The Soul of America, Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman from the United States. He became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York after escaping from slavery in Maryland, taking note of his oratory and incisive anti-slavery writings. Frederick Douglass accomplished many things in the fight for freedom of rights of all his fellow African-Americans and occasionally women rights. He inspires us to fight and win for the battle for our better angels in a way that he explains that we are all equal and we can all contribute to the betterment of America. Frederick Douglass inspires us with his approach to abolish slavery and his exclusive writings that changed the world for African-Americans. He was against racism and slavery, which made him an important figure in American history.
Douglass’s thoughts and behavior is worth emulating in our time period because he was such an intelligent person with great motives. Frederick Douglass provided hope for many people striving to be free from slavery; he was an inspiration to the fellow African-American people. There are six major American core values that Frederick Douglass addressed, which is liberty, self-government, equality, individualism, diversity, and unity. He states that America stands for these core values. He addresses these values mostly considering equality, diversity, and unity in the case of slavery. In one of his quotes he states that, “… where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” He addressed this quote in Washington, D.C. for the 24th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1886. Douglass believed that the American people will learn from one of his famous quotes.

Frederick Douglass helps us find and save the soul of America by keeping America focus on what matters and what will help America grow as a whole. Frederick Douglass should be resuscitated because a lot of places in America are still facing racism and discrimination till this day. With Frederick Douglass guidance, he would be able to lead this to an end and inspire everyone with his knowledge. Frederick Douglass was mainly a civil rights activist and his major goal was to abolish slavery without any violence involved and give blacks the right to citizenship in the U.S. Douglass says, “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” This quote explains the lack of freedom for African-American people. Frederick Douglass wisdom has taught me his vision of free society that would value all of its members, equal protection under the law, and work toward conditions that would help all people flourish.

Douglass quote says, “Fugitive slaves were rare then, and as a fugitive slave lecturer, I had the advantage of being the first one out. Frederick Douglass was one of the few slaves to escape slavery successfully with no harm been done to him. If Frederick Douglass was still around today, what he will have to say about contemporary America will be things have to change because they cannot remain the same or in previous time periods. Technology and advancements have to take place to make the world a better place. Frederick Douglass is relevant to us today because he is one of the reason why the North won the Civil war and slavery is abolished. Douglass advised Lincoln on the employment of black soldiers. He believed black soldiers serving in the Union forces will abolish slavery and be a goal of the war. During the Civil war, Frederick Douglass was a consultant to President Abraham Lincoln. Allowing black soldiers to participate in the war brought up the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which afterwards brought them to win the Civil war for the northern states. Some dreams and problems America should overcome will be the way minorities, racism, and war is treated and handled.

The soul of America undertakes to trace the development of spiritual values of the country. We can win the battle for our better angels by proving what we deserve as humans or citizens, also we can contribute to society to show our interest. Frederick Douglass is very similar to Harriet Tubman because they both fought for freedom and their life story is quite the same for the individuals. Frederick Douglass will always be an important figure in American history till this day.