You wake up, put on your Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
You're living all in. You realize you need coffee, so you say, Hey Meta, how do I make a latte? After Meta AI gets you caffeinated, you're ready for some beats. Hey Meta, play hip-hop music.
You head to meet some friends, but can't remember the place. Hey Meta, call Eva. Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the next generation of AI glasses.
Just say, Hey Meta, to harness the power of Meta AI. Shop now at meta.com slash mark glasses. Small business owners, this one's for you. Chase for Business and iHeart bring you a podcast series called The Unshakeables.
This one of a kind series will shine the spotlight on small business owners like you who faced a do or die moment that ultimately made their business what it is today. Learn more at chase.com slash business slash podcast. Chase, make more of what's yours. Chase mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. member FDIC.
Copyright 2024. From the Delta Sky Club to the jet bridge, Delta Airlines relies on 5G solutions from T-Mobile for business to power operations and serve customers faster. Together, we're putting 5G into the hands of ground staff so they can better assist on-the-go travelers with real-time information throughout the airport. This is elevating customer experience. This is Delta Airlines with T-Mobile for business. Take your business further at T-Mobile dot com slash now.
Sometimes life can seem hard and tough to navigate, but what may seem like the smallest tasks such as getting out of bed or even brushing your teeth should be celebrated as a win. And State Farm is here to help you celebrate all your wins. The State Farm personal price plan helps you create an affordable price just for you. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer.
Availability amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. Experience sensational sound with Vizio's soundbar collection. Starting at just $99, there's a soundbar for every budget. With Dolby Atmos in every model, cinema quality sound is closer than ever. This collection features Vizio's simplest setup yet, so you'll be streaming your favorite iHeartRadio playlists in no time. Whether you're looking for a simple setup or the cutting edge Elevate SE with 360-degree sound immersion and auto-rotating speakers, Vizio has you covered.
Head to Best Buy or Amazon to find the perfect Vizio soundbar for you. This is Lee Habib and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star and the American people. Frederick Douglass escaped slavery when he was 20 years old, went on to become one of the most important Americans to fight for emancipation and the equality of all people. He was the most photographed American of the 19th century, sitting for more portraits even than Abraham Lincoln. But this famed abolitionist story is even more fascinating than what many of us have learned in school. Here to tell the story is Frederick Douglass impersonator Kyle Taylor.
Let's take a listen. I was born a slave in America in the state of Maryland and the Lord has given me many adventures since my escape from those bonds. I supposed myself to be born about the year 1817. I will recount as part of my message a few excerpts from my books regarding my childhood and my life journey. A mysterious individual was the object of terror for me as a small child. Among the inhabitants of our little cabin, he was under the ominous title of old master, had several farms and overseers on it. Unhappily for me, the only information I could gather concerning him only increased my great dread of being carried further as a seven-year-old boy, of being deprived and separated from the protection of my loving grandparents. So you see, I wanted to remain little forever for I knew that the taller I grew, the shorter my stay would be and the only home I ever had.
But I was not to remain there long. I was soon to be taken to the old master house. I was a slave and although this fact was incomprehensible to me, it conveyed to my mind that since my entire dependence was at the will of somebody I had never seen.
And for some cause or other, I was made to fear this somebody above all else on earth. I only remember seeing my mother in her visits to me in the kitchen of the old master, few in number, brief in duration and mostly in the night. But the pain she took, the toil she endured to see me tells me that a true mother's heart was hers and that slavery had difficulty in paralyzing it with unmotherly indifference. I indeed was taken to Baltimore when I was nearly 12 years old.
My master there left me almost exclusively to the management of his wife, Mrs. Sophia Hall. The frequent hearing of my mistress reading the Bible, for she often read the Bible when her husband was absent, awakened my curiosity and respect to this mystery of reading and my desire to learn. I frankly asked her, teach me to read. And without hesitation, the dear woman began the task.
Very soon I was master of the alphabet and I can spell words of three and four letters. But when master all found out, he enfolded to her the true philosophy of slavery and the peculiar rules between mistresses and masters in the management of their human chatter. He promptly forbade her continuance of her instructions. His words on me, cold and harsh, sunk deep into my heart. And it not only stirred up this feeling of rebellion, but it awakened the slumbering train of vital thought. I had already seen an example of his cruel attack on a young lady in our household. And I was shocked at the wretchedness of her life. Knowing that I could be his next victim, I was stern.
