"Mr. Covey seemed now to think he had me, and could do what he pleased; but at this moment-from whence came the spirit I don’t know -I resolved to fight; and, suiting my action to the resolution,I seized Covey hard by the throat; and as I did so, I rose. He held on to me, and I to him. My resistance was so entirely unexpected that Covey seemed taken all aback. He trembled like a leaf."

Frederick Douglass