How did the Press view Frederick Douglass?

Background

    As a quick summary, Frederick Douglass made many meaningful contributions to a variety of organizations throughout his lifetime. He toured Europe while advocating for the abolishment of slavery through his writings and speeches. Convinced President Abraham Lincoln to give African Americans the opportunity to serve in the military during the civil war. And continuously preached about women’s rights and the rights of many other minority groups. Without his contributions, many things in America’s history might not have resulted as they did. 

How did the press write about, portray, and treat my Hero?

    Considering the fact that Douglass was a formerly enslaved man who overcame a multitude of obstacles placed in front of him, I went into this research thinking that for the most part, the press would fail to acknowledge his accomplishments. After doing some research and really trying to understand not only Douglass but the time period I decided that the best way to go about this research would be to look at Douglass through the lens of different news outlets. 

    My hypothesis was as follows. Douglass would be represented in a more positive light through African American Historical newspapers vs newspapers like The New York Times. I was surprised at my findings, however, I am excited to share them here.  

    The Washington Bee was a D.C.-based African American newspaper founded in 1882. Publication ceased in 1922, but throughout those 40 years, this Republican-aligned newspaper heavily discussed significant crime stories within the African American community and never failed to highlight the accomplishments of Black people. Through only High Point University’s database, Frederick Douglass was mentioned within this paper nearly 700 times. 

    In an article published on May 26, 1833, titled “Frederick Douglass” they spoke very highly of Douglass and encouraged people to pay attention to him and his teachings. “Frederick Douglass is the most eminent American in whose veins course African blood. He is clear of head and sound of heart. The welfare of the colored race is the dearest object of his life.” This was just one of many quotes that evidently showed how much support Douglass received through this form of press. 

Did they write about him/her during their lifetime or after? 

    Frederick Douglass’ name was found throughout the press from the beginnings of his speaking tours in Europe and way beyond his death in 1895. This doesn’t even include when Douglass founded his own antislavery newspaper The North Star in December of 1847.

    In an article titled “Make a Hall of Fame, He Has made the Race Famous” anyone can make a quick assumption that Douglass and his work is going to be praised and appreciated throughout this piece. And that is exactly what was done. This article was published in January of 1921, 26 years after the death of Frederick Douglass, but his impact remained so powerful that people continuously felt the need to recognize his accomplishments and celebrate them. 

    “Saturday, February 12, 1921, will be known all over the world by local race men and women as Douglass Memorial Day.” 

Did they praise their work or vilify it?

    Douglass lived a very complicated life, to say the least. Despite the fact that this post talks about how the press spoke highly of Douglass and his work I also thought it would be really important to note that Douglass oftentimes fell victim to the brutal words of his own people at this time. Because he was educated by a white woman and young white children, he was called a “nigger breaker.” 

    When he fled to the North after escaping his life in the South he and his work were constantly rejected by white competitors. As he traveled Europe on his speech tour, he was repeatedly carried out from restaurants, railroads, and hotels. When he passed, a somewhat contradicting obituary in The New York Times suggested that Douglass’ “white blood” is what needed to be credited for his “superior intelligence.” 

    With that being said, Douglass was both praised and discredited for his work throughout his entire lifetime. But despite all the negatives his contributions to society will continue to be appreciated. 

Works Cited 

(1883, May 26). Washington Bee, p. 3. Available from Readex: African American Newspapers: Frederick Douglass. (1883, May 26). Washington Bee, p. 2. Available from Readex: African American Newspapers: 

Make a Hall of Fame, He Has Made the Race Famous. (1921, January 28). Negro Star, 13 (48), p. [2]. Available from Readex: African American Newspapers: he%2BRace%2BFamous.

Frederick Douglass's original New York Times obituary from 1895. (2019, February 14). Retrieved April 01, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/obituaries/frederick-douglass-dead-1895.html