Frederick Douglass — "The American people have always been anxious to know what they shall do with us.…"

The American people have always been anxious to know what they shall do with us... I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played the mischief. Do nothing with us! If the Negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall. All I ask is, give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone! If you see him on his way to school, let him alone. If you see him on his way to church, let him alone. If you see him on his way to the ballot-box, let him alone. Don't meddle with him. Don't proscribe him. Don't strike him. Let him alone! He has been petted long enough by your doing with him.