In his oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln, abolitionist Frederick Douglass referred to Lincoln as “near and dear to our hearts,” saying “hIs memory will be precious forever.”

Douglass deeply respected Lincoln and appreciated Lincoln’s decision to free slaves. Although these two great men didn’t always agree, they shared the belief that the country would be made greater by ridding it of slavery.

Douglass shared, “While Abraham Lincoln saved for you a country, he delivered us from a bondage, according to Jefferson, one hour of which was worse than ages of the oppression your fathers rose in rebellion to oppose.”

Douglass said Lincoln “was emphatically the black man’s President: the first to show any respect to their rights as men.”

Listen to and read his powerful words of criticism and respectful praise.