douglass.ublished in 1845 the narrative of the life of frederick douglass he tells his early life as a slave in maryland lynn tatian. learning to read and working as a shipbuilder in baltimore and as cape from slavery to the north as a young adult. in of several memoirs he wrote about his life, this first narrative was an anti-slavery treatise, best and further the cause of abolition. for many readers outside of the south this may have been their introduction to the reality of slavery. throughout his life he continued to work toward ending slavery as a writer, orator and statesman and the power of his presence was captured in a newly popular medium. douglass was one of the most photographed americans of the 19th century. >> welcome to books that shaped america. our c-span series that looks at how books throughout our history have influenced who we are today . in partnership with the library of congress, this 10 week series has been exploring different eras, topics and viewpoints. you're glad yo

the state with douglass. lincoln begins make a real national name for himself. readers of newspapers, the midwest and around the country are going to read excerpts or even whole accounts of the debates, and they who stephen douglass is. now they're beginning to learn who abraham lincoln is as well. there are points in his development as a politician where he could have backed off. he have said something not quite as gutsy, but he takes an ethical stance. yes, he's a politician. he's a great politician, and he will pull punches. yet in the house, divided speech, he's actually coming right out and saying those people are trying to spread slavery everywhere. it forces people to recognize that there is a choice between good and evil. there's a choice between and freedom. there's a choice between putting slavery on a path to extinction or spreading it everywhere. that half measures really are not going to work anymore. it's either going to become all slavery or all free. this can't go on this way. and although he

reverend douglass was, again, laying on his back.r with a cord-type material. keith morrison (voiceover): although ake never took the stand, never even said a word to his lawyers, the jury heard his thanksgiving statement. keith morrison (voiceover): then came the eyewitnesses to the carnage that night. leslie douglass, now 20 years old, a college student, calmly explained it all to the jury. and then i heard two more shots which hit my father. and then another shot, and i screamed, and then he shot me again. and then i heard him run out the door. i was amazed by her courage. she had to go back there in her mind and tell you exactly what happened, what she did. she did not falter. and she was rock solid? yes. keith morrison (voiceover): brooks douglass wasn't spared his turn on the stand. i felt the bullet hit me. and i heard another one go off and my mother scream. keith morrison (voiceover): the core of the defense case was the testimony of psychiatrists-- three of them. do you believe that he was insane on the 15th of october, 197

in another book that's been published recently about frederick douglass picturing douglass because he the most photographed american ever. oh, and it's so fascinating. not only was he photographed, he became a huge celebrity. i mean, lincoln was, you know excited to be with frederick douglass or to see him? and he would fill up lecture halls. people would be packed in to encounter him. and there's many episodes leading into the civil where douglass is center stage. but yet he met john brown of all of osawatomie, kansas and, and most famously of harpers ferry. john brown trying to seize a federal and hand out guns so enslaved people could revolt. and douglass begged off of that. that was a bridge, too, for him. but the people love douglass were like emerson and thoreau and alcott intellectual crowd of greater boston area. we saw mae's father. yes, yes. well, we are physically next door to. the supreme court right here at the library of congress and. the next book, the common law by oliver wendell holmes jr towards property contracts and says the life of the law has not been logic. it h

most unlikely places you can agf that is houston and my goodness, douglass as well as .rederick douglassormal learns write runs for office loses most the time, loses a senaac and, captures america's imagination, starts this new party at the perfect. the party splits enough for him to win with 5% of the vote and half the country voting for him ends up being arguably our best president. and when ik lass born in slavery, never knew his mom, never knew his dad, just determined to matter in life, got himself educated, overcame things i can't imagine reminds me of half luther king, malcolm x or third malcolm x up luther king and muhammad ali. he was■xive. he was direct. he was he wasand the guy had a . he ends eipublisher a self-taug, charismatic speake tell. can't get my head around what he overcame to beest americans ever that had every reason to be angry at america. but all he wanted to do was make america because he knew it's constitution. we weren't living up to. we didn't have a flawed constitution. he evolved to that. which brings me to and booker t movies. what's the best thing about t

