There have been many important journalists throughout history, but one that particularly stands out is Frederick Douglass, a champion in the fight for freedom and equality for African Americans. Douglass’ powerful writing and critical journalism was written out of experience; Douglass himself had once been a slave.
Douglass was born enslaved to a wealthy landowner and slaveholder named Edward Lloyd V. Over the early years of his life, he went through great hardship: he never even met his father, his mother died when he was only eight, and he had been moved to different plantations over the years. There were a few bright spots in his childhood, such as when a woman on one of the plantations briefly taught him to read. When he was only 16, he took action and started a sabbath school where he in turn taught enslaved blacks to read and write. Still, Douglass desired true freedom, and began to plot his escape from slavery.
In September of 1838, Douglass finally escaped from slavery with the help of a free black woman he met named Anna Murray. With her help, Douglass disguised himself as a sailor and took trains and boats to multiple cities before finally ending up in New York City, where he and Anna stayed only briefly in order to have their marriage. Quickly after the marriage, they went to the much safer New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was in New Bedford that Douglass dedicated himself to the Abolitionist movement. He was part of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society as well as the American Anti-Slavery Society.
Douglass published an autobiography in 1845 titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. The work was largely successful, though maybe too successful. The wide success of the work caught the attention of Hugh Auld, one of Douglass’ former owners, who threatened to recapture him. Douglass fled to Europe, where he had many speaking tours. After having his freedom bought by English supporters, he returned to the United States as a free man in 1847, moving to Rochester and pursuing a new goal: his own newspaper, written specifically for black citizens. Thus the North Star was born.
The paper was funded by Douglass’ earnings from his speaking tour in Europe. The first issue was published on December 3rd, 1847. Douglass intended for the paper to focus on antislavery efforts and be written for African Americans, by African Americans. Many of the antislavery papers of the time were written by and offered opinions from white Americans, while Douglass emphasized the importance of giving a platform and voice to those that often weren’t given one.
Douglass not only focused on the rights of African Americans, but women as well. He cofounded the Equal Rights Association in 1866 with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, two critical members of the women’s suffrage movement. The organization was founded to help fight for universal suffrage. Douglass also attended the Seneca Falls Convention, a massive statement as it was attended by only a few men. Douglass was a champion for the rights of all persons lacking freedom.
Douglass’ long life of fighting for justice came to an end in 1895 due to an unexpected heart attack. He is an role model for any people working to fight injustice, and his incredible story of escaping slavery as well as his dedication to equality will be an inspiration for many years to come.
Sources
https://www.nps.gov/wori/learn/historyculture/frederick-douglass.htm
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-Douglass
