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My Bondage and My Freedom

Frederick Douglass · 1855

Douglass's expanded 1855 second autobiography, which also records his growing break with Garrisonian abolitionism and views on the Constitution.

Douglass's second autobiography, written by him, documenting his evolving views and break from Garrisonian abolitionism.

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What it is

My Bondage and My Freedom is Frederick Douglass's second autobiography, published in 1855, expanding on his earlier 1845 Narrative with more detail about his life in slavery and his path to freedom. It includes an introduction by James McCune Smith, a Black physician and writer Douglass considered deeply influential.

Why it matters

The book shows Douglass's growth as a thinker and writer, going beyond simply proving his story was true to reflecting on his changing political views, including his break with William Lloyd Garrison's approach to abolitionism. It is dedicated to Gerrit Smith, an abolitionist ally, revealing the networks of support behind Douglass's work.

Look closer

  • Why might Douglass have wanted to expand and rewrite his life story only ten years after his first book?
  • What does the dedication to Gerrit Smith tell you about Douglass's alliances?
  • How might Douglass's views on slavery and the Constitution have changed by 1855?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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