well, that frederick douglass did not have formal. he did not have formal education, but he wrote so beautifully. he trained himself and over the years he could compete with anyone on the planet in terms of writing, if that's the way. know so this this next is one that's actually a perfect follow up for the question we just had because the penmanship is very interesting. there are capital letters spread throughout the interior of words and so you get the sense that this this man was not a skilled writer. his name was zack burden. he was from indianapolis originally. he enlisted in the eighth u.s. colored troops when he was nine years old in november of 1864. he was a farmer and. he goes off to fight during the war and during the war. his shoes were too small. we about the subpar equipment and uniforms that people received. and so shoes were too small and he suffered a foot injury as a result that that plagued him for the rest his life. and he writes to lincoln about a number different things that are on his mind mind. february the sec

amy: james earl jones reading the words of frederick douglass. when we come back, "voices of a people's history of the united states in the 21st century." stay with us. ♪ [music break] amy: patti smith, performing "people have the power" at the first performance of "voices of the people's history of the united states." this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. today in this special broadcast, we look at "voices of a people's history," inspired by the late great historian howard zinn's groundbreaking book "a people's history of the united states," which helped reshape how history is taught in classrooms. 20 years ago, howard zinn and anthony arnove began organizing public readings of historical texts referenced in "a people's history of the united states." the two would go on to publish a book collecting these texts under the title "voices of the peoples history of the united states." while howard zinn died in 2010, his work continues to inspire millions across the country in the globe. anthony arnove and

part of that is houston and my goodness, part that is for frederick douglass as well as frederick douglass in abraham lincoln. abject poverty. lincoln, one year of formal schooling he learns to read learns write runs for office loses most the time, loses a senate race and, captures america's imagination, starts this new party at the perfect. the party splits enough for him to win with 5% of the vote and half the country voting for him ends up being arguably our best president. and when i talk about a in frederick douglass born in slavery, never knew his mom, never knew his dad, just determined to matter in life, got himself educated, overcame things i can't imagine reminds me of half luther king, malcolm x or third malcolm x up luther king and muhammad ali. he was privy active. he was direct. he was he was charming, was charismatic. and the guy had a inspirational. he ends up being his own editor, publisher a self-taught, charismatic speaker. i can't begin to tell. can't get my head around what he overcame to be this impactful player. one of the greatest americans ever that had every reaso

is is fully abolitionist, inspires frederick douglass to acclaim him as. the greatest of the american presidents and dies on the floor of congress after denouncing the war with mexico and murmurs i am composed, which is a passage from cicero, suggesting finally he's achieved not contentment. some think he said am content but it was almost certainly i am composed because it's the self-mastery and self composure that defines the virtuous pursuit of happiness. i mean, there's so much more stopping, he or he argued, the amistad case for four days, you know a triumph for the enslaved africans and at the end but it's so interesting you know a friend of mine just read the book and also to john quincy adams. and so maybe i, you know, i'll beat up on myself a little bit less or my my own efforts to to make some use of my self. i'll be a little more forgiving on that. it's reassuring to see how hard he drove himself. of course, he went far too. but it's so beautiful what he achieved. the sonnets are really good too, and wrote this anti-slavery sonnet and he even tra

roger goblet -- frederick douglass should be regarded as the founder of american democracy.ardon, we never got to see that president held to account. never got to see the crimes, such as the attempted break-in at the brookings institution. his order to take a safe out. to rob it on a free pre-basis, as he puts it on the tapes. these are things we should've seen in a criminal trial, but the pardons stopped all of that. so throughout american history, and i say it in the book, we have recovered that citizens have given us hope by reclaiming democracy against adams, against buchanan. when it came to nixon, citizens of the grand jury, residents of washington, d.c. who tried to indict the president were stopped by the pardon and we never got to see justice done. and really that is what we've got to do, we've got to reclaim this constitution for ourselves. we got to see democracy restored. not by the court. that is not going to have it. not by congress. but by citizens demanding the restoration of a democratic constitution and saving it from what unfortunately some presidents have

lives of frederick douglass and abraham lincoln, was a national bestseller. this introduction could go on much, much longer, but it stops there because it is a pleasure for me to welcome manisha sinha back to aas to welcome john stauffer here for conversation and now, over to manisha. [ applause ] >> middle of the week to help me launch this book. i' thank you, scott, for the very y generous introduction. i thank everyone who has showed up here in the middle of the week to help me launch this book. i would really like to begin by painting -- thanking all the staff at the american antiquarian society. escott mentioned, i did much of my research for this book here in the archives. when the whole world was shut down because of the pandemic, i had the privilege of being able to research this book. i am extremely grateful to the people at the american antiquarian society. i think it is only appropriate that i am launching this book here today. i thank you for inviting me to do this program. and i think my good friend, john stauffer, who in my opinion, is one of th

