Assembly Resolution No. 1215

BY: M. of A. Gantt

CELEBRATING the Bicentennial of the birth of
Frederick Douglass, the noted African-American
orator, journalist, and anti-slavery leader who was
a longtime resident of New York State

WHEREAS, Born in 1818 as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey,
Americans celebrate this great statesman's birth each year on February
14th; and

WHEREAS, At the young age of 20, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery,
and moved to the northeastern part of the United States; he eventually
found sanctuary in Rochester, New York; and

WHEREAS, In 1848, Frederick Douglass became a "stationmaster" on the
Underground Railroad, where he helped hundreds of people escape slavery
through his home in Rochester; and

WHEREAS, A great believer in women's suffrage, Frederick Douglass
participated in the First Women's Rights Convention, in Seneca Falls,
New York, on July 19, 1848; and

WHEREAS, On December 3, 1847, Frederick Douglass established The
North Star, an abolitionist newspaper based out of Rochester; the
four-page weekly publication gained notoriety amongst the abolitionist
movement, despite facing local backlash with the New York Herald; and

WHEREAS, Eventually The North Star merged with the Liberty Party
Paper to form Frederick Douglass' Paper in 1851; the anti-slavery
newspaper ran until 1860; and

WHEREAS, During the American Civil War, Frederick Douglass served as
a consultant to President Abraham Lincoln; through this position, he was
instrumental in African Americans being granted the right to vote; and

WHEREAS, In March of 1874, Frederick Douglass became the President
of Freedman's Savings and Trust Company; three years later, he was the
first African American appointed to the title of United States Marshall
of the District of Columbia; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Douglass' works are considered classics of
American autobiography; his memoir, Narrative of the Life of Frederick,
an American Slave, was influential in fueling the abolitionist movement
in America; and

WHEREAS, He published two more autobiographies, My Bondage and My
Freedom in 1855, and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in 1881; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his writing skills, Frederick Douglass was a
brilliant orator who famously offered powerful words on the equality of
people, whether black, female or Native American; his passionate 4th of
July speech, "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" was delivered at
an event organized by the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society on July
5, 1852; and


WHEREAS, The well-known speech was later distributed as a pamphlet,
and is still studied in literature classes today; some people regard it
as the greatest anti-slavery oration ever given; and

WHEREAS, A true social reformer, Frederick Douglass died on February
20, 1895, in Washington, D.C.; funeral services were held in the
Rochester Central Presbyterian Church in Rochester, and he was buried in
Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester; and

WHEREAS, The City of Rochester proclaimed 2018 as "The Year of
Frederick Douglass," encouraging the entire community to join in
celebration of the life and legacy of Rochester's favorite son,
legendary social reformer Frederick Douglass; and

WHEREAS, It is important to recall and honor individuals such as
Frederick Douglass, longtime New York State resident, fittingly
recognizing their valued contributions and publicly acknowledging their
endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the Bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Douglass, the noted
African-American orator, journalist, and anti-slavery leader who was a
longtime resident of New York State.