Martha's Vineyard in Edgartown in Dukes County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Frederick Douglass
African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard honors the life of Frederick Douglass
Abolitionist, Author, Educator
On Sunday evening, November 29, 1857, Federick Douglass, a studied lecturer on slavery, delivered a thought-provoking speech on the “Unity of Man” before a full house at this historic church meetinghouse.
Born into slavery about 1818, Douglass later successfully escaped north to Massachusetts at age twenty and became the voice against slavery. Fearing capture and re-enslavement, Douglass went to England, continued to exclaim against slavery, and raised enough money to buy his freedom to return to America. He settled in Rochester, NY and became a champion of equality and freedom for enslaved people. Douglass also was active in the women’s suffrage movement and established a newspaper that centered its focus on fundamental human rights and the intersection between slavery, the treatment of black people, and women. He had become a man of international stature and was perhaps the most important person to speak on Martha’s Vineyard in the 19th century.
Erected 2018 by African-American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard. (Marker Number 29.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is November 29, 1857.
Location. 41° 23.311′ N, 70° 30.907′ W. Marker is in Edgartown, Massachusetts, in Dukes County. It is on Martha's Vineyard. Marker is at the intersection of South Summer Street and Cooke Street, on the left when traveling south on South Summer Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Edgartown MA 02539, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Home of Benjamin Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); 24 South Water Street (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Giant Pagoda Tree (about 400 feet away); Judge Herbert E. Tucker, Jr. (about 600 feet away); Edgartown Vietnam and Other Actions Memorial (about 600 feet away); Edgartown World War II and Vietnam Memorial (about 700 feet away); Edgartown World War II and Korea Memorial (about 700 feet away); Edgartown World War I Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edgartown.
Also see . . . Frederick Douglass. Martha's Vineyard African-American Heritage Trail Site website entry (Submitted on July 26, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 146 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 26, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.