This is a special Bicentennial Edition of Douglass's most famous book which has been published by his direct descendants through Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI). It contains a never-before publicized pencil drawing of Douglass on the cover which was created by his grandson, Joseph Douglass. Joseph is the grandfather of Nettie Washington Douglass who serves as Chairwoman for FDFI. Inside this edition, Nettie narrates a family photograph section which illustrates her direct connection to both Douglass and another American icon, Booker T. Washington (she is Douglass's great-great granddaughter and Washington's great granddaughter).