Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

by Frederick Douglass

He exhorted me to content myself, and be obedient. He told me, if I would be happy, I must lay out no plans for the future.

It was life and death with me.

Yet Mr. Johnson was a working man.

I was now my own master. It was a happy moment, the rapture of which can be understood only by those who have been slaves.

The paper became my meat and my drink. My soul was set all on fire. Its sympathy for my brethren in bonds—its scathing denunciations of slaveholders—its faithful exposures of slavery—and its powerful attacks upon the upholders of the institution—sent a thrill of joy through my soul, such as I had never felt before!

and never felt happier than when in an anti-slavery meeting. I

The truth was, I felt myself a slave, and the idea of speaking to white people weighed me down. I spoke but a few moments, when I felt a degree of freedom, and said what I desired with considerable ease. From that time until now, I have been engaged in pleading the cause of my brethren—with what success, and with what devotion, I leave those acquainted with my labors to decide.

apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference—so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked.

corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.

religious pomp and show,

The Christianity of America is a Christianity, of whose votaries it may be as truly said, as it was of the ancient scribes and Pharisees,

hypocrites!

therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

They would be shocked at the proposition of fellowshipping a sheep-stealer; and at the same time they hug to their communion a man-stealer, and brand me with being an infidel, if I find fault with them for it.

They can pray for him, pay money to have the Bible put into his hand, and missionaries to instruct him;

This still happens today.

while they despise and totally neglect the heathen at their own doors.