Political Quotes

Frederick Douglass: In times past we have been the hewers of wood and drawers of water for American society, and we once enjoyed a monopoly…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1881
In times past we have been the hewers of wood and drawers of water for American society, and we once enjoyed a monopoly in menial employments, but this is so no longer.
Said by
Frederick Douglass

Editor's note · Context

From his autobiography, Douglass observes the historical economic role of Black Americans and its decline in the post-Civil War era.

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