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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

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Title: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Author: Frederick Douglass

 
Release date: January 12, 2006 [eBook #23]
 Most recently updated: July 17, 2025

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23

Credits: An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE ***

Narrative
of the
Life
of
FREDERICK DOUGLASS

AN
AMERICAN SLAVE.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

BOSTON

 PUBLISHED AT THE ANTI-SLAVERY OFFICE,
 NO. 25 CORNHILL
 1845

ENTERED, ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS,
 IN THE YEAR 1845
 BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS,
 IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT
OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Note from the original file: This electronic book is being released at
this time to honor the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. [Born January
15, 1929] [Officially celebrated January 20, 1992]

Contents

 PREFACE 
 LETTER FROM WENDELL PHILLIPS, ESQ. 
 FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 
 CHAPTER I 
 CHAPTER II 
 CHAPTER III 
 CHAPTER IV 
 CHAPTER V 
 CHAPTER VI 
 CHAPTER VII 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 CHAPTER IX 
 CHAPTER X 
 CHAPTER XI 
 APPENDIX 
 A PARODY 

 PREFACE

In the month of August, 1841, I attended an anti-slavery convention in
Nantucket, at which it was my happiness to become acquainted with
_Frederick Douglass_, the writer of the following Narrative. He was a
stranger to nearly every member of that body; but, having recently made
his escape from the southern prison-house of bondage, and feeling his
curiosity excited to ascertain the principles and measures of the
abolitionists,-of whom he had heard a somewhat vague description while
he was a slave,-he was induced to give his attendance, on the occasion
alluded to, though at that time a resident in New Bedford.

Fortunate, most fortunate occurrence!-fortunate for the millions of his
manacled brethren, yet panting for deliverance from their awful
thraldom!-fortunate for the cause of negro emancipation, and of
universal liberty!-fortunate for the land of his birth, which he has
already done so much to save and bless!-fortunate for a large circle of
friends and acquaintances, whose sympathy and affection he has strongly
secured by the many sufferings he has endured, by his virtuous traits
of character, by his ever-abiding remembrance of those who are in
bonds, as being bound with them!-fortunate for the multitudes, in
various parts of our republic, whose minds he has enlightened on the
subject of slavery, and who have been melted to tears by his pathos, or
roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the
enslavers of men!-fortunate for himself, as it at once brought him into
the field of public usefulness, "gave the world assurance of a MAN,"
quickened the slumbering energies of his soul, and consecrated him to
the great work of breaking the rod of the oppressor, and letting the
oppressed go free!

I shall never forget his first speech at the convention-the
extraordinary emotion it excited in my own mind-the powerful impression
it created upon a crowded auditory, completely taken by surprise-the
applause which followed from the beginning to the end of his felicitous
remarks. I think I never hated slavery so intensely as at that moment;
certainly, my perception of the enormous outrage which is inflicted by
it, on the godlike nature of its victims, was rendered far more clear
than ever. There stood one, in physical proportion and stature
commanding and exact-in intellect richly endowed-in natural eloquence a
prodigy-in soul manifestly "created but a little lower than the
angels"-yet a slave, ay, a fugitive slave,-trembling for his safety,
hardly daring to believe that on the American soil, a single white
person could be found who would befriend him at all hazards, for the
love of God and humanity! Capable of high attainments as an
intellectual and moral being-needing nothing but a comparatively small
amount of cultivation to make him an ornament to society and a blessing
to his race-by the law of the land, by the voice of the people, by the
terms of the slave code, he was only a piece of property, a beast of
burden, a chattel personal, nevertheless!

A beloved friend from New Bedford prevailed on Mr. DOUGLASS to address
the convention. He came forward to the platform with a hesitancy and
embarrassment, necessarily the attendants of a sensitive mind in such a
novel position. After apologizing for his ignorance, and reminding the
audience that slavery was a poor school for the human intellect and
heart, he proceeded to narrate some of the facts in his own history as
a slave, and in the course of his speech gave utterance to many noble
thoughts and thrilling reflections. As soon as he had taken his seat,
filled with hope and admiration, I rose, and declared that PATRICK
HENRY, of revolutionary fame, never made a speech more eloquent in the
cause of liberty, than the one we had just listened to from the lips of
that hunted fugitive. So I believed at that time-such is my belief now.
I reminded the audience of the peril which surrounded this
self-emancipated young man at the North,-even in Massachusetts, on the
soil of the Pilgrim Fathers, among the descendants of revolutionary
sires; and I appealed to them, whether they would ever allow him to be
carried back into slavery,-law or no law, constitution or no
constitution. The response was unanimous and in thunder-tones-"NO!"
"Will you succor and protect him as a brother-man-a resident of the old
Bay State?" "YES!" shouted the whole mass, with an energy so startling,
that the ruthless tyrants south of Mason and Dixon's line might almost
have heard the mighty burst of feeling, and recognized it as the pledge
of an invincible determination, on the part of those who gave it, never
to betray him that wanders, but to hide the outcast, and firmly to
abide the consequences.

It was at once deeply impressed upon my mind, that, if Mr. DOUGLASS
could be persuaded to consecrate his time and talents to the promotion
of the anti-slavery enterprise, a powerful impetus would be given to
it, and a stunning blow at the same time inflicted on northern
prejudice against a colored complexion. I therefore endeavored to
instil hope and courage into his mind, in order that he might dare to
engage in a vocation so anomalous and responsible for a person in his
situation; and I was seconded in this effort by warm-hearted friends,
especially by the late General

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