Frederick Douglass’s Obituary

I loved the length and depth of detail in the obituary and how it portrayed the widespread love and respect that Douglass received in his old age (at least in the North). I recently saw a wonderful new play named “Abolition” by Rick Foster in which two men portray John Brown and the young Frederick Douglass: their friendship and their harsh disagreements. The play prepared me with context to appreciate the obituary. I am deeply grateful for the Times now bringing out so many untold or neglected stories of our National history. This historical journalism together with dramatic works like “Abolition” do so much to awaken us to the complexity, the villainy, and the heroism of our past as it actually transpired, and not the shallow and censored version I learned as a girl.

True to the writing of the time and the historical depictions of racial difference, the Times wrote, "His height was over 6 feet and his weight was fully 200 pounds. His complexion was swarthy rather than black. His head was covered with a great shock of white hair. A large head, low forehead, high cheekbones, and large mouth, with gleaming white teeth, were some of the noticeable characteristics of his appearance." This in particular reminded me of a slave auction or runaway slave advertisement.

Fascinating read! Revealing in so many ways. This, above all: Even in such a long obituary, there’s scant mention of Douglass’ first wife and no mention of Anna Murray Douglass by name. Aside from being the mother of his children, this is the free woman whose earnings as a seamstress helped a young Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey secure his passage to freedom. The Frederick Douglass we know may have never come to be without Anna’s emotional, logistical, and financial support. Despite Douglass’ advocacy of women’s rights, which he promoted until literally the very end of his life, the woman who helped make him a powerhouse was relegated to the shadows of history. I’m grateful for David W. Blight’s book and lecture tour for bringing Anna back from the margins of history and, to paraphrase “Hamilton”, for helping readers of history “put” Anna Murray Douglass “back in the narrative.” It’s about time. For “no man is an island”, not even the ever-towering, awe-inspiring, more-relevant-than-ever Frederick Douglass.

Interesting that the Times did not give the first name of his widow, or any information about his first wife.

The last paragraph of this obituary speaks volumes.

There is so much about this that makes me mourn for my country. Our dearth of bold, brave leaders and thinkers. Our lack of respect for each other. The loss of any common purpose. Above all, an intellectual laziness that prefers Twitter to exquisite writing that stays with the reader. Thank you, New York Times. More, please.

Reading the writings and speeches of Frederick Douglass gives an inspiring feeling that is similar to the feeling experienced when reading the writings and speeches of Lincoln. Originally I had thought that Douglass's work had been inspired by Lincoln, until one day I noticed that it was Douglass's similar speech that had come first and realized that it was actually Douglass who had inspired and influenced Lincoln. That is probably why, when at Lincoln's reception after his Second Inaugural Douglass apologized for taking so much of Lincoln's time, the president assured him that there was no other man in the country whose opinion of the speech Lincoln valued so highly.

Fascinating as a historical document of 'journalism' as well. The authors of the obit take you into that epoch with their (in part) anecdotal style, repetitious in parts. Unlike the polished, compact and pc writing of today you get a real feel for the man's times; the writing style a little unvarnished but the greatness of Frederick Douglas shines through. In addition for those who like to mine historical tidbits there is this gem; "Nothing to indicate that he was not in his usual good health was remarked at the time, and to-night, after his death was made known, nobody could recall anything in his appearance or actions out of the ordinary, except, according to the statement of a lady present, that he rubbed his left hand constantly with his right, as though it were benumbed." A numbed left hand/arm could be an indication of an impending heart attack. True medical understanding of the malfunctions of the heart were still fifty years away but a doctor injected a "restorative". Today with a doctor nearby Douglas probably would have lived. Time moves on. Well, thanks again for reprinting a this tribute to a great American; and of course, thanks to those unnamed folks who put it together 124 years ago.

Thank you for this. Was it at all edited from the original? Please make this a regular feature. I once read the NY Times obituary of Calvin Coolidge and was gobsmacked.

Why did the obit start referring to him as Fred Douglass - a little bit before telling us he hated being called Fred Douglass?

One of my favorite and rather off -the -beaten track places to take visitors to DC is the Frederick Douglass home in Anacostia, DC. The dedicated and knowledgeable USPark Service Rangers give wonderful tours. One can reserve online and secure a spot. Before retirement, I worked in a Federally Qualified Health Clinic on W St close to the home. It was a luscious and peaceful place to walk around, sit and have lunch and contemplate life present and past.

Serendipituous that I just finished reading his Narrative last night, having found it in my old college Norton Anthology of Literature, and then you reprint his obituary today. His writing style so reader friendly, his story ... and that of the thousands enslaved with him ... unbearably heartbreaking. The power of literacy so blatant and all powerful in his story. In many ways, the key to his kingdom of freedom. Still relevant today. Thank you for keeping his life and good work in front of us.

Especially interesting to learn of his close association with the women's movement. Douglas' autobiography is a classic - well worth reading, and a great starting point to learn about the man.

The most inspiring thing I've read in a long, long time. Thank you.

Can we please have as a regular feature - not just in Black History Month - excerpts from memoirs such as the one quoted here?

Lovely . Sadly if he were alive today, I think he would be very disappointed.