But I understood from that exact moment the direct pathway from slavery to freedom. And it rendered me more resolute to seek intelligence. And I was it rendered me more resolute to seek intelligence. However, my mistress was checked in her benevolent desire. The good lady not only ceased to instruct me, but she set her face aflint against my learning to read by any means necessary.
The power of the husband was victorious. But all this was all too late. I had begun to use my young white playmates with whom I met in the streets as teachers. I carried a copy of the Webster spelling book in my pocket. And when sent on errands, when time permits, I step aside with my young playmates and take a lesson in spelling. I paid my boys with bread for a single biscuit.
Any one of my hungry little comrades would give me a lesson far more valuable to me than bread. So when I was about 13 years old, when I was about 13 years old, I succeeded to learn how to read. I was able to obtain a popular school book, the Columbia Order. Oh, a rich treasure, almighty documents or choice, readings. And I read them over and over again, adding much to my limited stock of knowledge. I got a bold and powerful denunciation on oppression and the most brilliant vindication on the rights of man. I was able to penetrate the secret between all slavery and oppression. And I ascertain this true foundation to be the pride, the power, and the avarice of man. And you're listening to Kyle Taylor performing the words, the work, the life of Frederick Douglass and bringing it to life.
I was born a slave in America. The Lord has given me so many adventures. This segment started and it ended with these words.
I was able to penetrate the secret between all slavery and oppression and ascertained its true foundation to be the pride, power, and avarice of man. What a writer, what a life. When we come back, more of a life of Frederick Douglass here on Our American Stories. This is Lee Habib, host of Our American Stories. Every day we set out to tell the stories of Americans past and present from small towns to big cities and from all walks of life doing extraordinary things. But we truly can't do this show without you. Our shows are free to listen to, but they're not free to make. If you love what you hear, go to our americanstories.com and make a donation to keep the stories coming.
That's our americanstories.com. You wake up, put on your Ray-Ban meta glasses, classic style, innovative tech. You're living all in. You realize you need coffee desperately. So you say, Hey meta, how do I make a latte?
To make a latte, brew two shots of espresso. After meta AI gets you caffeinated, you start walking to work and you need a soundtrack. Hey meta, play hip hop music. With the built-in camera, you snap a pic of a dope mural on the side of a building that you think is worth sharing. Hey meta, text my last photo to Eva, sending message.
After work, you had to meet some friends. Hey, nice glasses. Ray-Ban meta glasses, the next generation of AI glasses. Just say, Hey meta, to harness the power of meta AI. Listen to music, make hands-free calls with open-air audio and built-in microphones, and so much more.
All while staying present to the world around you. Shop Ray-Ban meta glasses at meta.com slash smart glasses. Experience sensational sound with Vizio's soundbar collection. Starting at just $99, there's a soundbar for every budget. With Dolby Atmos in every model, cinema quality sound is closer than ever. This collection features Vizio's simplest setup yet, so you'll be streaming your favorite iHeartRadio playlists in no time. Whether you're looking for a simple setup or the cutting edge Elevate SE with 360 degree sound immersion and auto rotating speakers, Vizio has you covered.
Head to Best Buy or Amazon to find the perfect Vizio soundbar for you. All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses, and I plugged in the Bartesian. Bartesian? It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too.
I just got it for 50 off. So, how about a Closmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita? I'm thirsty.
Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength, and... Wow, it's beginning to feel more seasonal in here already. If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.
Tis the season to be jollier. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker, Bartesian. Get $50 off any cocktail maker at bartesian.com slash cocktail. That's B-A-R-T-E-S-I-A-N.com slash cocktail. Hello, it is Ryan and I was on a flight the other day playing one of my favorite social spin slot games on chumbacassino.com.
I looked over at the person sitting next to me and you know what they were doing? They were also playing Chumba Casino. Everybody's loving having fun with it. Chumba Casino is home to hundreds of casino style games that you can play for free anytime, anywhere. So sign up now at chumbacassino.com. That's chumbacassino.com and live the Chumba life. Sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary. VGW Group. Void where prohibited by law.
18 plus terms. Head over to nflshop.com for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate gifting destination for jerseys, t-shirts, headwear and more. Take your game day style to the next level with the best selection of NFL gear anywhere. Show off your team pride this holiday season with styles fit for the whole family.
