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A century before Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X, there was Frederick Douglass, arguably the most important and the earliest African American activist in United States history. This informative, inspiring documentary traces Douglass's heroic life and work. Born into slavery, Douglass was separated from his mother as a small child and forced into field labor on one of the largest plantations in the American South. There he witnessed such horrific brutality to his fellow slaves that by the age of 8 he wished that he had never been born. He was then sent to Baltimore to live as a house slave, an event he would later consider an act of divine providence. lt was there that young Frederick learned to read and write, setting him on the path to become a powerful writer, orator, and agitator.

Douglass tried to organize his fellow slaves but was forced to escape north to Massachusetts. Celebrated antislavery activist William Lloyd Garrison asked him to speak at the Abolitionist Convention, leading to a career as a full-time lecturer and spokesman for the African American experience. Douglass broke with Garrison, feeling that the antislavery movement needed a black leader--himself. He provided such pivotal leadership through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and afterwards, an incessant gadfly to white leaders (including President Lincoln) unwilling to go far enough to assure African American rights. To learn Douglass's fascinating life story is to discover the history of the African American struggle for freedom. --Laura Mirsky

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Buyer's feedback: - * A Fiery Orator Lights the Conscience of a Few ...
A compelling 90-minute PBS biography tracing Douglass' struggles, ideas, and influences. This sophisicated chronicle examines debates within the abolitionist movement, Douglass' complicated relationship to Lincoln and the Republican party, and Douglass' personal life. A fascinating look at the radical politics of 19th century when blacks were slaves, women couldn't own property or vote, and angry mobs attacked abolitionist speakers for arguing that "all men are created equal."

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Buyer's feedback: - what an amazing life
Frederick Douglass surely led one of the most amazing lives in American history, and I think this video does him justice. I just showed it to my freshman American history class, and I was pleased by how many relevant issues it brought up,while still being entertaining, with good music, cinematography, etc. Charles Dutton did a good job reading Douglass's words, also. I thought he was a suprising choice (physically they're so unalike), but one that paid off. I personally very much enjoyed the commentary by leading historians like William McFeeley and Vincent Harding. Some viewers may be put off by their analysis, thinking that it breaks the flow of the narrative of his life (some of my students, for example), but I think the historians provided very valuable, thought-provoking comments. Everyone should know about Frederick Douglass, and this video would be a fine introduction if you don't.

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Buyer's feedback: - * An incredible story about an awesome man ...
This documentary about Frederick Douglass moved me to tears in several places. The hardship and sadness and tragedy he witnessed and endured would have crushed the life out of most, be he rose above it time after time.

Not only did he rise above it, he turned all his life's experiences into a blessing and dedicated his life to helping his fellow man.

His life story is one of history's best stories of triumph against impossible odds.

And this video tells it particularly well.

Very, very inspiring.

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Buyer's feedback: - magnificent, inspiring
This video is a wonderful companion to Douglass's own autobiographies. It is a powerful mix of images and words.