Properly speaking, there are in the world no such men as selfmade men. Selfmade men by frederick douglass 1872 the subject announced for this evenings entertainment is not new. In june of 1874, douglass recited washingtons resignation speech from memory in the old senate chamber, lending it all of his exceptional oratorical power. Mar 06, 2018 from timothy sandefurs elegantly written new biography, the reader gains a profound education in the life and thought of frederick douglass, one of the most heroic and insightful champions of liberty in this or any nations history. Yet when he was just 12 years old, he went into knights bookstoreclutching 50 cents he had saved up from shining shoesand bought a compendium of. In this speech, which was first delivered in 1859, he gives his own definition of the selfmade man and explains what he thinks are the means to become such a man. Selfmade man takes a fresh look at his remarkable life and.
Self made men frederick douglass download ebook pdf, epub. Speaking in rochester in 1852, he hailed the accomplishments and ideals of the founders, before denouncing the nat. Published in 1845, sixteen years before the civil war began, the narrative describes douglass. If not ourselves great, we like to explain why others are so. Selfmade men frederick douglass february 21, 2018 frederick douglasss speech on the virtues of men who are what they are, without the aid of any favoring conditions by which other men usually rise in the world and achieve great results. Sandefur shows how douglasss ideas, style, and methods influenced in various ways thinkers and activists such as booker t.
We are pleased to republish frederick douglasss speech, selfmade men, which he composed in the late 1850s and delivered many times in his later years of life. That term implies an individual independence of the past and present which can never exist. In this speech, which was first delivered in 1859, frederick douglass gives his own definition of the selfmade man and explains what he thinks are the means to become such a man. Inspired by franklins autobiography, frederick douglass developed the concept of the selfmade man in a series of lectures that spanned decades starting in 1859.
These are the selfmade men and women who gave us the most free and comfortable living standards the world has ever known. Jul 02, 20 frederick douglass gave one of the great july fourth orations in american history. Selfmade man, published by the cato institute in 2018. He is an american symbol of success and an example of a self made man. Selfmade men quotes showing 11 of 1 we have all met a class of men, very remarkable for their activity, and who yet make but little headway in life. Introduction, my bondage and my freedom, lit2go edition, 1855, accessed. Before douglass even gives his definition of the selfmade man, he remarks, properly speaking, there are in. If they have traveled far, they have made the road on which they have travelled. Eric foner raves about david blights new biography of.
New book highlights frederick douglasss embrace of the. Todays reading has been edited and adapted from the lecture selfmade men by frederick douglass, first delivered in 1859. Address before the students of the indian industrial school at carlisle, pa. New book highlights frederick douglasss embrace of the self. Douglass was raised in slavery on farms on the eastern shore of maryland and in baltimore. Despite all these similarities between douglass and franklins concept of the selfmade man, the two men differ in their emphasis on relationships to other men. Having escaped from slavery at age 20, he took the name frederick douglass for himself and became an advocate of abolition. Whether or not such men have acquired material, moral or intellectual excellence, honest labor faithfully, steadily and persistently pursued, is the best, if not the only, explanation of their success. Jul 2, 2015 a comparison of how abraham lincoln and frederick douglas rose from humble beginnings to influence history. Address before the students of the indian industrial school at. Timothy sandefur is the author of frederick douglass. Melania levitsky november 18 december 14 arclight theatre 152 w.
Selfmade men by frederick douglass, paperback barnes. Self made men, a speech delivered in 1874 by abolitionist and former slave frederick douglass. Image from library of congress, manuscript division one of the most famous speeches frederick douglass gave was the self made men. In baltimore, the wife of douglass owner taught douglass to read, and he began making contacts with educated free blacks. Self made men frederick douglass download ebook pdf. Selfmade men speech by frederick douglass written in 1872. Self made men selfmade men speech by frederick douglass. Library of congress, manuscript division, the frederick douglass papers at the library of congress. We also discuss the abolitionist movement, douglasss relationship with president abraham lincoln and how frederick douglass fits in with subsequent leaders of the black civil rights movement. Selfmade men, by frederick douglass monadnock valley press. New book highlights frederick douglasss embrace of the selfmade man posted on february 12, 2018. The selfmade man according to the term selfmade is defined as having succeeded in life unaided. Benjamin franklin, one of the founding fathers of the united states, has been described as the greatest exemplar of the selfmade man.
Frederick douglass gave one of the great july fourth orations in american history. Once a very popular and inspiring ideal, the concept of the selfmade man has fallen into disfavor in our modern times. In this speech, which was first delivered in 1859, frederick douglass gives his own definition of the selfmade man and explains what. Tour the maryland state house to see the painting of gen. The self made man by frederick douglass 1067 words cram. Ben franklin if often referred to as the self made man, and his philosophies and principles in the autobiography of benjamin franklin, edited by louis p.
Douglass argues that luck and success come from hard work. Frederick douglass is the poetic justice warrior who epitomizes this, and who created and delivered the self made men lectures in 1872. Frederick douglass was a former slave who escaped and taught himself to read. Man in one form or another, has been a frequent and fruitful subject for the press, the pulpit and the platform. Yet we owe them no duty, just admiration and gratitude.
