Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass; with an Introduction by Debra Newman Ham and Tom Butler-Bowdon
Capstone/A Wiley Imprint (August 2021)
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglass
There are several dozen versions and editions of the material in this book but only one has an introduction co-authored by Deborah Newman Ham and Tom Butler-Bowdon. Theirs is a brilliant achievement. Here is one of their key points: ” Some slave narratives had been ghostwritten, so to prove his authenticity Douglass set out to write his Narrative entirely by his own hand. Published in Boston in 1845 by William Lloyd Garrison, its initial print run of 5,000 copies sold in four months, and further printings soon followed.” (Page xviii) They also point put that the Narrative “is the first of three autobiographical works, including My Bondage and My Freedom (1855) and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881. revised 1892).”
Readers will also deeply appreciate the inclusion of a “Preface” by William Lloyd Garrison, dated 1 May 1845, and a “Letter” from Wendell Phillips to Douglass, his “dear friend,” dated 22 April 1845.
I am deeply grateful for the timeline that follows, adapted from Thoughts for all Time: A Frederick Douglass Chronology; National Park Service, National Parks and Conservation Association, and Parks and History Association, 1996 and featured on the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site web page. It really was invaluable as I read Narrative of the Life for the first time.
o 1818: Frederick Douglass was born a slave, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, in Talbot County, Maryland.
o 1826-1838:Taught to read by his owner’s wife. Works in Baltimore as servant and laborer.
Changes his name to Frederick Douglass and escapes to freedom in the North. Marries Anna Murray, a free Baltimore woman.
o 1839: First hears abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips.
o 1841-1847: Speaks at an abolitionist meeting in Massachusetts and is employed as a
lecturer for the Anti-Slavery society.
o 1845: Publishes Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave; leaves for England and Scotland to escape slave hunters.
o 1846: English admirers purchase Douglass’ freedom and he returns to the US.
o 1847: Publishes the North Star, a weekly newspaper in Rochester, New York. Becomes an eloquent spokesman for emancipation and for the rights of women. Meets John Brown in Springfield, Massachusetts.
o 1848: Attends first Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York.
o 1851: Breaks with Garrison over issue of political action to end slavery, which Garrison opposes.
o 1853: Visits Harriet Beecher Stowe at her home.
o 1855: Publishes his second autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom. Helps
runaway slaves to find freedom via the Underground Railroad.
o 1858: John Brown stays at Douglass’ home in Rochester while planning to encourage a slave revolt.
o 1859: Douglass refuses to support Brown and his planned raid on Harper’s Ferry.
o 1861-1864: Works to aid the Union cause. Meets with President Lincoln to improve the treatment of African-American soldiers. Attends President Lincoln’s second
inauguration.
o 1865: Receives President Lincoln’s walking stick from Mrs. Lincoln.
o 1872-1881: Moves to Washington, DC, and purchases Cedar Hill, a fifteen acre estate, in
o 1878: Becomes federal marshal for the District of Columbia in 1877 and
recorder of deeds in 1881.
o 1884-1887: Marries Helen Pitts, a white woman from Rochester, New York. They travel to England, France, Italy, Egypt and Greece in 1886-87.
Note: On marrying Helen Pitts following his first wife Anna’s death after 40 years of marriage: “This proves I am impartial. My first wife was the color of my mother and the second, the color of my father.”
o 1889-1891: Appointed minister resident and consul general to the Republic of Haiti. Resigns and returns to Cedar Hill in 1891. Continues to speak for oppressed people and as a champion of human rights.
o 1895: Dies on February 20 at Cedar Hill after attending a women’s rights meeting at which he had been escorted onto the stage by Susan B. Anthony. Helen Pitts Douglass works to preserve the home in his memory.
The Appendix is of special interest to me because, in this final portion of his narrative, Douglass has much of value to say about a fundamental hypocrisy that seems more essential to our social fabric than ever before. Here is a brief excerpt:
“What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the [begin italics] slaveholding religion [end italics] of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for between the Christianity of this land and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference — so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked.”
If another monument were to be erected on Mount Rushmore, Frederick Douglass would be my first nominee. He had not one but several dreams of what his country could become. Those dreams are even more important now than they were then. If they are any closer to becoming a reality now, he deserves to share much of the credit.
This is one of twenty volumes in the Capstone Classics series. Each really is a “classic” in terms of both substance and (key point) and its editorial and production values. Tom Butler-Bowdon is the Series Editor and the superior quality of his work is comparable with the quality of those selected to provide material for the introductions. I remain hopeful that there will one day be a volume consisting of “Capstone Classic” Introductions. Just a thought…albeit a fervent wish.