Personal Statement: My name is Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey and I was born in Talbot County, Maryland. My birthdate is presumed to be in February 1818 to mother Harriet Bailey and father, who I have never met, who is white. I was born into slavery, so education was never a choice offered. However, in 1826 I was sent to serve as a houseboy to Hugh and Sophia Auld, but soon switched to Thomas and Lucia Auld in Baltimore. Lucia being the daughter of my first master. It was here where with the help of Lucia I learned to read and write over the years. In 1838, I escaped slavery with Anna Murray, a free African woman who I would later marry, and fled to New Bedford, Massachusetts. I quickly changed my name to Frederick Douglass to avoid slave hunters. Little did I know, I would soon become one of the most famous by African Americans of the 19th century. After reading Liberator by WIlliam Lloyd Garrison, i became inspired to become an abolitionist. At an abolitionist gather in Massachusetts, I was unexpectedly called on to speak, and after offered a job to work for Garrison. Not long after, I published my first of three autobiographies. I then spent months touring and speaking for abolition, temperance and women's rights. I attended the Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls New York. Eventually, I was working with Lincoln during the civil war and encouraging black’s fighting for Union in the war. I died on February 20th, 1895. I would be most notable for my great work for Abolition, Civil war leader and social norm changer.
Issues: Being raised a slave and having to escape, it motivated me to fight for abolition. I also fought for women’s rights. I strongly believe that all people were created equal and should be treated equal. My motivation comes from direct personal experience, nobody deserves to be treated like a slave.
Solutions: I believe that political reform is the answer here. While individual change is the start, nothing drastic will occur if only certain people choose to change. Something larger needs to take place. I have been successfull, with the passing of the 13, 14 and 15th amendments. This however is only just a start, being that I was criticized for marrying a white woman when i remarried, because they said I lacked race spirit.
Relationships with others:
I would feel comfortable sitting next to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, David Walker and Horace Greeley. I would feel uncomfortable sitting next to Clay
I would feel comfortable sitting with you, Frederick, because we both fought for the abolitionist and women suffrage movements. This reminds me of when you visited my father, Daniel, to discuss abolitionist matters. You know your conversations in our Rochester home sparked my interest in the abolitionist cause? You and I had almost always agreed and fought for the same causes. However, when you accepted the 15th amendment only giving black men the right to vote, that did hurt our relationship. However, our times at women suffrage conventions will never be forgotten.
ReplyDelete-Susan B. Anthony
I would feel comfortable sitting next to you Frederick because I too support the abolitionist cause. As a mormon, I'm a firm believer in equality and although we're from different parts of the country, I feel like we would have very interesting conversations about the current state of the "peculiar institution" in America.
ReplyDelete-Joseph Smith, Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
I would feel very comfortable sitting with you simply because we have the same beliefs on many topics. We both fought for women's rights and well you attended my Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York. We also share the idea of the abolition of slavery.
ReplyDeleteHello Fredrick Douglass,
ReplyDeleteI would be glad to your company at the dinner. I would want to discuss some abolitionist matters with you. I'm sure we would get along just well at the dinner.
- David Walker