A former slave who eventually became a freedmen and wrote about the horrors of slavery. He wasn't supposed to know how to read or write, but he managed to
trick some white
kids into teaching him anyway. Some of his ideas still apply
today.
"Everybody has asked the question. . ."What shall we do with the
Negro?" I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played the mischief with us. Do nothing with us! If the apples will not remain on the tree of their own strength, if they are wormeaten at the
core, if they are early
ripe and disposed to fall, let them fall! I am not for tying or fastening them on the tree in any way, except by nature's plan, and if they will not
stay there, let them fall. And if the
Negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall also. All I ask is, give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone!"
-Frederick Douglass