David Blight

For our July 4 show, we're spending the day learning about Frederick Douglass, including his incredible oratory skills. 

For July 4, we're dedicating the show to the life of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, including learning about his family and friends.

For the fifth installment of our July 4 show, we learn about how Frederick Douglass fought for abolition in Washington.

For our final segment on July 4, we learn about the final years and enduring legacy of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

For this segment of our July 4 show, we hear the story of how Frederick Douglass escaped slavery, and where he settled in the north.

For our July 4 show, we learn about the life and legacy of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Historian David W. Blight describes what made Frederick Douglass such an engaging speaker that he became one of the most powerful voices in 19th century America.

We wrap up the Full Bio series with a look at the last years of Frederick Douglass’s life.

We look at his allegiance to the Republican Party, including his working relationship with Abraham Lincoln, and why Andrew Johnson was so dismissive of Douglass.

In the third installment of our February “Full Bio” series, we look at Frederick Douglass’s family and friendships.

We revisit the February installment of our Full Bio series with historian David W. Blight who joins us to discuss his Pulitzer-winning biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. 

We wrap up the Full Bio series with a look at the last years of Frederick Douglass’s life.

We look at his allegiance to the Republican Party, including his working relationship with Abraham Lincoln, and why Andrew Johnson was so dismissive of Douglass.

In the third installment of our February “Full Bio” series, we look at Frederick Douglass’s family and friendships.

Historian David W. Blight describes what made Frederick Douglass such an engaging speaker that he became one of the most powerful voices in 19th century America.

We launch the February installment of our Full Bio series with historian David W. Blight who joins us to discuss his Pulitzer-winning biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. 

Only a handful of first-person accounts by American slaves who ran away and freed themselves are known to exist. Two of those accounts, by former slaves Wallace Turnage (1846–1916) and John Washington (1838–1918), have now been published in a new book by historian David Blight, called A Slave No More. ...