A masterpiece of African American literature, Frederick Douglass's "Narrative" is the powerful story of an enslaved youth coming into social and moral consciousness by disobeying his white slavemasters and secretly teaching himself to read. Achieving literacy emboldens Douglass to resist, escape, and ultimately achieve his freedom. After escaping slavery, Douglass became a leader in the anti-slavery and women's rights movements, a bestselling author, and U.S. diplomat. In this new critical edition, legendary activist and feminist scholar Angela Davis sheds new light on the legacy of Frederick Douglass. In two philosophical lectures originally delivered at UCLA in autumn 1969, Davis focuses on Douglass's intellectual and spiritual awakening, and the importance of self-knowledge in achieving freedom from all forms of oppression. With detailed attention to Douglass's text, she interrogates the legacy of slavery and shares timeless lessons about oppression, resistance, and freedom. And in an extended introductory essay written for this edition, Davis comments on previous editions of the "Narrative" and re-examines Douglass through a contemporary feminist perspective. An important new edition of an American classic.
Industry Reviews
"Just as Douglass was dedicated to abolishing the institution that imprisoned him and his people, Davis is dedicated to abolishing the institution that imprisoned her and still imprisons millions of Americans, mostly people of color: the modern American prison system."-H. Bruce Franklin, African American Review
"Davis's work deserves a wide readership ... She has compiled much useful information not easily obtained elsewhere."-Toni Morrison
"Davis' arguments for justice are formidable - The power of her historical insights and the sweetness of her dream cannot be denied."
-New York Times Book Review
"Long before 'race/gender' became the obligatory injunction it is now, Angela Davis was developing an analytical framework that brought all of these factors into play. For readers who only see Angela Davis as a public icon ... meet the real Angela Davis: perhaps the leading public intellectual of our era."-Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original
"One of America's last truly fearless public intellectuals."-Cynthia McKinney, U.S. Democratic Congresswoman
"Angela Davis's revolutionary spirit is still strong. Still with us, thank goodness!"-Virginian-Pilot
"There was a time in America when to call a person an 'abolitionist' was the ultimate epithet. It evoked scorn in the North and outrage in the South. Yet they were the harbingers of things to come. They were on the right side of history. Prof. Angela Y. Davis stands in that proud, radical tradition."-Mumia Abu-Jamal, author of Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v. the U.S.A.
"Behold the heart and mind of Angela Davis, open, relentless, and on time!"-June Jordan
"Angela Davis has stood as a courageous voice of conscience on matters of race, class, and gender in America."-David Theo Goldberg, Arizona State University
"Angela Davis offers a cartography of engagement in oppositional social movements and unwavering commitment to justice."-Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Women's Studies, Hamilton College
"The breadth of Davis's work in the past two decades is an inspiring example of bridge-building across causes and generations. That her contemporary activism can be coupled so flawlessly with Douglass's historic writings and powerful legacy speaks to the importance of their combined influence spanning centuries. ... At a time when the freedoms once granted by the Fourteenth Amendment are now being applied to corporate entities, cannabilizing the legacy of freed slaves in the United States, this book- Davis's call for a more engaged electorate-is wonderfully timely and deeply engaging."-Colorlines
"Just as Douglass was dedicated to abolishing the institution that imprisoned him and his people, Davis is dedicated to abolishing the institution that imprisoned her and still imprisons millions of Americans, mostly people of color: the modern American prison system." H. Bruce Franklin, African American Review
"Davis's work deserves a wide readership She has compiled much useful information not easily obtained elsewhere." Toni Morrison
"Davis' arguments for justice are formidable The power of her historical insights and the sweetness of her dream cannot be denied."
New York Times Book Review
"Long before 'race/gender' became the obligatory injunction it is now, Angela Davis was developing an analytical framework that brought all of these factors into play. For readers who only see Angela Davis as a public icon meet the real Angela Davis: perhaps the leading public intellectual of our era." Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original
"One of America's last truly fearless public intellectuals." Cynthia McKinney, U.S. Democratic Congresswoman
"Angela Davis's revolutionary spirit is still strong. Still with us, thank goodness!" Virginian-Pilot
"There was a time in America when to call a person an 'abolitionist' was the ultimate epithet. It evoked scorn in the North and outrage in the South. Yet they were the harbingers of things to come. They were on the right side of history. Prof. Angela Y. Davis stands in that proud, radical tradition." Mumia Abu-Jamal, author of Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v. the U.S.A.
"Behold the heart and mind of Angela Davis, open, relentless, and on time!" June Jordan
"Angela Davis has stood as a courageous voice of conscience on matters of race, class, and gender in America." David Theo Goldberg, Arizona State University
"Angela Davis offers a cartography of engagement in oppositional social movements and unwavering commitment to justice." Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Women's Studies, Hamilton College
"The breadth of Davis's work in the past two decades is an inspiring example of bridge-building across causes and generations. That her contemporary activism can be coupled so flawlessly with Douglass's historic writings and powerful legacy speaks to the importance of their combined influence spanning centuries. At a time when the freedoms once granted by the Fourteenth Amendment are now being applied to corporate entities, cannabilizing the legacy of freed slaves in the United States, this book Davis's call for a more engaged electorate is wonderfully timely and deeply engaging." Colorlines