Frederick douglass self made men speech 1874 hear the. Selfmade men, of people who rise through their own effort and devotion rather than circumstances of privilege. Frederick douglass was born into slavery in maryland as frederick bailey, circa 1818. See more ideas about frederick douglass, history and abraham lincoln. The concept of the selfmade man is deeply rooted in the american dream. Self made men by frederick douglass 1872 the subject announced for this evenings entertainment is not new. In this speech, which was first delivered in 1859, he gives his own definition of the self made man and explains what he thinks are the means to become such a man. The contents of the frederick douglass papers at the library of congress are in the public domain and are free to use and reuse.
The individual, in one form or another, has been a frequent and fruitful subject for analysis and contemplation. For the rest of his life he fought for the freedom of others and equal rights for all. Following in his footsteps marylands frederick douglass. In this speech, which was first delivered in 1859, frederick douglass gives his own definition of the selfmade man and. In this speech, which was first delivered in 1859, frederick douglass gives his own definition of the self made man and explains what he thinks are the means to become such a man.
Folder 5 of 16 contributor names douglass, frederick, 18181895. Eric foner raves about david blights new biography of frederick douglass historians in the. We are stingy in our praise to merit, but generous in our praise to chance. Douglass rejects the idea of a selfmade man by claiming that properly speaking, there are in the world no such men as selfmade men. Timothy sandefuran attorney who is the author of several books and dozens of scholarly articleshas given us concise account of the life and ideas of frederick douglass in a mere 119 pages. Man in one form or another, has been a frequent and. Frederick douglass is the poetic justice warrior who epitomizes this, and who created and delivered the selfmade men lectures in 1872. Frederick douglass, the selfmade man, and racial uplift. Jan 23, 2019 these are the self made men and women who gave us the most free and comfortable living standards the world has ever known.
The subject announced for this evenings entertainment is not new. Douglass spoke in his most popular lecture, selfmade men, of people who rise through their own effort and devotion rather than circumstances of privilege. That there is, in more respects than one, something like a stoicism in this title, i freely admit. The uniquely american selfmade man center for individualism. Made man takes a fresh look at his remarkable life and ideas and the enduring principles of equality and. The book inspired me to reread the douglass autobiography. Selfmade men is a famous lecture by frederick douglass 1818 1895. Click download or read online button to get self made men frederick douglass book now. Frederick douglass developed the concepts in a series of lectures selfmade men from 1859 onward, for example 1895. If they have ascended high, they have built their own ladder.
Selfmade men selfmade men are the men who, under peculiar difficulties and without. After his escape from slavery, douglass became a renowned abolitionist, editor and feminist. Masur, has served as a self help book for millions around the world. There is no truer definition for both benjamin franklin and frederick douglass. In addition, douglass pointofview on realizing racial equality is analyzed and compared to historical and current thinking. The writing is excellent throughout, which makes frederick douglass.
Image from library of congress, manuscript division one of the most famous speeches frederick douglass gave was the selfmade men. Frederick douglass, a selfmade man himself, said the discussion of selfmade men was the discussion of manhood itself, and this in its broadest and most comprehensive sense. Self made men is a famous lecture by frederick douglass 1818 1895. Weve retained the original spelling and punctuation throughout. Timothy sandefur joins us for a conversation on frederick douglass. Benjamin franklin is one of the most influential and famous figures of all time.
Nov, 2014 a new american play written and performed by. The concept of the self made man is deeply rooted in the american dream. As the nation pauses to remember him on his bicentennial, frederick douglass. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading frederick douglass. Masur, has served as a selfhelp book for millions around the world. Dec 28, 2008 frederick douglass, a selfmade man himself, said the discussion of selfmade men was the discussion of manhood itself, and this in its broadest and most comprehensive sense. His narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave is a moving account of the courage of one mans struggle against the injustice of antebellum slavery. That term implies an individual independence of the past and present which can never exist 127. After the civil war, offers poured in for douglass to visit colleges and various gatherings and give this wellknown and inspiration lecture. Phoenixborn a slave in february 1818, frederick douglass rose to become one of the nations foremost intellectualsone who deserves to be placed alongside the founding fathers as one of the creators of the country as we know it. Early on, douglass provides a statement that is rich in philosophical thought and should certainly be looked at in an omniscient truthful sense.
He is an american symbol of success and an example of a selfmade man. In the speech selfmade men,frederick douglass gives his definition of a self made man. Ben franklin if often referred to as the selfmade man, and his philosophies and principles in the autobiography of benjamin franklin, edited by louis p. In a day when men often shirk personal responsibility, people excuse their failings with the victim card and everything is a disease over which we have no control. In the speech selfmade men,frederick douglass gives his definition of a selfmade man.
Prick of the litter delbert mcclinton, selfmade men. Frederick douglass ne frederick augustus washington bailey was born a slave in the state of maryland in 1818. Properly speaking, there are in the world no such men as self made men. Douglass as selfmade man by suet yuk rainie au yeung. These two amazing, intelligent, and driven men were born in two separate centuries but have many similarities, while at the same time were very.