Primary sourceSpeech1895
Why Is the Negro Lynched?
Frederick Douglass · 1895
Frederick Douglass's last pamphlet, published shortly before his death, arguing forcefully against lynching and the slanders used to justify it.
Douglass's own final public argument against lynching, written in his own words shortly before his death.
About this source
What it is
This pamphlet reprints a speech by Frederick Douglass, first published in "The A.M.E. Church Review" and reissued in 1895 by English supporters as a memorial after his death.
Why it matters
Written near the end of his life, it shows Douglass still fighting against racial violence and false accusations used to justify lynching. It reveals how his activism continued until his final months, and how his words were valued enough to be reprinted abroad as a tribute.
Look closer
- Why might English supporters have wanted to spread Douglass's words after his death?
- What kind of arguments would be needed to challenge false claims about an entire group of people?
- What does the title suggest about the purpose of the pamphlet?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Frederick Douglass on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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