Abraham Lincoln referred to him as the most
meritorious man of the nineteenth century.
Frederick Douglass has been referred to as the father of the civil
rights movement. He rose through determination, brilliance, and eloquence to shape the American nation. He was an abolitionist,
human rights and women's rights activist, orator, author, journalist, publisher, and social reformer.
Committed to freedom, Douglass dedicated his life to achieving justice for
all Americans, in particular African-Americans, women, and minority groups. He envisioned America as an inclusive nation strengthened
by diversity and free of discrimination.
Douglass served as advisor to presidents. In his later years Douglass was
appointed to several offices. He served as U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia during Rutherford B. Hayes' administration
and President James Garfield appointed him the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison
appointed him to be the U.S. Minister to Haiti. He was later appointed by President Grant to serve as secretary of the commission
of Santo Domingo. Douglass had hoped that his appointments would open doors for other African-Americans, but it was many years
before they would follow in his footsteps.
