LEGACY
This identity of Frederick Douglass in and of itself was probably one of his most profound influences on other people. His story told America that with enough hard work and the will to keep moving on, anyone can shape their own future, no matter their background or race. It was an inspiration to all, and the fact that he would go on after escaping to continue his fight by speaking, by writing, by publishing The North Star - it spoke volumes. He believed that people had this power to shape their own futures, and he knew he was a special case - but he used his own example for good and put it out there to inspire others to work for what they believed in.
The North Star/Frederick Douglass' Paper would continue to be published for another 8 years after the merge, and its publication ended in 1859 due to a lecture tour in England, which may have saved him from being arrested after a raid on Harper's Ferry. However, Frederick Douglass's abolitionist efforts were not limited to his newspaper. He was a renowned orator, and raged against slavery to many audiences, both black and white. During the civil war, he helped the war effort as a recruiter of African-American soldiers for the army. His three famous autobiographies are studied all over the United States today. They tell the story of perseverance, of never giving up on a dream, and most significantly, of a black slave who taught himself to read and write, even through many hardships and discouragements.