Militant Abolitionism: Douglass, Emerson, and the Rise of the Anti-Slave

Abstract

This essay, relying on a wealth of original sources, reveals for the first time the dynamic and personal relationship that evolved between Fredrick Douglass and Ralph Waldo Emerson from 1844 until the onset of the Civil War as they mounted a militant campaign against the heinous institution of slavery.

Activism versus Criticism? The Case for a Distinctive Role for Social Critics

“…Notably, Emerson never explicitly condemned Black reformers, including Frederick Douglass, though explanations for why this is the case have varied. For a comparison of Emerson's and Douglass' antislavery advocacy, seeEgan (2014) andGougeon (2012b).4 To be sure, activists are not the only set of critics who are vulnerable to these criticisms. Historically, non-activist critics have been as likely as activists to interact with their audiences in hierarchical ways.…”

“… 3 Notably, Emerson never explicitly condemned Black reformers, including Frederick Douglass, though explanations for why this is the case have varied. For a comparison of Emerson’s and Douglass’ anti-slavery advocacy, see Egan (2014) and Gougeon (2012b). …”

Emerson’s abolitionist perfectionism

“…53.I take Len Gougeon to be hinting in this direction when he writes: ‘Like everything else in his life, Emer- son’s antislavery speeches were unconventional’. See Gougeon (December 2012), 622–57.…”