What Are the Colored People Doing for Themselves? (Unabridged‪)‬

In this speech of 1848, the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass makes an eloquent call for self-reliance. He points out that prejudice becomes powerless in the presence of industry, sobriety, and honesty combined with intelligence and self-respect. "There is gold in the earth, but we must dig it", says Douglass in reference to character which is attainable, and each must attain it for himself.