ShmoopTube

00:03

A good story is one you don't want to put down, and a great story, [person reading in library]

00:07

or a book that's been resting in a puddle of rubber cement, is when you [book stuck to boy]

00:11

can't put down. Well, the story of Frederick Douglass is a great story. [story of Frederick Douglass book]

00:16

Douglass was born in 1818 in Maryland to a black mother and a white father. While [Douglass' parents pictured]

00:20

his childhood was somewhat difficult because of his mixed heritage, he did [Douglass learning to read]

00:24

learn to read, and he got to hear a lot about abolition. But then, Douglas was

00:28

hired out to work on a farm owned by a man named Edward Covey, also known as... [Douglass goes to farm]

00:32

what's his name? Oh yes, Satan. Well, that was his name among locals, anyway. Douglass was [picture of whipped man]

00:38

whipped every day on Covey's farm. He was frequently starved. Well, in 1836, Douglass [Douglass' escape plan discovered]

00:44

determined to escape to freedom ASAP. Well, unfortunately, his dreams were

00:49

discovered and his hopes dashed. It wasn't until 1838 the Douglass got his

00:53

chance to make a real run for it. He left the Baltimore shipyard where he was

00:56

working for New York City. Eventually, he settled in Massachusetts. Douglass was a [Douglass goes to MA]

01:01

tireless reader, plowing through all of the Harry Potter books in record time.

01:05

He was also a fan of a little newspaper called the Liberator. In 1841, [The Liberator pictured]

01:10

Douglass attended a meeting where the Liberator's publisher, William Lloyd

01:14

Garrison, gave a speech. Well, Douglass was impressed with Garrison. Garrison was [Douglass sees Garrison]

01:19

impressed with Douglass. Much mutual back-slapping followed. Ouch. A few days later,

01:24

Douglass gave a speech at an important gathering of abolitionists. He was such

01:28

an impressive speaker that he was asked to work as a lecturer for the next three [Douglass speaks]

01:32

years. Well, in reality, he was signing up to speak for the rest of his life. In

01:35

1845, Douglass published his autobiography. While his Narrative of the Life of

01:41

Frederick Douglass is one of the most influential slave narratives, it wasn't [book published]

01:45

the first. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many slave

01:48

narratives were published as a way to start conversations about slavery and [slave narratives start conversations]

01:52

freedom between blacks and whites. We bet those weren't awkward at all. Well, the

01:57

most powerful slave narratives, like the one written by Douglass, not only

02:00

disclosed the realities of slavery to white readers, but also showed that black

02:04

people were human beings who deserved full human rights. Gee, imagine that. [woman reads]

02:09

Douglass would work as a writer and orator up until his death in 1895. [Douglass' grave]

02:13

He also took up the crusade for women's rights and was the first

02:17

African American to be nominated for the vice presidency in 1872, so like, how cool [Women's rights demonstration]

02:23

is that? It's no stretch to say that Douglass was one of the most influential

02:26

African Americans of the 19th century. Yeah... how about them apples, Edward Covey? [Douglass in clouds]

Full Transcript