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Frederick Douglass - Success and LeadershipFrederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

 

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)

 

African American abolitionist (i.e. a fighter for the abolition of slavery) - pictured right in 1879.

An escaped slave, his freedom was bought by English supporters.

 

For more detail see... 

The March on Washington in the History Highlights section.

 

Why was he a great leader and successful?

 Frederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

1. Purpose and compassion

Douglass (pictured right in 1856) wanted to free blacks from slavery, because of:

 

a) empathy and understanding

He could understand slaves' indignity and misery (having been a slave himself - English supporters bought his freedom).

“I hear the mournful wail of millions”, he said in a 1852 speech.

 Frederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

b) equal rights

He argued that slaves were human beings with the same rights as everybody else, given to them by the American Constitution (i.e. life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness).

“The white man’s happiness cannot be purchased by the black man’s misery”, he said.

 

2. Courage

Despite violent opposition, Douglass courageously stood up for his principles.

When he gave his first public speech in 1838, his legs were shaking, but he managed to conquer his nerves!

“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence”, he said.

 

3. Morality

He believed that any country must be “honest, truthful and virtuous”.

As a Christian, he learned the principles of love, honour, integrity and equality for everyone, whatever their colour or sex.

 Frederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

4. Positive action

His rallying call was to “agitate, agitate, agitate” for social change.

He never stopped campaigning for the:

  • abolition of slavery
  • civil rights of African Americans.

He believed that action was more powerful than prayer. If you are drowning, he advised, pray with your legs!

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress”, he said.

 

5. Lifelong learning

Douglass constantly learned from:

 

a) his love of reading

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free”, he said.

 Frederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

b) other people

(particularly another abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, pictured right)

 

6. Determination

He was determined to free himself and all African Americans from slavery, having overcome the handicap of:

  • an unknown father.
  • the death of his mother when he was seven.

 Frederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

7. Support

He had a loving wife, Anna (pictured right), and was devastated by her death in 1882.

But he recovered and happily re-married in 1884.

 Frederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

8. Great communicator

He was an inspirational speaker.

Abraham Lincoln’s (pictured right) widow, Mary (pictured right below), gave him his favourite walking stick for Douglass’s great speech in tribute to the recently assassinated president.

 Frederick Douglass - Success and Leadership

9. Hard work

He believed that hard work is the most important requirement for success.


 

Key quotes on society

The white man’s happiness cannot be purchased by the black man’s misery.

I hear the mournful wail of millions.

 

 

Key quote on work and leisure

Without money, there’s no leisure, without leisure no thought, without thought no progress.”

 

 

Key quote on change

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

 

 

Key quote on reading

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.

 

 

Key quote on God and religion

One and God make a majority.

I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs (talking about his freedom from slavery)

 

Key quote on success

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence.

 

 

Key quote on America

The destiny of the coloured American…is the destiny of America.

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