What Frederick Douglass thinks about America
American abolitionist and writer (about 1817 to 1895); born into slavery, escaped in 1838 and became a principal leader and spokesperson of the abolition movement; author of three autobiographies.
Frederick Douglass did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
2 dated positions, 1852, in their own words. Our reading of what Frederick Douglass has said — not written or endorsed by them.
The line under a date shows how recently it was said: empty within a month, full after three years.
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Their wordsWhether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.
↗My Bondage and My Freedom (1855)gutenberg.org 2nd of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsThere is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.
↗My Bondage and My Freedom (1855)gutenberg.org 8th of 8 in this piece
The line under a date fills as the words age, a quarter at a time: past a month, six months, a year, and three years. Empty means said within the last month; full, more than three years ago. It says when, not whether it still holds — a change of mind is marked on the claim itself.
Dashed means we only know the words existed by that date; they may be older.