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In new biography, a fuller picture of Frederick Douglass emerges

Portrait courtesy of Huntington Library, San Marino, California

 

 

On this edition of Your Call, we’ll talk about the story of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

In his Pulitzer-winning biography of the former slave turned internationally famous orator, David Blight chronicles Douglass’ rise to prominence and the development of his ideas. He also uncovers details of Douglass’ family life, highlights the steadfast support Douglass enjoyed from his wife Anna, and takes a critical look at his claims of being a self-made man. How should we understand the legacy of Frederick Douglass?

Guest:

David Blight, teacher, scholar and public historian, professor of American history at Yale University, director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition, and author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

 

Web Resources:

The Atlantic: The Confounding Truth About Frederick Douglass

The New York Times: How the Right Co-Opts Frederick Douglass

New Haven Register: Frederick Douglass biography by Yale historian a lesson for our time

Rose Aguilar has been the host of Your Call since 2006. She became a regular media roundtable guest in 2001. In 2019, the San Francisco Press Club named Your Call the best public affairs program. In 2017, The Nation named it the most valuable local radio show.