IV.

Editor and Journalist

In October 1847 Douglass decided to start a newspaper managed and edited solely by blacks to disprove the proslavery argument that blacks were 'naturally inferior.' William Lloyd Garrison objected, arguing that Douglass's talent as an orator would be wasted. Nevertheless, Douglass moved to Rochester, New York, and began publishing a weekly called The North Star. This publication later became Frederick Douglass’ Weekly and was followed by Douglass’ Monthly, which originated as a supplement to the Weekly. Douglass published his newspapers almost continuously from December 1847 through May 1863, and he quickly gained fame as a journalist as well as an orator.

In his papers Douglass championed the rights of free blacks and slaves and supported a number of other causes, most notably women's rights. In 1848 Douglass participated in the first women's rights convention, held at Seneca Falls, New York, and throughout his career he advocated women's equality.