Today’s Libation: Frederick Douglass February 1818 – February 20, 1895 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass www.history.com/topics/black-history/frederick-dou… An American abolitionist, social reformer, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York, becoming famous for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. Accordingly, he was described by abolitionists in his time as a living counterexample to slaveholders' arguments that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to function as independent American citizens. Northerners at the time found it hard to believe that such a great orator had once been a slave. It was in response to this disbelief that Douglass wrote his first autobiography.
“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” - Frederick Douglass
This is an extended version of the quote they highlight when you visit Douglass’ house in anacostia. When asked by a young Black man what we must do, Douglass simply answered “agitate”. This is what the storm and the whirlwind and the earthquake do. Humans measure time from before and after these earth shattering moments. That’s what our movements must be like. It must leave the ground wide open for new things because we’ve destroyed the old structures that could not withstand them. That’s the work Douglass did. Thank you for putting it in such succinct words.
We never forget so never fear, for homies who ain’t here, we’re pouring out a beer Because of you it will never be the same We keep saying your name while we pour champagne For the mothers and the father figures, your flame still flickers, we’re pouring out some liquor We’re the sons and the daughters of heroes and martyrs We honor you by pouring out some water
Bomani Armah
Today’s Libation:
Frederick Douglass
February 1818 – February 20, 1895
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass
www.history.com/topics/black-history/frederick-dou…
An American abolitionist, social reformer, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York, becoming famous for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. Accordingly, he was described by abolitionists in his time as a living counterexample to slaveholders' arguments that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to function as independent American citizens. Northerners at the time found it hard to believe that such a great orator had once been a slave. It was in response to this disbelief that Douglass wrote his first autobiography.
“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” - Frederick Douglass
This is an extended version of the quote they highlight when you visit Douglass’ house in anacostia. When asked by a young Black man what we must do, Douglass simply answered “agitate”. This is what the storm and the whirlwind and the earthquake do. Humans measure time from before and after these earth shattering moments. That’s what our movements must be like. It must leave the ground wide open for new things because we’ve destroyed the old structures that could not withstand them. That’s the work Douglass did. Thank you for putting it in such succinct words.
We never forget so never fear,
for homies who ain’t here, we’re pouring out a beer
Because of you it will never be the same
We keep saying your name while we pour champagne
For the mothers and the father figures,
your flame still flickers, we’re pouring out some liquor
We’re the sons and the daughters of heroes and martyrs
We honor you by pouring out some water
2 years ago | [YT] | 2