Douglass, Frederick
1818-1895 · Contribution: 1845-1895
Literature & Writing
Autobiography, oratory, and abolitionist journalism; wrote three autobiographies — most famously 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave' (1845), plus 'My Bondage and My Freedom' (1855) and 'Life and Times of Frederick Douglass' (1881) — and founded/edited the abolitionist newspaper 'The North Star'

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Quick facts
- Born
- 1818-1895
- Category
- Literature & Writing
Impact on the world
Douglass turned his own life story into one of the most powerful weapons against slavery, proving the humanity and genius the institution sought to deny.
Sources
- Britannica
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