Frederick Douglass

Born February 1818, Talbot county, Maryland, U.S.—died February 20, 1895

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery. At the age of 8 he was sent to work for a family in Baltimore where he taught himself to read, understanding the connection between literacy and freedom. He eventually escaped to Massachusetts, where he joined the abolitionist movement and published his story in the Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass.

His accomplishments were a direct contradiction to the racist ideology of the time; he was a world renowned orator, author and public figure. He was an influential figure throughout the Civil War, advocating for an all Black regiment and meeting with Abraham Lincoln to advocate for equal treatment and the abolition of slavery. His actions and intelligence continue to inspire today.