Table of Contents
Black History Month
Research & Learn
This featured lesson, centered on Frederick Douglass’ acclaimed defense of free expression entitled, “A plea for free speech in Boston,” is ideally suited for use during Black History Month. It is also appropriate for lessons on the First Amendment, minority rights, the perils of censorship, and the power of the spoken word.
In 1860, during the growing tensions leading to the American Civil War, abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass was scheduled to speak in Boston on the then-controversial question: “How Shall Slavery Be Abolished?”
Before the meeting could proceed, however, it was “invaded, insulted, [and] captured” by an angry, unruly, and violent mob, who sought to silence the abolitionists. As Douglass explained, the mayor and local officials “refused to protect” the meeting and the free speech of the abolitionists. Instead, they simply cancelled it. Frederick Douglass knew the disorderly mob posed a direct threat to the free speech rights of citizens, so he used his First Amendment right to speak up and he delivered this speech in response to the unfortunate incident.