Frederick Douglass was one of the most important orators of the 19th century, and a well-regarded abolitionist leader. He is also well known for his autobiographies, which provide a detailed account of his childhood as a slave, his unofficial education, and his eventual escape from slavery. In this essay, Douglass' life and writing will be detailed, in terms of its importance to the overall canon of American literature and the emancipation movement at the time.
Growing up as a slave in Maryland, he was separated from his biological mother and endured many trials and tribulations. Learning how to read from the wife of ...
