Животопис Фредерицка Доугласса

Dibaji

Preface

Katika mwezi wa Agosti,

In the month of August,

1841,

1841,

nilihudhuria mkutano wa kupinga utumwa huko Nantucket,

I attended an anti-slavery convention in Nantucket,

ambapo ilikuwa furaha yangu kufahamiana na

at which it was my happiness to become acquainted with

Frederick Douglass,

Frederick Douglass,

mwandishi wa Simulizi ifuatayo.

the writer of the following Narrative.

Alikuwa mgeni kwa takriban kila mwanachama wa mkusanyiko ule;

He was a stranger to nearly every member of that body;

lakini,

but,

kwa kuwa hivi karibuni alikuwa ametoroka kutoka gereza la utumwa la kusini,

having recently made his escape from the southern prison-house of bondage,

na kwa kuhisi udadisi wake ukichochewa kutaka kujua misingi na mbinu za wapinga-utumwa, —

and feeling his curiosity excited to ascertain the principles and measures of the abolitionists, —

ambao alikuwa amesikia maelezo yasiyo dhahiri juu yao alipokuwa mtumwa, —

of whom he had heard a somewhat vague description while he was a slave, —

alishawishika kuhudhuria,

he was induced to give his attendance,

katika tukio lililotajwa,

on the occasion alluded to,

ingawa wakati ule alikuwa mkazi wa New Bedford.

though at that time a resident in New Bedford.

Tukio la bahati,

Fortunate,

tukio la bahati kubwa mno! —

most fortunate occurrence! —

bahati kwa mamilioni ya ndugu zake waliofungwa minyororo,

fortunate for the millions of his manacled brethren,

ambao bado wanatweta wakitamani ukombozi kutoka utumwa wao wa kutisha! —

yet panting for deliverance from their awful thraldom! —

bahati kwa shughuli ya ukombozi wa mtu mweusi,

fortunate for the cause of negro emancipation,

na wa uhuru wa ulimwengu wote! —

and of universal liberty! —

bahati kwa nchi aliyozaliwa,

fortunate for the land of his birth,

ambayo tayari ametenda mengi kuiokoa na kuibariki! —

which he has already done so much to save and bless! —

bahati kwa duara kubwa la marafiki na wenzake,

fortunate for a large circle of friends and acquaintances,

ambao huruma na mapenzi yao ameyapata kwa nguvu kutokana na mateso mengi aliyoyavumilia,

whose sympathy and affection he has strongly secured by the many sufferings he has endured,

kwa tabia zake njema,

by his virtuous traits of character,

kwa kumbukumbu yake isiyokoma ya wale walio vifungoni,

by his ever-abiding remembrance of those who are in bonds,

kana kwamba amefungwa pamoja nao! —

as being bound with them! —

bahati kwa makutano,

fortunate for the multitudes,

katika sehemu mbalimbali za jamhuri yetu,

in various parts of our republic,

ambao ameziangaza akili zao juu ya suala la utumwa,

whose minds he has enlightened on the subject of slavery,

nao wameyeyushwa hadi machozi kwa huzuni yake,

and who have been melted to tears by his pathos,

au wamechochewa hasira ya haki kwa ufasaha wake uchomao dhidi ya watumwishaji wa wanadamu! —

or roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the enslavers of men! —

bahati kwake mwenyewe,

fortunate for himself,

kwa kuwa mara moja ilimwingiza katika uwanja wa manufaa ya umma,

as it at once brought him into the field of public usefulness,

“ikaupa ulimwengu uhakika wa MTU,”

“gave the world assurance of a MAN,”

ikaziamsha nguvu zilizolala za nafsi yake,

quickened the slumbering energies of his soul,

na ikamweka wakfu kwa kazi kubwa ya kuivunja fimbo ya mdhalimu,

and consecrated him to the great work of breaking the rod of the oppressor,

na kuwaacha huru wanaoonewa!

and letting the oppressed go free!