Frederick Douglass Lessons Learned

It would forever unfit him to be a slave.” (Douglass 41.) Meaning, if Mrs.Auld continued to teach Douglass, Douglass would become aware of how erroneous slavery was. However, Douglass continued to further his studies, becoming informed of the horrors slavery actually was. Ultimately, Frederick’s new found knowledge on slavery, gave the motivation needed to become ‘free’. When Douglass began to read “The

Frederick Douglass in his narrative “Why I learned to Read and Write” demonstrates how he surpassed many obstacles along the way towards getting an education. These obstacles not only shaped Frederick’s outlook on life but also influenced him in his learning to read and write. Frederick’s main challenge was that of not being an owner of his person but rather a slave and a property to someone else. Frederick Douglass lived in the time when slavery was still taking place and slaveholders viewed slavery and education as incompatible. The slave system didn’t allow mental or physical freedom for slaves; slaveholders were to keep the apt appearance and slaves were to remain ignorant.

Douglass remembered Auld’s wife teaching him how to read, but Auld forbade her, saying it would make Douglass “unfit for slavery.” Even with this setback, it didn 't stop Frederick Douglass from learning to read on his own. Douglass thought of enslavers as criminals. After all, they decided to leave their homes in America, come into Africa, steal away

Douglass for example emphasized the importance of education for slaves. Douglass is a first had observer of the strategy of slave owners to keep their slaves ignorant. By keeping slave uneducated they are unable to express the horrible things that happen to them to the world. Hugh Auld forces his wife to stop teaching Douglass to read (auld stopping teaching quote) , so Douglass teaches himself. For him learning to read was a major turning point in his quest for freedom and it enabled him to put out his book, which would inspire many to turn against slavery.

Yes, i support Garrison in every way because slavery was wrong and people weren’t being treated right. Everyone is equal, and should be treated fairly. Garrison spoke about that in his speeches he wanted slaves to be treated fairly, and believed that they should be freed. He would not give up on fighting to abolish slavery, because of that Garrison was known as a prominent abolitionist. I feel like if Garrison wasn’t located in the free states he would be more of a target , because he was very passionate about anti-slavery and the slave states wouldn’t be happy , but at the same time it’s a good thing because he could have more voices of people wanting to abolish slavery or slaves wanting to be freed.

Slaves are not as ignorant as everyone depicts them to be. Douglass finally realizes that slave holding is not a natural way of life when he encounters Mr. Auld. Douglass wants to become literate and Mrs. Auld helps him, when Mr. Auld finds out that his own wife is helping a slave he says it is unlawful. “He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master.” (pg. 81) At this very moment Douglass realizes that Mr. Auld becomes the reason he is determined to learn to read and write.

From this, derives a bond with the reader that pushes their understanding of the evil nature of slavery that society deemed appropriate therefore enhancing their understanding of history. While only glossed over in most classroom settings of the twenty-first century, students often neglect the sad but true reality that the backbone of slavery, was the dehumanization of an entire race of people. To create a group of individuals known for their extreme oppression derived from slavery, required plantation owner’s of the South to constantly embedded certain values into the lives of their slaves. To talk back means to be whipped. To fail to do work to a respectable level means to be sold to another plantation and ripped away from one’s family.

Noticeably, his biggest barrier was due to his enslavement; as those who where born into slavery were not allowed to read nor write. For a slave that could read, let alone write, potentially, would be flogged or even lose their life. His first impediment came when his Mistress decided to no longer teach him how to read; every time Douglass was caught with a newspaper or presumed to have a book he was scolded. With the

For example, after Nat Turner’s rebellious act against the whites many still thought that slavery should be abolished. Even though they saw Turner’s actions as pure evil they still wanted to get rid of such an immoral violent system as slavery. Not only because it was immoral but because it also brought up the chances that slaves could only put up with so much of it until they would seek for vengeance. I don’t believe Stephan B. Oates was trying to perpetuate a racial divide in the legacy of Nat Turner at all. What he was trying to do by writing the book The Fires of Jubilee was to accurately tell how the events occurred.

Willie “hesitated between the two; being perplexed to know which had the strongest claim upon his obedience. He finally concluded to go to his mistress.”. The author included this experience in her text to show how slavery mentally skewed the natural order of family relationships. Children should instinctively have more obedience to their parents versus a relative/outsider, but Willie knew from a young age who had the actual authority over him Willie’s father scolded Willie for his decision, but I am sure Wille father was more upset that he lacked the authority to truly/safely govern his children and in actuality his children belonged to their slave