Today, I drove back from my first visit to Gettysburg and visiting the venue of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. You cannot but be affected by the history of this area and what Lincoln fought for to abolish slavery. A wonderful Republican President who understood the value of all human life. Frederick Douglas was also a wonderful man who not only struggled to abolish slavery but also fought for women's rights. The historic framework of this country is its greatest strength.

Very interesting that this obituary mentions the woman that Frederick Douglass married towards the end of his life, but doesn't name Anna Douglass, to whom Frederick was married for nearly 40 years, who helped him to escape enslavement, and who raised their children pretty much by herself while he was on his endless speaking tours. She was also an abolitionist in her own right. Fortunately Anna Murray Douglass finally gets some of the recognition she deserves in David Blight's biography of Frederick Douglass.

I am extremely impressed with the writing style of this obituary. Although prose, much of it is nearly poetic.

Now *that* is a proper obit. Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

I enjoyed reading this obituary so much. Thank you for republishing it.

We need to see more of these obituaries of great Black men and women like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, so we can recognize the great work of these leaders of America's Second Revolutionary War. We honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. each year, but there are so many other great Black leaders like Mr. Douglass who deserve to be honored, too. We would not be America if they had not demanded that we live our ideals.

I am proud The New York Times wrote this fine obituary for Frederick Douglass. As a life-longer subscriber, it is gratifying to know that this publication did the right thing, all those years ago.

This extraordinary obituary should be read aloud on this day in every school in America.

I love the tone here. It is so NOT journalistic and yet it is so respectful of people. What have we lost in the world where everyone is "Dave" and I get emails from students wanting assignment extensions that begin, "So, I was wondering, lol..."? Of course, this can paper over injustice and not all opinions expressed in such lofty prose are as lofty as the syntax and diction, but still: where is that sweet spot between venerating and tearing down? The looser our clothing, the more Puritan our attitudes. But for good or ill, at least the Puritans had a common rod by which to measure. Mr. Douglass once wrote that Mr. Lincoln treated him "like a man" with dignity and respect. But Lincoln had to travel there through the litter of his own fear and biases. How dare he not start out in the 21st century, as we, who have it all figured out, who the villains and who the heroes are, have done. Lovely to read.

I’m nearly done with the new Douglass biography, and two thoughts keep popping up about parallels with today. One, that childhood trauma deeply affects adulthood. There was no therapy in Douglass’ day, but now, we have so many children who suffer so badly, therapy exists, but not many children have access to its benefits. And second, at the 20 year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, I felt like Douglass was experiencing the Bernie Sanders Effect. His importance to history could not be denied, but it was time for him to move aside for younger activists who demanded full equality then and there, were not satisfied to wait any longer, to be polite. It’s a good, if dense read, so much to think about.

Beautifully written. I learned much and I am better for it. Thanks

Thanks for publishing the NYT obituary for Frederick Douglass. I recently read David W. Blight's biography of Douglass, FREDERICK DOUGLASS: PROPHET OF FREEDOM, so this obituary has a special resonance.

This is an impressive obituary richly deserved by one of our American heroes.I would recommend that people read Douglass’s book , “My Bondage, My Freedom” to get a more compelling look at his life.He suffered so many hardships as a child and young man.He was raised with cousins by a grandmother.He only saw his mother once-children were taken away from their young healthy mothers so the slaves could work hard without childcare to distract them.He was often beaten by his masters on farms on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.His first person account is gripping and anyone will find his book worth reading.

Thanks for sharing this info. New to some and a refresher to others.

A formidable proponent of civil rights, from slavery to womens equal rights. An extraordinary man of immense charisma, charm, physical and mental strength. Articulate, intelligent and a wonderful speaker that enthralled thousands of people in the US and Europe. It is a shame that he is so unknown these days. As an immigrant I am shocked that most Americans know so little about this great American. If Washington and Lincoln are the best Presidents then Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr are the best leaders of civil rights.

Yesterday my class on The Slave Narratives discussed Douglass' 1845 biography. This morning I am reading this obituary. Providential, all the way around. He understood that literacy was his path to freedom. And so it is, today.

To learn more about Frederick Douglass and his remarkable life, I highly recommend the recently published biography of him by David Blight, entitled: Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. And his home in Anacostia is a National Historical Landmark, well worth a visit. You have to make reservations in advance to be sure of gaining access to the house and the house tour. The visitors center is open without an reservations needed.

Excellent obituary; truly brought the man, his story, and his character to life. I do wish that the Times, though, would put the date of the original obituary at the top rather than the current date it's being re-run. After all, the original obituary did not appear on Feb. 14, 2019! As a final grace note, let us remember Frederick Douglass's famous words and take them to heart: “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will... If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.” http://www.blackpast.org/1857-frederick-douglass-if-there-no-struggle-there-no-progress

Thanks, NY Times. Interesting seeing the writing style of that time and reading about the enormous contributions Douglas made.

A timely obituary of a man of towering courage, dignity, intellect, and historical consequence. In our current racially vile and corrupt political climate, we desperately need the memory of such American heros to sustain and strengthen us. My gratitude to the NYT for reprinting this tribute. It filled me with hope.

Thank you for the article! I thought I knew all there was about Fredrick Douglass, however I just learned a few new things.

Thanks. Just thanks.

Thank you for this -- an important and telling piece of history. This man's spirit continues to live on today, despite many knowing so little about him. We all could use his presence, in fact, as a humanizing factor for our sad times.