Many were the people, both white and black, who fought in favor of African American rights. Two such people were Frederick Douglass, originally named Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey and Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige.
Frederick Douglass was a slave who was born in Maryland in probably 1818. He lived as a slave for many years but thanks to one of his latest mistresses, the wife of plantation owner Hugh Auld, Douglass learned to read and was able to study. This, in turn, enabled him to seek his freedom and run away to Massachusetts and later on to England and Ireland. From the very beginning Douglass became engaged in the fight for the abolition of slavery and because of his education and labor, he was able to make connections and friends not only in the U.S and abroad, who supported the abolition movement. He became a speaker and activist for the abolitionist movement and even participated in the antislavery convention of 1841. He also became an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln and advised him on the importance of arming former slaves in favor of the North´s cause. He also began a newspaper called The North Star, which was totally anti-slavery and with which he was able to spread out the belief in abolition.
On the other hand lays Satchel Paige (1906 - 1982). A Major League Baseball player and an African American, at that, Satchel not only became known for his excellent records in the game and attraction of crowds, but also for his longevity playing. Aside from the importance of him becoming one of the first black pitchers to play in the World Series in 1948, he was also the first to be elected in 1971 to become part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In his youth, Satchel Paige was sent to a correctional center for black people because he supposedly dedicated his time to terrorizing white boys. One of his biggest contributions to the African American´s rights was his firm belief that black people needed to integrate baseball teams around the country so that white players could become accustomed to the presence of colored people in their teams. He became a firm believer in the need for integration. Â
