Archaeologies of Conflicting Ideologies: Frederick Douglass as a Contemporary Post-Colonial Thinker

Summary

One of the more prolific writers of the 19th Century was Frederick Douglass. Douglass devoted his career to the abolition of slavery and equality for African Americans. As Archaeology in Annapolis turns to Douglass’s writings to help locate and interpret the sites he describes in his autobiographies, we are increasingly recognizing Douglass’ importance not just as a guide to 19th Century quarters and plantations, but to understanding the ways in which ideologies can be understood, combated, and overcome. This paper examines one of Douglass’ causes. During the American Civil War Douglass pushed for the creation of the United States Colored Troops’segregated units of African American soldiers fighting in the Union Army. In making this case, he invokes the ideologies of democracy and citizenship and marshals it against the racial ideologies used to maintain slavery and inequality. Archaeologically, AiA has been finding the physical remains invoked in Douglass’ ideological conflict.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeologies of the Written Word: Examining the Importance of Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century Literature   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-28,03