Frederick Douglass, a Friend to Haiti

By 1893, he was the leading black intellectual of his era, having penned many autobiographies detailing his life as a former slave. He put the lie to the argument slaves did not possess intelligence to lead their own lives with all the rights accorded to white citizens.

More pictures and historic information between Haiti and Black Americans

What is little known about Douglass is his appointment as General Consul to the Republic of Haiti. During his assignment, he learned of the slave revolt. Spearheaded by Toussaint Louverture, it led to Haiti's liberation as the first black-led nation in the world.

At the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, Douglass spoke about the slave revolt in Haiti and African-Americans' fight for liberation. He acknowledged American slaves' debt to Haiti, whose victory over slavery encouraged the abolitionist movement in America. His appearance was in connection with the Haitian Pavilion, whose construction he oversaw as a representative of the Haitian government.

Frederick Douglass espoused causes of all kinds, from women's suffrage, to American Indian and immigrant rights. An example of what American blacks have come to achieve, his legacy shows Haiti she must accord equal rights to women and stop the practice of restavek, a form of modern-day slavery.

The History of Haiti as it is related to the struggle of Blacks in America - Picture Presentation

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Read more: Toussaint L'Overture, People, Consulate, Independence, Slave, Restavek, Slavery, African-American, Black American, Slave Revolt, Frederick Douglass, Newsletter Articles, People

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