slavery by jumping on a north-bound train. After less than 24 hours, he was in New York and free. The same year, he married the woman that had inspired his run for freedom and started working actively as a social reformer, orator, statesman, and women’s rights defender. He remains most known today for his 1845 autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave."

This collector's edition of What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? has been transcribed from Frederick Douglass' original speech documented in a pamphlet published in 1852. He delivered this speech on July 5, 1852, at the Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York, at the invitation of the ladies of the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society.

Douglass' Oration is a powerful tribute to Abraham Lincoln and the millions of African Americans who fought for their freedom during the Civil War. With stirring prose and a deep sense of conviction, Douglass honors the memory of Lincoln and calls on his fellow Americans to continue the work of achieving true racial equality. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.