To shop now go to nflshop.com. And we continue with our American stories and with the life of Frederick Douglass. Let's return to Kyle Taylor as Frederick Douglass himself. Oh there was a short dialogue in it between a master and a slave who had been recaptured. An argument is ensued and the slave is abraded and told to answer and he says he knows anything he says would have little avail since he is completely in the hands of his master.
And that I submit to my fate. Touch the master begins to recount all the good deeds he's performed for the slave and then ask him to speak again. Thus having been invited to a debate the slave makes a spirited defense of himself and arguments for and against slavery were bought out.
The master is vanquished by every turn and seeing this he meekly emancipates the slave with best wishes for his prosperity. It is scarcely necessary for me to see that such a dialogue with such an ending read when the fact that my being a slave was a constant burden of grief to me powerfully affected me. After this I felt the need of God as a father and protector. I was awakened by this regard by the preaching of a white Methodist minister Hanson.
He felt that all men great and small bonding and free were sinners in the sight of God and they had to repent of their sin and be reconciled to God through Christ. I consulted a good colored man named Charles Johnson who in tones of holy affection told me to pray. I finally found that change of heart which comes when one casts all one's cares upon God and by having faith in Jesus Christ as a friend and as a redeemer and as a savior for all those who diligently seek him. After this I saw the world in a fresh light. I seemed to live in a new world animated by new hopes. I loved all mankind, slave holder, not accepted, but I abhorred slavery even more now than ever. My great concern now was to have the whole world converted.
I would gather pages from the Holy Bible from the dirty street gutters of Baltimore and I washed and dried them so I can get a word or two of wisdom from them. I got acquainted with a good old colored man named Lawson, a more devout man than he I had never seen. He not only prayed three times a day, but he prayed while he was walking down the street, while he was in his wagon, while he was at work.
His whole life was a life of prayer. I went often with him to prayer meetings without the knowledge of master. He could read a little, but I was a great help to him in that regard. I taught him the lessons, but he taught me the spirit. Master threatened to whip me when he knew that I had gone with Uncle Lawson, but I went anyway despite the threat. Uncle Lawson was a great help to him in that regard. I taught him the lessons, but Uncle Lawson was my spiritual father. He told me that he had been shown that I must preach the gospel and that I had great work to do and that the Lord is expecting me to prepare myself for it. But a pious man named Mr. Wilson asked me to help him teach a small schoolhouse in the home of a free colored man named Mr. Mitchell who lived in a nearby village. Here was something to live for, good work, teaching children to read the gospel of God. And we were doing so when rushed to the church we were headed by class leaders of the church we belong to, forced in the south, armed with sticks and missiles, commanded that we'd never meet for such a purpose again, the hypocrisy.
You can see. By the time I was 20, another incident occurred, but it involved all who had supposedly converted to Christianity and had exhibited far more cruelty and meanness to me than ever before. He resolved to put me out after years of my suffering severe weapons by him.
For one year, he said, to be broken by a man famous for doing so, Edward Covey. It's suffice to say that for the next six months I suffered far more good and bitter attacks than ever before with master all. I suffered bodily as well as mentally.
Mr. Covey the snake goaded me almost to madness. I cried out, oh Lord, save me. I only have one life to live. Protect me, God. I might as well be killed running than die standing 100 miles north and I'm free.
With God's help, I will. But the contemptible Covey, through a series of incidents, created the occasion for my one last flogging. After a previous bloody attack by this brute and after I went back to my master for mercy and justice who only sent me back to him, I vowed to stand up for myself if he attacked me again, which he did very soon in the barn while I was attempting to obey an order of his to feed the horses. The snake grabbed me and was endeavoring to slip a knot around my leg.
I found my friend around my fingers around the throat of that cowardly tormentor. Every punch that he was was carried by mine and Covey trembled and demanded, I am going to resist your scoundrel. And I looked straight in his eyes and I said, yes sir, you have goaded me and treated me like a brute for the last six months and I will stand it no longer.
After a long battle of many blows, Covey now, bloody in the cow yard, finally gave up the contest, huffing and puffing and pretending as if he won. And he said, get back to work. All this time my aim was not to hurt him, but to prevent him from hurting me. He never laid the weight of his fingers on me again. It was the turning point of my life as a slave. I was a man now.
