How Long to Read Frederick Douglass

How Long Does it Take to Read Frederick Douglass?

It takes the average reader 4 hours and 40 minutes to read Frederick Douglass by Peter C. Myers

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

For Frederick Douglass, the iconic nineteenth-century slave and abolitionist, the foundations for his arguments in support of racial equality rested on natural rights and natural law-and the bold proclamation of the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal. But because many Americans never observed this principle-and in Douglass's day even renounced it-he made it his life's work to move the nation toward this vision of a more noble liberalism. Peter Myers now considers that effort and the natural rights arguments by which Douglass confronted race in America. Myers examines the philosophic core of Douglass's political thought, offering a greater understanding of its depth and coherence. He depicts Douglass as the leading thinker to apply the Founders' doctrine of natural rights to the plight of African Americans-an activist who grounded his arguments on the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the inherent injustice not only of slavery but of any form of racial superiority. Myers first reconsiders Douglass's descriptive analysis of slavery, developing his arguments for its natural wrongness and for its natural weakness in conjunction with the right of resistance. He then examines Douglass's understandings of civil government in general and of the U.S. constitutional order in particular, exploring his argument on the Constitution's relation to slavery and his thoughts on the powers and duties of the federal and state governments in the matter of postslavery race relations-including new insight into Douglass's controversial "do nothing" doctrine. Myers argues that Douglass's political thought at its core is both more coherent and more defensible in substance than his critics acknowledge. He maintains that Douglass was right in finding the natural rights principles of the Declaration a sufficient theoretical basis for addressing the nation's racial problems and contends that his hopefulness for the demise of slavery and white supremacy was marked by moderation and realism. Myers finds in Douglass's political thought the foundations of a revitalized argument for the mainstream civil rights, integrationist tradition of African American political thought. His analysis offers a new way of looking at an important thinker, as well as a compelling case for hoping that race relations in America will improve over time.

How long is Frederick Douglass?

Frederick Douglass by Peter C. Myers is 280 pages long, and a total of 70,000 words.

This makes it 94% the length of the average book. It also has 86% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Frederick Douglass Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 6 hours and 22 minutes to read Frederick Douglass aloud.

What Reading Level is Frederick Douglass?

Frederick Douglass is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Frederick Douglass?

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