Written 20 February 2018
#600words: the most photographed person in 19th Century America
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Recently, on my #6km run I listed to a BBC 4 Podcast on Frederick Douglass. Born in 1818 and wrote his autobiography in 1845 – Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.
I am a groupie of US history and remember his name from second year university US history university but it is only now I understand the significance of his life and work.
In his youth, he was taught how to read by the wife who was told to stop educating Douglass because it would cause problems – aka ideas of freedom. Education is empowerment.
The slave owner was right; Douglass continued to read, taught himself to write and memorized a book on oratory which he put to great effect throughout his life.
He escaped from slavery was caught and returned back into the fold. He was placed under the watch of the “breaker”, whom he ended up in a two-hour fight with and eventually escaped to New York.
From here he made it to England island and Europe on the 19th century speaking circuit. Soon his benefactors bought his freedom so he could turn to US to work with Lincoln and into the reconstruction period.
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Douglass dominated the social media of the day by being the most photographed person in USA, as well as a prolific speaker and writer. Perhaps he can even be considered as the 19th century #metoo movement speaking for and on behalf of slaves.
In 1804, in the north, the rhetoric among the leaders was anti-slavery, and there was some legislation to that effect. In practical terms, 60 years later, the whole country came in to the fold, though some argue reconstruction set back the abolitionist’s cause.
The twin lessons from this US history are, firstly, that it takes decades (1800-1860s) for a movement to build, take shape and make a difference for change and secondly, that the power of education and communication is crucial to the success.
Douglass was in for the long haul and he lived a long life. It took years for himself and Lincoln to come to an approach which would benefit all in a mutually convenient manner.
In the 1870s and 1880s the younger abolitionists believed Douglass betrayed the cause when he took up positions of governance and responsibility but he kept on writing and speaking for the cause though the wheels of change moved slowly if not glacially.
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In Australia, we could to take this long-term view on issues such as Close the Gap and Australia Day.
With the recent 10th anniversary of the Kevin Rudd’s Sorry speech it seems only three of the seven proposals have made progress which indicates the need to take a longer-term perspective to allow for change to occur and inequalities addressed.
This is not an ideal scenario and yet perhaps a realistic one. At least until more systemic changes can be made; providing for greater awareness and the development of political will more akin to the 1860s rather than the early 1800 as in the US experience.
Douglass was asked to addressed July 4th celebrations in the 1840s and said to the crowd have you ask me to laugh at me? He followed this up with the view that it was not a celebration for him he had not rights nor freedom he was still a slave.
The Australian aboriginals may not have been a slave like the African Americans but some don’t feel Australia Day is celebration for them. Respecting this viewpoint and the counter viewpoint is important but there is hope if we think in terms of years/decades rather than weeks or months.
Martin Pluss 