frederick douglass and thomas paine geek are really done that. we think the comments and for showing how deep the wealthy threat goes we understand is not just the plan has been developed the real danger the fertile ground the blossoming inside a conservative administration. the supreme court could not care less about the fundamental checks and balances roman into the fabric of our constitution said i was much two weeks ago he said the supreme court ruling yesterday on immunity is of vital. that part of the project and the supreme court majority got their memo. these extremists are terrifyingly close to unleashing this deranged senseless agenda on the american people. they want to take us back not to 1954 by 1864. a full agency and franchise of the great american republic huge corporations work folks like farm and project 2025 is not some frivolous exercise. project 2025 is not a frivolous academic exercise. this is a well resourced, deeply invested in. over 100 organizations are accustomed to being able to drive their agenda through in administr

you see, we are the republican party of frederick douglass, and of abraham lincoln.re not simply the party of our leaders. we are also the party of the young woman in wisconsin taking over her family farm. an hispanic father working 16 hour days in nevada. and a black teenager in philly starving for opportunity. we are not just the grand old party of the past. we are the great opportunity party of america's future. [applause] and there's only -- hear me clearly -- and there's only one person who can make that vision a reality. donald j. trump! god bless america! [applause]

with frederick douglass and thomas paine geek i really done that.r congressman for showing us how deep the well of the threat goes. he understands the problem is not just this plan has been developed to the reale danger is the fertile ground where it can enjoy blossoming inside of a conservative administration. operatives would work with us a congressman called at eight neoconservative neo- minorca supreme court that could not care less about the fundamental checks and balances woven into the fabric of our constitution the heritage president said as much two weeks ago he said the supreme court ruling yesterday on immunity is vital. clearly, that is part of the project and clearly the supreme courtje majority got their memo. these extremists are terrifyingly close to unleashing this deranged senseless agenda on the american people pray they want to take us back not to 1964 bit 1864 men made decisions for women. people looks like me did not have the full agency and franchise of this great american republic. huge corporations works folks like farm anim

african-american professional musician, marie williams, to perform at the white house and frederick douglass introduced her. she also invited other black music groups, including students, to sing at white house events. helen nellie taft, who's in the bottom left hand corner, developed an appreciation for cultural diversity when they were in the philippines and. that taft was the governor general of the philippines at the time. she found that there was a color line and that the soul pianos were not being invited to events. well, she changed all of that. and they really considered her to be very egalitarian. she also looked at the plight of african-american immigrants who were in washington, d.c., and tried to do some things for them. and she invited them to white house open houses, which had not been done before, and added african-americans to the staff. she believed that education was a great equalizer, and she supported the start of kindergarten classes for black children. well, she's best known for bringing the cherry trees to washington. her civil rights activities are lesser known, but t

absolutely sure as congressman raskin reminded us earlier that we are lifted up once again, the frederick douglass vision, the thomas paine vision of what it means to have a truly inclusive society. thank you so much for joining us today, let's go do the work. >> today on c-span the house is back at 9:00 a.m. eastern to consider a 2025 spending bill at the legislative branch. members may also vote on whetheto hold attorney

so i'm having a bad day i think margin having a conversation with frederick douglass.explained to him how difficult my day was. imagine a true conversation with tubman, i just had d to te you about my day-to-day. and then see the look that she will give you. we have to remember the historic context of the evolution of this country. of the evolution of our states. i think if we do that and we are willing to do with those who came before all switches go through the work and not to simply give up or retreat i think we are guiding ourselves to a better place. the first trip i took to a place called Ãthey were having a boil water advisory. to visit a guy named marek colburn, when i first met him he said governor, do me a favor, turn 360 degrees. so i turned. he said the only guarantee i can give you is you didn't see a democrat within five miles anywhere you just looked. he said but you know what, you're the first governor who's been here since 1996. 96. you've got to do the work. so i'm a big believer in this idea that i believe and i have faith that we will be better in f

