Frederick Douglass

As we continue Black History Month we recognize one of the true heroes of our country and a champion for equality- Frederick Douglass. Douglass's story is a remarkable one. A slave who taught himself to read and write, Douglass's first radical step towards freedom was to teach other slave children how to read and study the New Testament. After escaping his enslavement in the south, Douglass made it North where he was free to get an education and work on making all African-Americans free through his writings, politics, and teachings.

In his life Douglass became a true civil rights champion and the first major black abolitionist in the country. He was a staunch ally and friend to President Lincoln- so much so when Lincoln was killed his wife gave Douglass Lincoln's famous walking stick and it still survives today at his homeplace in Washington DC.

To learn more about Frederick Douglass visit the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglas
http://www.library.rochester.edu/in...x.cfm?PAGE=2494
http://www.history.rochester.edu/cl...glass/home.html