I had got to a point where it didn't matter whether I lived or died. The spirit, it made me a free man. In fact, while I remain a slave in form. And you've been listening to Kyle Taylor and his remarkable performance as Frederick Douglass, embodying the very character and essence of the man through his own words, through Frederick Douglass's own writing. And my goodness, you see right in the center of all this is God. It's Jesus Christ for Frederick Douglass. I love all mankind, he had said. I imagine this being a slave and even being able to formulate that line that can only come from one source.
But I abhorred slavery more than ever, he said. Uncle Lawson, my spiritual father, showed me I must preach the gospel. The Lord's expecting me to do it. I cried out, oh Lord, save me. Living only 100 miles north, I'd be free. And then of course, towards the end, the spirit made me a free man. And he's talking about the Holy Spirit. While I remain a slave in form.
When we come back, more of the remarkable words of Frederick Douglass and the remarkable performance of Kyle Taylor as Frederick Douglass here on Our American Stories. You wake up, put on your Ray-Ban meta glasses, classic style, innovative tech. You're living all in. You realize you need coffee, desperately. So you say, hey meta, how do I make a latte? To make a latte, brew two shots of espresso. After meta AI gets you caffeinated, you start walking to work and you need a soundtrack.
Hey meta, play hip hop music. With a built-in camera, you snap a pic of a dope mural on the side of a building that you think is worth sharing. Hey meta, text my last photo to Eva.
Sending message. After work, you head to meet some friends. Hey, nice glasses. Ray-Ban meta glasses, the next generation of AI glasses. Just say, hey meta, to harness the power of meta AI. Listen to music, make hands-free calls with open-air audio and built-in microphones, and so much more.
All while staying present to the world around you. Shop Ray-Ban meta glasses at meta.com slash smart glasses. Experience sensational sound with Vizio's soundbar collection. Starting at just $99, there's a soundbar for every budget. With Dolby Atmos in every model, cinema quality sound is closer than ever. This collection features Vizio's simplest setup yet. So you'll be streaming your favorite iHeartRadio playlists in no time. Whether you're looking for a simple setup or the cutting edge Elevate SE with 360 degree sound immersion and auto rotating speakers, Vizio has you covered.
Head to Best Buy or Amazon to find the perfect Vizio soundbar for you. All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Bartesian. Bartesian? It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too.
I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Closmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita? I'm thirsty.
Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength, and... Wow. It's beginning to feel more seasonal in here already. If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.
Tis the season to be jollier. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker, Bartesian. Get $50 off any cocktail maker at Bartesian.com slash cocktail. That's B-A-R-T-E-S-I-A-N.com slash cocktail. Hello, it is Ryan and I was on a flight the other day playing one of my favorite social spin slot games on ChumbaCasino.com.
I looked over the person sitting next to me and you know what they were doing? They were also playing Chumba Casino. Everybody's loving having fun with it. Chumba Casino is home to hundreds of casino style games that you can play for free anytime, anywhere. So sign up now at ChumbaCasino.com. That's ChumbaCasino.com and live the Chumba life. Sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary.
VGW Group. Void where prohibited by law. 18 plus terms and... Head over to NFLShop.com for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate gifting destination for jerseys, t-shirts, headwear and more. Take your game day style to the next level with the best selection of NFL gear anywhere. Show off your team pride this holiday season with styles fit for the whole family.
To shop now, go to NFLShop.com. And we continue with our American stories and with Frederick Douglass' story. Let's return to Kyle Taylor who picks up where we last left off. On the third day of September, 1838, in accordance with the resolution I've made to do so, I bade farewell to the city of Baltimore and to slavery through my escape. I'd had help from my dear and trusted friend, Anna, who worked near the docks where I worked. In the days before, there were moments when I and others with me shared thoughts of Hamlet the Dane. Thoughts that we would rather bear those ills we had than fly off to those we knew not of. No man can tell the intense agony felt by a slave when he's wavering at his escape.
Everything he has is at stake and everything he has not is at stake too. But I believe there was not one man among us who would not have rather been shot down than to have passed away life in hopeless bondage. So, there I was in the great city of New York without loss of blood or bone. And less than one week from escape in Baltimore, I was walking among the rushing throngs and gazing at the dazzling wonders of Broadway. The dreams of my childhood, the purpose of my manhood now fulfilled, free state all around me, free earth under my feet, a whole new world just burst upon my agitated vision. It was a moment of joy and excitement that no words can describe. I felt as if I had just escaped a den of hungry lions. But joy and gladness, oh, it's like a rainbow of promise that defies the pen and pencil.
