![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Douglass’s lack of knowledge of his real father contributed not just to this analogy, but also to his childhood of extremes, public silences on intimate aspects of his life, and his crusade for belonging in a nation for all African Americans. In this address, Douglass reminded the audience of Abraham Lincoln’s emancipatory role in defining the larger post-Civil War American family and African Americans’ inclusion as “his step children children by adoption, children by forces of circumstances and necessity” (7). Opening with Douglass’ dedication speech for the Freedmen’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1876, Blight introduces readers to the complex ways that Douglass used memory, history, and oratory skills in pursuit of freedom. Over seven-hundred pages, Blight deftly weaves a gripping narrative. His personal struggles for belonging, desire for a home, and trust issues complicated his marriage, father-child relationships, and friendships. Blight also delves into Douglass’s private life. ![]() For a historical figure who penned three autobiographies, Blight reveals fresh insights on the African American abolitionist whose public writings, orations, and activism was deeply rooted in his unique Civil War era experience and the Hebrew prophetic tradition. $37.50.Įsteemed historian David Blight has produced a masterfully researched, nuanced, and beautifully written biography of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. ![]()
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