Frederick Douglass : the philosophical writings / edited by Nick Bromell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895, Author.

Contributor:

Bromell, Nicholas Knowles, editor.

Series:

Oxford new histories of philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century.

Antislavery movements.

African Americans--Social conditions--19th century.

African Americans.

Racism--United States.

Racism.

Citizenship--United States.

Citizenship.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2025.

Summary:

"Although Frederick Douglass's work as a Black activist is widely known, it is not yet sufficiently appreciated that he also considered himself to be a political philosopher. As he declared in an 1867 speech: "From this little bit of experience, slave experience, I have elaborated quite a lengthy chapter of political philosophy, applicable to the American people." However, because Douglass never developed his philosophical thinking systematically, and instead expressed it in myriad moments and fragments throughout his writings, it is not easily perceived today, not even by students of philosophy. To make Douglass's philosophical thought available and compelling, this volume includes a careful selection of the writings in which Douglass most richly elaborated his philosophy. As well, the Introduction provides a succinct account of Douglass's central philosophical concerns, and a section on Douglass's Key Words lists and explains the most important terms in Douglass's philosophical vocabulary"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Series

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Series Editors' Foreword

Abbreviations

Introduction

Social and Political Context

"Philosophy of Reform"

Human Powers, Humanness, and Human Dignity

Douglass's Philosophy of Democracy and Democratic Citizenship

PART I KEY WORDS

1 Humanity

2 Power

3 Dignity

4 Freedom

5 Standpoint

6 Prejudice Against Color

7 Struggle

8 Soul

PART II AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND FICTION

1 My Bondage and My Freedom

Chapter One

The Author's Childhood

Chapter Two

The Author Removed from His First Home

Chapter Three

The Author's Parentage

Chapter Five

Gradual Initiation into the Mysteries of Slavery

Chapter Six

The Treatment of Slaves on Lloyd's Plantation

Chapter Eleven

"A Change Came o'er the Spirit of My Dream"

2 The Heroic Slave

PART III EDITORIALS, LECTURES, SPEECHES

1 "Our Paper and Its Prospects" and "To Our Oppressed Countrymen"

"Our Paper and Its Prospects"

"To Our Oppressed Countrymen"

2 "The Rights of Women"

3 "The Revolution of 1848"

Mr. President and Friends

4 "The Destiny of Colored Americans"

5 "Prejudice Against Color"

6 "Is Civil Government Right?"

7 "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"

THE PRESENT

THE CONSTITUTION.

8 "A Nation in the Midst of a Nation"

9 "The Claims of the Negro Ethnologically Considered"

THE BEARINGS OF THE QUESTION.

10 "Is It Right and Wise to Kill a Kidnapper?"

11 "The Dred Scott Decision"

Mr. Chairman, Friends, and Fellow Citizens

12 "Pictures and Progress"

13 "What the Black Man Wants"

14 "Sources of Danger to the Republic"

Ladies and gentlemen

15 "Our Composite Nationality"

16 "Let the Negro Alone"

17 "Woman Suffrage Movement" and "Woman and the Ballot"

"Woman Suffrage Movement"

"Woman and the Ballot"

18 "Oration Delivered on the Occasion of the Unveiling of the Freedmen's Monument in Memory of Abraham Lincoln"

19 "Speech at the Mass Meeting at Lincoln Hall, Washington, D.C."

20 "It Moves, or the Philosophy of Reform"

21 "The Nation's Problem"

POSSIBILITIES OF THE FUTURE.

TO SOLVE THIS GREAT NATIONAL PROBLEM.

OUR CITIZENSHIP A DELUSION.

RESULTS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE RACE.

MODESTY IS ALSO A POWER.

OUR POLICY SHOULD BE

THE SOUTH IS STILL THE SOUTH

22 "Self-Made Men"

23 "Lessons of the Hour"

Selected Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Online resource; title from digital title page (Oxford Academic, viewed November 20, 2025)

Other Format:

Print version: Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895. Frederick Douglass.

ISBN:

9780197746493

0197746497

OCLC:

1546501547

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license