Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

“Throughout his life, especially in early adulthood, Douglass displayed a remarkable, hustler’s ability to learn—to take and refashion useful knowledge to his own ends—from those around him.”

Despite his dexterity with words, Douglass doesn’t live by the pen alone. He is a survivor and will use whatever tools he finds at his disposal. This may explain his attraction to words in the first place, as they are the tools that will lead to his freedom. 

“He found ways to convert the scars Covey left on his body into words that might change the world. His travail under Covey’s yoke became Douglass’s crucifixion and resurrection.”

This quote reinforces the previous quote. While Douglass uses the positive experiences that come his way to further his ends, he is even more adept at transforming negative experiences into something useful. He will use this same maneuver repeatedly in the future to exploit racist attacks to gain public sympathy for his cause.

“He was the ornament, the object, a former piece of property who could speak and write, who could match wits and logic with even his most determined critics.”

While much has been made of Douglass’s abilities as a wordsmith, observers fail to recognize the value of his physicality. He is a living, breathing embodiment of the slave system. As such, he contradicts all manner of White supremacist stereotypes by being attractive and articulate.