For 15 years, I had been dragging a heavy chain with a huge block attached to it. The chain was now severed and God in right stood vindicated. I was a free, a free, free man. However, I was soon taught that I was still in enemy's land. I hadn't been in New York before a few hours when I was met by a fugitive sleeve well known to me, Alondis Jake, who while in New York said he was William Dixon. He said that he had just narrowly escaped from being recaptured and that there were many southerners now in the city coming back from the springs and that the black people in New York were not to be trusted and that there were hired men on the lookout for fugitive slaves and that for a few dollars I could be put back into the hands of a slave catcher. He even seemed to be fearing while cautioning me that I might be of a party to partake in recapturing him.
He was soon lost to the Russian throngs. All of a sudden a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness crept all over me. Here I was in the midst of human brothers and yet more fearful of them than of hungry lions. I kept my secret for as long as I could but then I was forced to go out and search for an honest man, a man sufficiently human enough not to betray me. I found my man and steward, a sailor, warm-hearted and generous. He listened to my story with brotherly interest and he took me home and went in search immediately for the late David Ruggles. Ruggles was an officer in the underground railroad who kept me safe for several days while my intended wife Anna came up from Baltimore after I had informed that I was safe.
We were married shortly thereafter. In New Bedford, Massachusetts where Anna and I was assured that we'd be safe, I observed heavy toil without the whip and incidents which assured me that Anna and I was amongst a sensible and thoughtful people. There were men there that told me that in the state constitution there, there was nothing preventing a colored man from seeking any office.
Children went to school side by side with white children and my new friends they assured me that there were men there willing to lay down their lives before a slave would be taken there. Among my first concern while in New Bedford was to join a church. I had never given up on my faith. I had become a little backslitting and lukewarm but I still felt it was necessary for me to join a church. The southern slave holding churches I can see through but I wasn't ready for what I saw in the Elm Street church in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the most sacred and solemn of all Christian ordinances. Pastor Bonnie preached and after was the church remained to partake in the sacrament. I was among about a half a dozen of colored members associated with the church and had descended from the gallery from where we had been ushered. White members went forward by the bench floor and when it was evident that all the white members had been served the bread and wine, brother Bonnie pious brother Bonnie after a long pause as if to meet the necessary important point that all the white members had been served, raised his voice in an unnatural pitch and looked into the corner where his black sheep had been pinned up and beckoned with his hands exclaiming, come forward with colored members come forward. You too have interest in the blood of Christ.
God is no respecter of persons. And the colored members poor slavish souls went forward and I went out and I never been back to that church since. Only a month later I was given a copy of a newspaper, The Liberator edited by William Lord Garrison. It exposed hypocrisy and wickedness in high places. It made no truce for the traffickers of human bodies and souls of men. It preached human brotherhood, denounced oppression and demanded the complete emancipation of Maurice. All the anti-slavery meetings in New Bedford are promptly attended. And you've been listening to Kyle Taylor embodying the man, the works, the language, the voice of Frederick Douglass. It's just so moving part where he talks about just finally fleeing bondage. On the third day of September I bade for a well to the city of Baltimore and slavery through my escape. And then of course I'm talking about New York City. I was walking among the rushing throngs and gazing at the dazzling sights of Broadway. I was a free, free man and then only to discover thanks to the fugitive slave act that there were southerners all over New York City looking to recapture slaves and return them to the states. And there were blacks in New York City who could not be trusted, who may just collaborate with those traitors for a penny or a nickel or a dime. What a harrowing thing to have happen. And then of course as he moves he discovers the words the church of William Lloyd Garrison, and it changes everything.
When we come back, more of the life of Frederick Douglass here on Our American Stories. You wake up, put on your Ray-Ban meta glasses, classic style, innovative tech. You're living all in. You realize you need coffee, desperately. So you say, hey meta, how do I make a latte? To make a latte, brew two shots of espresso. After meta AI gets you caffeinated, you start walking to work and you need a soundtrack.
Hey meta, play hip hop music. With the built-in camera, you snap a pic of a dope mural on the side of a building that you think is worth sharing. Hey meta, text my last photo to Eva.
