Citation

Jorgenson CC. Race Soc. 2003; 6(1): 3-20.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.racsoc.2004.09.002

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Frederick Douglass brought an extraordinarily logical mind, breadth of historical and social science knowledge, commitment to discovery and expression of truth, and keen observation to analysis of race and gender relations and scientific racism in the United States. Douglass's social psychology of racism and liberation is more insightful and modern than that of his American contemporaries, and not equaled until the middle of the 20th century. Similarities between the major turn-of-the-century African American sociologists and "students of sociology," Anna Julia Cooper, W.E.B. DuBois, Kelly Miller, Mary Church Terrell, and Ida B. Wells and other evidence strongly suggests that Frederick Douglass had a strong influence upon certain aspects of their thought, that Douglass may be considered to be the anchor of the White racism emphasis in Afro-American sociological thought. Based upon this analysis it is recommended that Afro-Americanists take several steps to appropriately review and evaluate Douglass's thought in planning research and teaching.