Freedom Fighter that was Frederick Douglass

"Without struggle, there is no progress." This is coming from a man who has indeed stared at the face of adversity and conquered it for himself and for others.

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey or more popularly known as Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland. As a slave, who was probably half white, his family history and even his birth date are shrouded in obscurity. According to historians he was most likely born on February 17, 1818. His mother was Harriet Bailey. His father however was unknown to him and may have been a white man, perhaps even his first master.

As a slave, Douglass could not expect to stay permanently at one place. After two masters, he was sen to Baltimore even before he entered adolescence to serve the household of Hugh Auld. It was there that Douglass came to first taste the wonders of education and learning as Sofia, Auld's wife took him briefly under her wing and taught him the alphabet. Douglass persevered and by observing the writings of other whites he gradually learned how to read. Although his master generally disapproved of his desire to learn, he was not heavily maltreated at Baltimore and his life there was realtively comfortable.

It was his time with another master, Edward Covey that his eyes were opened wide to the real cruelty of slavery as he was whipped and physically battered at a regular basis. What would define him at this point in his life was his decision to rebel against his opressor. He was successful at staving off the constant beatings, but Douglass was no longer content and aspired for something more - freedom.

In September of 1838 in less than two days, Douglass was able to escape from bondage, leaving Baltimore and eventually settling in Massachusetts. It was there that he lived with his wife, Anna Murray, a free black woman. It was also only after his escape that he came to be known as Frederick Douglass.

In his new home town, Douglass became involved with the Abolitionists and became a regular attendee of their meetings. He soon became acquainted with a white abolitionist by the name of William Lloyd Garrison and his journal the Liberator. In many ways, Garrison became Douglass' model and at first, Douglass adopted many of Garrison's views.

It was at this point that Douglass became known for his eloquence as an orator and for his untiring dedication as a reformer and abolitionist. Douglass spearheaded such publications as Frederick Douglass Weekly, Frederick Douglass Paper and New National Era, all of which espoused equality for all. In 1845, Douglass published his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written By Himself.

Later, Douglass separated from Garrison's radicalism. Although he was still a fervent abolitionist, he supported less severe and critical views regarding the constitution and the Union. He came to believe for example that the constitution could actually be understood to be in support of eventual emancipation.

Until his death in 1895, Douglass remained an influential voice in the African American struggle.