19 Comments

Frederick Douglas was a wise man but would he think that the evil thing, slavery, should now, nearly 160 years after it was abolished, continue to be a platform for reparations? Would he expect that the nation would, by now, accept blacks and whites together as equals and without continued animosity or forced preferences?

I think that he would be greatly disappointed at the progress we have made. Thank you Tara.

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"I think that he would be greatly disappointed at the progress we have made."

Or the progress we haven't made? If he were alive today I think he would have recognized the rhetoric that was so prolific in the early 20-teens that undid most of the progress we had made , in spite of LBJ, and divided the nation by race again.

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Thank you for this lesson Tara. May it reach far and wide. Too many don't know Mr Douglas and that is a shame. He spoke of slavery and freedom with hope. One to end and the other to be understood.

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I'd like to know his thoughts on reparations....

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His views on Lincoln are interesting. Long story: The Emancipation Memeorial is a statue that was paid for by freed slaves and ex black soldiers. It was based on emancipation medallions ("Am I not a man and brother?") https://www.diplomaticrooms.state.gov/objects/anti-slavery-medallion-am-i-not-a-man-and-a-brother-3/ Inn the monument, the chains on the kneeling slave have been broken by the emancipation declaration - and the former slave can now get up. Douglass spoke at the dedication of the Emancipation Monument, and made some interesting comments about Lincoln. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Memorial#Dedication

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He was a true statesman. He despised slavery as evil, but held hope for the country. I believe there are more than a few people today who would hear his oratory as a condemnation of their current actions and policies

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A great account of a great man! Love his understanding of the Constitution and even though some of the framers owned slave that the document is intended for all!

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Very good story. I would say that Frederick Douglas was a man ahead of his time, but in reality, we as a people, were behind the time. Slavery was and is wrong on every level, and unfortunately still exists in places around the world. I’ve always been a good southern boy, but I’ve always recognized the horrible injustice that slavery is. Our nation was founded on the principles of freedom . . . and that means freedom for everyone. We are not quite there yet, but I believe we are continuing to strive for freedom for all Americans, and hopefully getting closer every day. Thanks, Tara, for another great feature . . . you are appreciated !

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I believe Douglas would be chagrinned at the idea of Jim Crow after the Civil War, and I think He would also be chagrinned at the massive leftist Federal government takeover we are witnessing. I think He would be aghast at wokeism, and disgusted with the general ignorance and/ or apathy of freedom's principles by our youth. I think Douglass would have hard words for us today!

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🇺🇲 If only his eloquence and wisdom could be found today. 🇺🇸

Thanks, TR!

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Exactly Right ✅️ 👏 👌 💯 👍

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Great read Tara I would think he would on one hand be ecstatic and on the other appalled by the inconsistency of people in how they still treat each other

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A true “founder” of our nation..

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There should have been no need for an amendment to end slavery. Its death is in the Constitution as written. Too bad few recognized it as Douglas did!

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Feb 20·edited Feb 20

I guess Joe Biden was wrong! He said this about Obama: ""I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."

— Joe Biden, describing fellow candidate Barack Obama.

Clearly, Mr. Douglass was "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."

— Joe Biden, describing fellow candidate Barack Obama. And honestly, Mr. Douglass clearly KNEW both the Declaration Independence AND the US Constitution better than EITHER Bidrn or Obama know how to!

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A great read! Thank You for your post.

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Frederick Douglass was among the thinkers of his lifetime. He was highly respected and it’s easy to see why. He spoke of both sides of the issue and he spoke with hope. I’m sure today he would be very unhappy at the turn of events. There are very few if any thinkers among the elite and perhaps among the common citizens. The ability to see all sides of an issue is almost nonexistent. Our beautiful constitution is not regarded as a “glorious liberty document” as Douglass so eloquently described it. When we dismiss the importance and true meaning of this precious document written by thinking men we do so at great peril to our Republic.

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He was a strikingly handsome man, apparently. I wonder if that hurt or helped his causes?

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