“WE HAVE NOT YET FORGIVEN
HAITI FOR BEING BLACK”
50
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.)
DOUGLASS, FREDERICK.
Lecture on
Haiti. The Haitian Pavilion.
Dedication Ceremonies Delivered at
the World’s Fair in Jackson Park,
Chicago, Jan. 2d 1893.
57 pages. Crown
8vo, original glazed gray wrappers, decora-
tively printed in black and red.
(Chicago: Violet Agents Supply Co., 1893)
[3,000/5,000]
FIRST AND ONLY PRINTING
,
RARE
.
“The fol-
lowing lecture on Haiti was delivered in
America for the purpose of demonstrating the
fact to the United States that the Haitians are
people like ourselves; that what they have gained
they will maintain; that whatever concessions
may be asked by man, woman or child, if not
conflicting with the constitution of their country,
they will without hesitation grant. The fact that
their skin is dark and that what supremacy they
now have was gained by bloodshed, is no reason
why they should be looked upon and treated as though they were unable to comprehend those things,
which are to their best interests” From the Preface. Frederick Douglass had been the American
Minister to Haiti (1889-1891). Here, before a mostly black audience of 1500, Douglass makes a
strong case for Haitian statehood. Even though the Haitian Revolution was nearly a century old,
white Americans were fixated on the blood shed for her independence. Douglass: “But a deeper reason
for coolness between the countries is this: Haiti is black, and we have not yet forgiven Haiti for being
black [applause] or forgiven the Almighty for making her black. [Applause.] In this enlightened act of
repentance and forgiveness, our boasted civilization is far behind all other nations. [Applause.] In every
other country on the globe a citizen of Haiti is sure of civil treatment. [Applause.] In every other
nation his manhood is recognized and respected. [Applause.] Wherever any man can go, he can go.
[Applause.] He is not repulsed, excluded or insulted because of his color. [Applause.]” In 1893, how-
ever the idea of a black “state” did not sit well with a nation that claimed to have a “Negro
Problem,” and in fact not all Haitians wanted to be part of the United States.
OCLC LOCATES ONLY
ONE COPY
.
THE SCARCE LAST VERSION OF HIS LIFE
51
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) DOUGLASS, FREDERICK.
Life and Times
of Frederick Douglass, Written by Himself.
Frontispiece and additional illustra-
tions.752 pages. Large, thick 8vo, original deep red cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine, top
edge gilt; binding slightly skewed; notations on both front and rear endpapers and paste-
downs.
Boston: De Wolfe Fisk and Co, (1893)
[800/1,200]
FIRST EDITION OF THE FOURTH AND LAST OF DOUGLASS
’
AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
,
adding
134 pages. This last installment of Douglass’ life picks up his story from 1881, and takes us
through just two years before the great orator’s death. Quite scarce, this volume has often been
mistaken for a later printing of the 1881, Life and Times. An interesting copy with notations
on the front past-down to the effect that the owner’s mother had graduated with Helen Pitts,
Douglass’ second wife, a white woman. There are numerous notes on Douglass’ wife, children
and “friend” and possible lover Ottilia Assing.
