Abstract

Frederick Douglass is one of the most recognized and influential figures in United States history. His escape from slavery, his efforts to abolish the institution of slavery, and his pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality for all makes him a respected figure. His stance against the colonization/emigration movement whereby free Blacks would leave for Liberia and/or other areas of Africa, thereby leaving the soil of the United States, was less about his views on Africa and more on his belief that this country is now the country of Blacks on its soil and, therefore, there should be an expectation that the laws and freedoms articulated in its founding documents apply to Black Americans. The key point in Douglass’s thinking is that an oppressed group of people wherever they may be must continue to fight and agitate on moral grounds until the system changes. This cannot be done by leaving a country or a region; rather, it must be done by continual social and political agitation. This can be informative for efforts to build a new Africa because the people living in communities across the continent have a stake in society. Political movements must consist of agitating the power structure and changing oppressive institutional structures. This chapter explores books and other works written by Frederick Douglass, including the Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, where he articulated his rationale for sometimes unpopular viewpoints given the level of oppression faced by Black Americans. His body of work is examined as a means to extract his intellectual viewpoints in an effort to provide a roadmap for citizens advocating change. An explanatory case study methodology is used to provide a clear articulation of his viewpoints and to offer a roadmap for political reforms in Africa.