From MD, white unknown father, only saw his mother few times - allowed to play with owners son - at age of eight sent to Baltimore to live with relatives of owner - well treated, fed, learned to read, illegal, wife told to stop, he kept learning on his own, got a book the Columbian Orator, studied speaking, became converted to Christianity
At 15 sent back to MD - old owner died- handed over to other family member; new master and wife cruel, once again hungry, had to steal food - justified by his bondage
Resisted - forgot things, refused to call him master, started a school for slaves
Sent him to Covey, an infamous "slave breaker" brutally whipped, bled for weeks, scarred for life, decided he would be free or die
Fought back against Covey and won - never touched him again - kept secret to protect his reputation
Sent back and hired out to neighbor - treated okay - started another school and conspired to escape - one of the conspirators snitched on them - taken to jail - others "sold down to GA" his owner couldn't do it (family connection?)
 
Sent him back to Baltimore if he learned a trade he would be set free at age of 25.
Worked in shipyard - gave $3 of his $9 per week to his master; caulker, competition from Irish workers, some refused to work with Blacks fell in love with a free black woman Anna Murray, lived alone
One time late with payment (at all night revival) master very angry made him move home - resolved to escape - used papers borrowed from free black in the Navy
Train stopped - supposed to have free papers - said his were the Eagle on the Navy papers - got to NY, then MA, fell in with Garrison
Eventually started his own abolition newspaper - the North Star - Garrison discouraged him
Became quite famous - confidante of presidents, Lincoln
Trip to England - first time felt free - met Queen, Danish royalty association with suffrage movement - believed in it Civil War and Reconstruction 13th, 14th, 15th As
Forced to live in exile England for two years after publication of Narrative of the Life of a Slave
Central figure in the Republican Party
Head of the Freedmen's Bureau: schools, courts, work contracts, sold land taken from southerners to freed slaves (sharecropping!!)
Used the bureau to punish south for war end of war to 1878
 

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, 1852

I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.  To him your celebration is a sham.

Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak today?

This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.

I am not included with the pale of this glorious anniversary.  Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.  The blessings in which you this day rejoice are not enjoyed in common.

Could this be said today?  Who is excluded from “high independence” in the US today?

…For revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without rival.

How does Douglas develop his argument that the US is the most hypocritical nation on Earth?
 

How does Douglas answer those who claim slaves were not human?