As a former slave and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass was an outspoken leader for African Americans. He wrote this text in response to the American Colonization Society, who believed that black Americans should emigrate back to Africa. Douglass staunchly opposed this notion, saying it was nonsense to displace eight million Americans to a country they didn’t know. He insisted that all Americans - black, white, mixed, or other - were entitled to equal citizenship in the country they were born in.

As the most famous name to join the lecture circuit renouncing slavery, Frederick Douglass abandons the image of the victim and encourages emancipation. A true supporter of self-development, Douglass preaches the importance of helping yourself before you can truly help others. In his mind, empathy and strength can only be gained once you fight your way from a slave to a man.

In this speech of 1848, the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass makes an eloquent call for self-reliance. He points out that prejudice becomes powerless in the presence of industry, sobriety, and honesty combined with intelligence and self-respect. "There is gold in the earth, but we must dig it", says Douglass in reference to character which is attainable, and each must attain it for himself.

In this article that appeared in the December 1866 issue of The Atlantic, Frederick Douglass states that no republic is safe that tolerates a privileged class or denies to any of its citizens equal rights and equal means to maintain them. The two main themes are Douglass’ criticism of President Jackson and his urgent call to extend voting rights to African Americans.

With this impassioned speech, abolitionist Frederick Douglass exposes the hypocritical racism of Christian churches. He shares examples of racism he’s seen or experienced in spiritual contexts, the worst being white slaveholders who used the Bible to justify slavery. As a former slave himself, Douglass had personal experience with southern preachers telling slaves that God wanted them to obey their masters. This powerful speech serves as both a historical record and a warning for modern listeners to be wary of those today who would use spirituality to manipulate others.