"No Struggle, No Progress": Frederick Douglass and His Proverbial Rhetoric for Civil RightsFrederick Douglass (1818-1895) is a giant among civil rights leaders of the United States. With words and deeds he fought against slavery and championed civil rights for all citizens, regardless of race, gender, or creed. His very own proverbial motto, «If there is no struggle, there is no progress», expresses his moral commitment to free the slaves and to fight for human rights. Much of his rhetorical prowess is based on proverbial language. As an abolitionist, he cites proverbs to argue against slavery. He also employs this Biblical and folk wisdom in his call for liberty and equality, formulating impressive proverbial jeremiads after the Civil War. But proverbs also suit his fight for civil rights, and he makes the Golden Rule («Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.») the ultimate wisdom for human life. These elements of traditional folk speech are certainly part and parcel of Frederick Douglass's social struggle for freedom and equality. This book contains a detailed analysis of Douglass's effective use of proverbial language in his published works. There is also an extensive key-word index of the contextualized occurrences of all proverbs and proverbial expressions used by Frederick Douglass in his crusade for the universal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. |
Contents
The crushed worm may yet turn under the heel of the oppressor | 17 |
There can be no peace to the wicked | 28 |
Slavery seemed to me to have about as many lives as a cat | 37 |
Copyright | |
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abolition abolitionists Abraham Lincoln African Americans American anti-slavery April 16 Auld better Bible black supremacy blood blow cause church civil rights CODP colored Columbian Orator Constitution created equal death Declaration Democratic devil emancipation eternal evil fact fair play forever Frederick Douglass freedom friends Gerrit Smith give hands heart honor hope human John Brown July justice labor lash liberty live look March Mieder moral nation negro never North ODEP old bottles one's oppressed peace political President principle proverb proverbial expression pursuit of happiness race rebellion references religion Republic Republican party respect rhetorical rule sentiment Sept slave slave power slaveholders slavery soul South Southern speak speech stand Stevenson strike things true truth Union United unto Urdang whipped William Lloyd Garrison wisdom wise Wolfgang Mieder words