Sending message. After work, you head to meet some friends. Hey, nice glasses. Ray-Ban meta glasses, the next generation of AI glasses. Just say, hey meta, to harness the power of meta AI. Listen to music, make hands-free calls with open-air audio and built-in microphones, and so much more.
All while staying present to the world around you. Shop Ray-Ban meta glasses at meta.com slash smart glasses. Experience sensational sound with Vizio Soundbar Collection. Starting at just $99, there's a soundbar for every budget. With Dolby Atmos in every model, cinema quality sound is closer than ever. This collection features Vizio's simplest setup yet, so you'll be streaming your favorite iHeartRadio playlists in no time. Whether you're looking for a simple setup or the cutting-edge Elevate SE with 360-degree sound immersion and auto rotating speakers, Vizio has you covered.
Head to Best Buy or Amazon to find the perfect Vizio Soundbar for you. All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird-shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Bartesian. Bartesian? It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too.
I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Closmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita? I'm thirsty.
Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength, and... Wow, it's beginning to feel more seasonal in here already. If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds.
And I just got it for $50 off. Tis the season to be jolly-er. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartesian. Get $50 off any cocktail maker at bartesian.com slash cocktail.
That's b-a-r-t-e-s-i-a-n.com slash cocktail. Head over to nflshop.com for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate gifting destination for jerseys, t-shirts, headwear, and more. Take your game day style to the next level with the best selection of NFL gear anywhere. Show off your team pride this holiday season with styles fit for the whole family.
To shop now, go to nflshop.com. NBC to make today your home for the holidays. And we continue with our American stories and with Kyle Taylor playing the part of Frederick Douglass. Let's pick up where we last left off. Oh there was a grand anti-slavery convention in Nantucket in 1841.
I had taken no holidays in the three years since my escape, working with my hands sometimes all night and sometimes all day working as a corker. So I went to this convention never supposing that I might partake in the proceedings. But a prominent abolitionist who had heard me speaking to my colored friends in a smog church house, sought me out in the crowd and asked if I could come up and say a few words. Say a few words. Oh it was with the utmost difficulty for me to even stand direct, for me to command and articulate two or three words without hesitation and stammering. All my limbs trembled but the audience became so excited as myself and then Garrison spoke after me and it took me as his text and it was a speech of unequal power that swept down like a tornado.
That night I was urgently solicited to join the anti-slavery society and publicly advocate its principles. Here was a new world for me. My years of freedom had been in hard labor as a way of supporting Anna and I and rearing up of our children. But I was young and hopeful and I poured my whole heart into this holy cause. However, after years of preaching and speaking with these gentlemen it all became too mechanical for me. Telling my story they would say, tell your story Frederick as I would walk up to the stage night after night, tell your story.
It was a new story for the audience but it was an old story for me. I was reading and thinking a great deal at the time and new ideas had been presented to my mind on the subject. I couldn't always obey. I even had men come up to me and say, tell your story tell your story Frederick but better have a little bit of that plantation matter about yourself.
Tis not best you appear too educated. In less than four years of public speaking with these gentlemen folks begin to doubt that I had ever been a slave, even believe that I had never been south of the Mason-Dixon line. Thought I was too intelligent and since I couldn't reveal the name of my master or the county or state where I was from for fear of being recaptured and sent back to him. It was decided by friends that I must leave for England. For 21 months I stayed in England and to my friends there I owe my freedom in America. On their own accord without any solicitation by me they raised funds sufficient enough to purchase my freedom in America. I could have stayed in England forever but I felt it was my duty to perform here in America to suffer and labor with the oppressor of my native land.
So I returned. By the way my friends in England they uh they resolved to purchase me a press and printed material and I found myself wielding the pen as well as my voice to send oppression to the grave. However while back in America my friends in Boston earnestly opposed a wood sawyer offering himself to the public as an editor, a slave brought up in the very depth of ignorance assuming to instruct the highly civilized people of the north and the principles of humanity liberty and justice. Nevertheless I persevered the newspaper florist for 16 years and I only closed it during the war and after meeting with President Lincoln under the belief that I was to be commissioned by the United States to be the first black officer I was to be the assistant adjutant to General Thomas who was then recruiting and organizing troops in the Mississippi Valley.