frederick douglass famously said if there's no struggle, there's no progress. those who favor freedom. and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing the ground. so my question for you, tina, is during the obama term in the white house, which particular struggles did you see? the first lady and your office regard as necessary to take on? well, i'm sort of laughing. and, you know, some of my colleagues from the obama administration are here. phil schiller and nancy-ann deparle, because actually struggles is how many in terms of what we face are over. we walked into the great recession and then we walked into you know, you know, trying to get the affordable care act passed. we walked into the repeal of don't don't is dead tell you so yeah there were there were a lot of. and your question about you know what did the first lady and our team view as necessary struggles actually is shaped by something that was a guiding principle for our work that mrs. obama articulated. and from the very beginning, she said there's only one person elected in this

that was part of that idea of advancing civil rights for african-americans, including frederick douglass, he gives frederick a federal job. he advocates for civil service reform. in fact, he up to roscoe conkling, roscoe conkling. actually, there's this big corrupt republican boss in new york. he ends up falling as a result of the actions of garfield. and in the end, he was probably the president most to credit for meaningful civil service, but not in the way he would have chosen in a train on the way to a college reunion, garfield is going to the platform and an insane man who was a disappoint at office seeker, a guy named charles guiteau, shoots him twice from behind and garfield probably would have been okay if the doctor suggests left him alone. but they kept poking and prodding him with unsterilized instruments, even their fingers, trying to find out where the is. and so he gets badly infected. and he lingers months before dying. and although this of course, is undeniably tragic, garfield's death may actually have been his biggest contribution to american politics. it's the shocking

you had everyone from elizabeth cady stanton to frederick douglass, abolition's us -- abolitionists allay up through the next hundred years and then women in recent modern history who have fought for women's rights. we need to honor their legacy and what they went through to get us where we are today with now having to preserve this war on women coming from the republican party. women have been carrying this country on their backs whenever our country has been in trouble and needed them whether it was in warm or whether it was in times of struggle in this country, the women have stepped up and rescued this country and for the seneca project, our mission to galvanize women in this election, explaining what is at stake, we are doing that so we can save democracy and save this country once again in november because the war on women coming from donald trump and the republican party is real and we need to make sure women fully understand the stakes. >> you know, i was on the weekend earlier today and talked about the fact that it is such a huge tell, that the failure to talk about reproducti

you see, we are the republican party of frederick douglass and of abraham lincoln.nald reagan and donald trump! [cheering and applause] but we -- >> everyone: four more years! [chanting] >> four more years! i love it! >> everyone: [chanting] >> awesome. we are not simply the party of our leaders. we are also the party of a young woman in wisconsin, taking over her family farm, hispanic father working 16 our days in nevada and a black teenager in philly, starving for opportunity. where not just the grand old party of the past. we are the great opportunity party of america's future! [cheering and applause] and there's only -- hear me clearly -- and there's only one person who can make that vision a reality. donald jay trump! [cheering and applause] god bless america! [cheering and applause] >> ♪ ♪ >> jesse: hallelujah. that was senator tim scott moonlighting as a southern preacher on the vb shortlist for a long and brought down the house when he said america is not a racist country. so this is a party of lincoln, douglas, regan, trump but it's not the party of the pas

example, when i'm having a bad day i think to myself in maggie have a conversation with frederick douglass, and explained to him a difficult my day was. right? [laughing] imagine a mayor landrieu, imagine having a conversation with harriet talbot and imagine a story, a two conversation, missed have attracted to about my today. and then see the look that she will give you. [laughing] -- harriet tubman. we have come in with a historic context of the evolution of this country. of the evolution of our states. i think if we do that and we're willing to do with those who can before stead, which is go to the work and not simply give up a retreat, then we are committing ourselves to a better place. governor cox knows this story. in my first days as governor the first trip i took outside was to place called -- over western maryland. they were happy a boil water advisory because they're having a water crisis. i went to go see the mayor out there who is turned into a friend. a guy named mayor coburn here mayor coburn when you first met in said governor, do me a favor. turn 360 degrees. so i turned. h

the president and freedom fighter and frederick douglass, do you think for a second i would not -- wouldn use that word from the 1930s nor why ever be insensitive enough to even think it on the couch. >> ainsley: we know you very well, brian, no, you are would not. >> brian: right. >> steve: we all heard you say college. it was as clear as day. and now you have, you have. >> brian: i'm not going to bring it up again. >> steve: have you settled it. he said college. we have all gone to college. and now we are going to a commercial. and newt gingrich is coming up.c ♪am i have active psoriatic arthritis. but with skyrizi to treat my skin and joints, count me in. along with clearer skin, skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and is just 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. there's nothing like clearer skin and better movement and that means everything! ask your doct