Frederick Douglass & Barack Obama: the Power of the Word

The tradition of oratory to convince and involve

is no where more evident in the power of Barack Obama's powerful and deeply felt delivery.

 

I believe that Frederick Douglass would be very proud of him since he embodies the triple graces that Douglass emphasized

• Believe in yourself.
• Take advantage of every opportunity.
• Use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society.

 In the coming months, the Democratic nominee will need to

add  the power of emotional embrace and inspiration of Fred Astaire,

who i see in Sen Obama's physical line and movement. In reaching out to voters, I hope Sen Obama will remind all of us more that like the Great National Hero Frederick Douglass,

he is as much a feminist as he is a fighter for all minorities.

And that while he would probably look silly in a flannel shirt crouched over a dead caribou, he can fight for us all with his heart, his wit and his commitment.  Making war and popping off animals is in a sense easy. The hard task is to lead out of war and into understanding, new relationships and into a new green prosperity.

 

Read below the inspiring story of Frederick Douglass.

Frederick Douglass was born in a slave cabin, in February, 1818, near the town of Easton, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Separated from his mother when only a few weeks old he was raised by his grandparents. At about the age of six, his grandmother took him to the plantation of his master and left him there. Not being told by her that she was going to leave him, Douglass never recovered from the betrayal of the abandonment.

 

Quote by Frederick Douglass:

"The Limits of Tyrants are Prescribed

by the Endurance of Those Whom They Oppress:

When he was about eight he was sent to Baltimore to live as a houseboy with Hugh and Sophia Auld, relatives of his master. It was shortly after his arrival that his new mistress taught him the alphabet. When her husband forbade her to continue her instruction, because it was unlawful to teach slaves how to read, Frederick took it upon himself to learn. He made the neighborhood boys his teachers, by giving away his food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing. At about the age of twelve or thirteen Douglass purchased a copy of The Columbian Orator, a popular schoolbook of the time, which helped him to gain an understanding and appreciation of the power of the spoken and the written word, as two of the most effective means by which to bring about permanent, positive change.
         Returning to the Eastern Shore, at approximately the age of fifteen, Douglass became a field hand, and experienced most of the horrifying conditions that plagued slaves during the 270 years of legalized slavery in America. But it was during this time that he had an encounter with the slavebreaker Edward Covey. Their fight ended in a draw, but the victory was Douglass', as his challenge to the slavebreaker restored his sense of self-worth. After an aborted escape attempt when he was about eighteen, he was sent back to Baltimore to live with the Auld family, and in early September, 1838, at the age of twenty,

Douglass succeeded in escaping from slavery by impersonating a sailor.

        

He went first to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he and his new wife Anna Murray began to raise a family. Whenever he could he attended abolitionist meetings, and, in October, 1841, after attending an anti-slavery convention on Nantucket Island, Douglass became a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and a colleague of William Lloyd Garrison. This work led him into public speaking and writing. He published his own newspaper, The North Star, participated in the first women's rights convention at Seneca Falls, in 1848, and wrote three autobiographies. He was internationally recognized as an uncompromising abolitionist, indefatigable worker for justice and equal opportunity, and an unyielding defender of women's rights. He became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C., and Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti.

        Frederick Douglass sought to embody three keys for success in life:

• Believe in yourself.
• Take advantage of every opportunity.
• Use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society.

       

Douglass said,

"What is possible for me is possible for you."

By taking these keys and making them his own, Frederick Douglass created a life of honor, respect and success that he could never have dreamed of when still a boy on Colonel Lloyd's plantation on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

bama images by Shepherd Fairy

 

Comments

[Roy Vera R.T., MBA]

The financial industry in America is hurting, although we have walked this path before and as a nation we are able to rebound. Asking the qeustion about security in the US for the working class is a vialbe question.

Directly proportional is the industries that drive America, what I mean is if you are trying to stay above water and find a job then the jobs that will be hurting are such giants as manufacturing and finance.

If you take a look at such jobs that are inversely related to the economy, then the medical industry is exactly what has already been a strong foothold on recession.

Taking that even further certain areas such as the medical staffing or nursing staffing is in great demand. Take the time to look at this industry

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[Payday Loan Advocate]

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[Payday Loan Advocate]

The payday loan industry is in danger because there are politicians who wish to wipe out the entire industry. But that is not what is best for the people. For instance, in Georgia, the bankruptcy filings, bounced checks and foreclosures all skyrocketed after the cash advance product was done away with. With no disregard for these negative statistics, following the closure of payday loans in these states, several other governors continue to try and follow suit. Top national politicians are now stepping out in hopes of wiping the industry completely off the map. Should such politicians succeed, there is a big possibility that there will be increased unemployment rates, more debt, more foreclosures and an even more damaged economy.

Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store
Professional Blogging Team
Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406
Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html
Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/

[carol stanley]

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