Frederick Douglass dreamed of a country where all people could vote and he did everything in his power to make that dream a reality. In the face of slavery, the Civil War and the violence of Jim Crow, he fought his entire life for what he believed was a sacred, natural right that should be available to all people - voting.

If you would like to read more on the topic, here's a list:

• One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy by Carol Anderson
• Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight
• Uncounted: the Crisis of Voter Suppression in the United States by Gilda R. Daniels
• Voter Suppression in U.S. Elections by Stacey Abrams, Carol Anderson, Kevin M. Kruse, Heather Cox Richardson, Heather Ann Thompson

We love to hear from our listeners! Tweet at us @throughlineNPR, send us an email, or leave us a voicemail at (872) 588-8805.