Becoming Frederick Douglass

CHRISTOPHER BONNER

After returning from the UK, Douglass became increasingly sure about his capacity to sort of act as an independent political figure. But he also was developing into a person who was more comfortable with his own political ideas.

KEN MORRIS

You know, at first, Frederick was Garrison's protg, and so Garrison said to Frederick, "You just tell your story and, and leave the thinking to us." (somber music)

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

"Tell your story Frederick," would whisper my revered friend Mr. Garrison, as I stepped upon the platform. I could not always follow the injunction. It did not entirely satisfy me to narrate wrongs. I felt like denouncing them." (somber music)

NICK BROMELL

White abolitionists think there is only one point of view. But Douglass wants a role that's much wider than this, a scripted role of someone who simply opposed to slavery, Douglass is someone who is now prepared to contest a...a more widespread system of injustices. And this was one of the reasons why he wanted to start The North Star, his newspaper.

MARCIA CHATELAIN

For Frederick Douglass, starting the North Star was critical to create a Black voice of abolition. There were other abolitionist newspapers, but very few spoke to the question of the end of slavery from the perspective of Black people.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Right it of no sex, truth is of no color, God is the father of us all and all we are brethren.

DERRICK SPIRES

Editors rule the day. The editors of the newspaper really shaped who saw what, where and when. And so, to have a newspaper was to be the shaper of public opinion. Founding the newspaper is sort of like Douglass's declaration of intellectual and activist independence.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

The North Star was published weekly, and averaged circulation of 3000 subscribers. I had an audience to speak to every week.

KEITH LEONARD

Douglass had this capacity to be a great editor, to be a great political leader, but his vision was different from Garrison's, and Garrison couldn't roll with that. William Lloyd Garrison was not only disagreeing with the political strategy but also objecting or felt kind of offended that Douglass was splitting from him. He even recommended that his followers not read Douglass's newspaper.

DERRICK

Douglass says, "I am no longer going to be dependent on your infrastructure to give me voice, I'm going to take my own voice." And that's the point where Douglass is in a seat of power. And so, when you read something like, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July" you get a sense that Douglass saw words as battleaxes. (Upbeat marching flute music)

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

What, to the American slave, is your fourth of July? I answer a day that reveals to him more than all of the days in the year the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham, your boasted liberty and unholy license, your national greatness, swelling vanity, your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless, your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence, your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery, your prayers, and hymns, your sermons, and thanksgivings with all your religious parade and solemnity are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety and hypocrisy. A thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States at this very hour.