Frederick Douglass was an incredibly talented writer and orator who escaped slavery and brought the issue of slavery to the attention of people in the 1840s, 50s, and 60s. He grew up as a slave in Maryland, which is outlined in his work "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." He secretly taught himself to read and worked hard to save up some money and escape from slavery. In the early 1840s he began working with leaders of the Abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement, making speeches and educating people about the horrors of slavery. He wrote a book about his experiences to educate others, and started the newspaper "The North Star." He later became and advisor and diplomat to people like Abraham Lincoln. His work greatly educated the public about slavery and helped move the abolitionist movement forward. His famous works are "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and "The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, Written by Himself." By publishing these works and speaking to the public, he showed everyone that black people were intelligent and talented people too, and deserved freedom.