Later, he was
among the first to realize that Emancipation had not solved all
the problems. It was his belief that the forces of racism and
indifference were responsible for relegating the ex-slave to a
second-class status. When the Federal Government terminated
Reconstruction without providing his people with the tools for
competing in American society, Douglass's disappointment was
severe.
At the turn of the century the focus of the problems facing
Afro-Americans had changed. Slavery had been abolished, but not
race prejudice. The elimination of this scourge became the basis
for a new drive. Douglass, who for a half century had been looked
upon as the spokesman for his people, was too old to tackle the
task of ending segregation and prejudice based on race. When he
died early in 1895, the Afro-American community was left without
leadership capable of uniting the diverse elements within the
movement. The pressing need was for black men and women to
escape physical violence and to find acceptance with dignity, and
it couldn't wait.
However, within this community there were many who were
capable of leadership.
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