In the words of Frederick Douglass

In the Words of Frederick Douglass, published by Cornell University Press in 2011, serves as a curated anthology designed to distill the expansive rhetoric and life work of the nineteenth-century abolitionist and orator. This volume was compiled by editors John R. McKivigan, Heather L. Kaufman, and Ronald J. Moss, who sought to make Douglass's complex thoughts on liberty, equality, and human rights accessible to a contemporary audience. By organizing his writings and speeches thematically, the editors aimed to highlight the evolution of Douglass’s political philosophy throughout the turbulent history of the American Civil War and Reconstruction eras.

The design of this scholarly edition emphasizes clarity and historical context, reflecting the academic mission of Cornell University Press to preserve foundational American discourse. The text is framed by extensive editorial notes that provide the reader with a clearer understanding of the historical climate in which these words were originally delivered. Upon its release, the collection was well-regarded by historians and educators for its utility as a primary resource, effectively bridging the gap between archival scholarship and public interest in the legacy of one of America's most influential intellectual figures.