Biography
Kenneth B. Morris, Jr. descends from two of the most influential names in American history: he is the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington. His mother, Nettie Washington Douglass, is the daughter of Nettie Hancock Washington (granddaughter of Booker T. Washington) and Dr. Frederick Douglass III (great-grandson of Frederick Douglass). Morris is the co-founder and president of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI), an abolitionist and anti-racist non-profit organization focused on the struggle for racial equality and to end human exploitation.
Abstract
Conservatives distort Frederick Douglass’s legacy to advance political and ideological narratives that contradict his advocacy for racial justice and civil rights. Among them, Black conservatives invoke Douglass to justify their opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts while appealing to reactionary audiences. By stripping his writings of historical context, they reshape his message in ways that obscure his calls for systemic change. Some exploit his name and image for financial gain. As Douglass’s great-great-great-grandson, the author directly confronts these distortions with historical evidence and personal insight. This work calls for an honest engagement with Douglass’s full legacy and challenges those who manipulate his words for political convenience.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Morris, Kenneth B. Jr (2025) "Hijacking Frederick Douglass: How Conservatives Exploit His Legacy for Political and Ideological Gain," Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence: Vol. 10: Iss. 2, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.23860/dignity.2025.10.02.04
Included in
African American Studies Commons, American Studies Commons, Intellectual History Commons, Rhetoric and Composition Commons, United States History Commons
