Great Speeches by Frederick Douglass

Author, abolitionist, political activist, and philosopher, Frederick Douglass was a pivotal figure in the decades of struggle leading up to the Civil War and the Reconstruction era. This inexpensive compilation of his speeches adds vital detail to the portrait of a great historical figure. Featured addresses include "e;What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"e; which was delivered on July 5, 1852, more than ten years before the Emancipation Proclamation. "e;Had I the ability, and could reach the nation's ear, I would, today, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke,"e; Douglass assured his listeners, "e;For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake."e; Other eloquent and dramatic orations include "e;Self-Made Men,"e; first delivered in 1859, which defines the principles behind individual success, and "e;The Church and Prejudice,"e; delivered at the Plymouth County Anti-Slavery Society in 1841.