My three sons were serving in that war and after their splendid behavior and their ability to fight to meet the foe in the open field black soldiers on equal fitness with white soldiers to stop a bullet. Black men had proved themselves to be courageous and worthy. In a speech I delivered in November 1867 I said that a man's rights rest in three boxes the ballot box the jury box and the cartridge box.
The real question is do they mean to make good to us all the promises made in that glorious liberty document the U.S. Constitution. I will now share with you I will now share with you a letter that I wrote to my master. I was finally able to challenge him to consider his horrible treatment of me and of my dear sisters. I said it is an outrage upon the soul a war upon the immortal spirit and one from which you must give account at the bar of our common father and creator how you can stagger under these many years your mind must have become darkened your heart hardened your conscience seared and petrified or you would have long since thrown off the accursed load and sought relief at the hands of a sin forgiven god how let me ask would you look upon me where I some dark knight in company with a band of hardened villains to enter to your elegant dwelling and seize the person of your own lovely daughter Amanda and carry her off from your family friends and all the loved ones of her youth make her my slave compel her to work and I take her wages place her name on my ledger as property disregard her personal rights feather the powers of her rights and privilege of learning to read and write feed her coarsely clothe her scantily and whip her on the back occasionally and more and more still horrible leave her unprotected a degraded victim to the brutal lust of fiendish overseers who would pollute blight and blast out her fair souls rob her of all her dignity destroy her virtue and annihilate in her person all the graces that adorn the character of virtuous womanhood I ask how would you regard me if such were my conda indeed I entertain no malice towards you personally there is no roof under which you would be more safe than mine and there is nothing in my house which you might need for your comfort which I would not readily grant I should esteem it a privilege to set you as an example as how mankind ought to treat each other I am your fellow man not your slave and a terrific job on the production and editing by our own Greg Hengler and a special thanks to Kyle Taylor and to the folks at Vision Video for allowing us to use the audio for the theatrically staged drama No Turning Back starring Kyle Taylor just an extraordinary performance go to Vision Video watch this with your family it's so important very often what we learn about Frederick Douglass is extremely edited and I think almost violently edited because too often God is left out his faith journey is left out his sense of hope is left out and so much more and again go to Vision Video No Turning Back is the name of the video that features this performance by Kyle Taylor and it is more than a performance it's it's just remarkable the story of Frederick Douglass brought alive by the remarkable work remarkable performance of Kyle Taylor here on Our American Stories experience sensational sound with Vizio's soundbar collection starting at just $99 there's a soundbar for every budget with Dolby Atmos in every model cinema quality sound is closer than ever this collection features Vizio's simplest setup yet so you'll be streaming your favorite iHeartRadio playlists in no time whether you're looking for a simple setup or the cutting edge Elevate SE with 360 degree sound immersion and auto rotating speakers Vizio has you covered head to Best Buy or Amazon to find the perfect Vizio soundbar for you you wake up put on your Ray-Ban meta glasses you're living all in you realize you need coffee so you say hey meta how do i make a latte brew two shots of espresso after meta ai gets you caffeinated you're ready for some beats hey meta play hip-hop music you had to meet some friends but can't remember the place hey meta call eva ray-ban meta glasses the next generation of ai glasses just say hey meta to harness the power of meta ai shop now at meta.com smart glasses we've all got a thing an obsession for some of us it's vintage fashion our cars anything we can collect they all live under one roof ebay it's where closets get filled with statement pieces and vintage finds where must-have sneakers wait for you and designer handbags are the real deal on ebay doors open to stacks of the rarest trading cards and a garage stocked with all the car parts you need for any diy job ebay's home to whatever thing you're into that keeps you up at night ebay things people love take a deep dive into the stories making the news headlines across the world the news agents we're not just here to tell you what's happening but why from me emily mateless and me john sopel with global's award-winning podcast the news agents dropping daily covering everything you need to know about politics and current affairs and the news agents usa they're eating the dogs the people that came in listen to the news agents on the i heart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts deciding on what to listen to is hard using zoomo to stream music from i heart 90s radio is easy or play i heart country or hip-hop beats your choice all for free stream easy with zoomo play get live and on-demand entertainment with no logins no signups no accounts no hassle this december get cozy on the couch with charlie's angel starring drew barrymore lucy loon cameron diaz and looper starring bruce willis and emily blunt all streaming free on zoomo play go to play.zumo.com now life is hard zoomo is easy
