In 1818, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, better known as Frederick Douglass was born. Frederick Douglass was one of the most prominent figures in United States and African American history. He was a brilliant orator, abolitionist, editor, reformer, lecturer, statesman, women's suffragist and more. He was a firm believer in equality regardless of race. He believed in civil rights for all people whether black, female, Native American or recent immigrant.