Frederick Douglass: Escaping Slavery through Literacy Essay

Even with the strong endeavors to stop the education of Douglass, he still managed to learn to read by getting his hands on any book he could find, and with the "inch" of knowledge the woman had provided him, the alphabet. There was only one problem, Douglass still did not know how to write, and writing was a crucial part of Douglass' career. Douglass was very clever in approaching this large ordeal, for he knew that he couldn't ask the racially influenced adults of his area. So Douglass would have to learn to write from the most innocent of humans, children. These children had not been able to be fully influenced in the art of oppression, and with ambition and trickery, Douglass would learn to write through the "guidance" of the

In his essay “Learning to Read and Write” Frederick Douglass begins by describing how he learned to read and write and the obstacles he faced to overcome his condition of being a slave. Douglas’s enslavers prevented him from getting an education or to learn anything that makes him somewhat valuable because they believed that slavery and education were not compatible. The challenges he faced were not easy, but his persistence to better himself allowed Douglas to invent strategic methods to pursue his aspiration of reading and learning. Frederick Douglas strongly believes in basic human rights of an individual and enlightens society around him the importance of education and freedom, stating that it gives an individual the opportunity to identify

Their ability to read and write was denied by their slave owners in order hypnotize the slaves that they are meant to only work the fields. The slaves were expected to endure hard labor all day and remain unaware of the freedom around them from birth. Douglass states the setbacks he faced in trying to enhance his knowledge by writing, "...We were trying to learn how to read the will of God; for they had much rather see us engaged in those degrading sports, than to see us behaving like intellectual, moral, and accountable beings" (89). The slaveholders would rather have the slaves be involved in inhumane activities than read the bible which was their own faith. The slaves were not only in captivity physically, but also mentally through the lack of knowledge learned because the only freedom they experienced was occasional revelry. As Douglass himself learned to read, he became aware of how he no longer had the mindset he once retained as a slave, which enabled him to recognize the injustices of the American government. Douglass’s insight was what the slave owners did not want to occur amongst their slaves because it would lead to a massive rebellion.

There, Douglass learned to how to read, with the help from Mrs. Auld, who was the mistress of the household (“Frederick Douglass,” PBS 1). By teaching Douglass to read, Auld was defying the law. That was quite valiant for her to do, considering she did not get anything from doing this for Douglass. Soon her husband found out that she was teaching Douglass and ordered her to bring it to an end (Reed 2). Even though the teaching from the inside of the Auld household was halted, Douglass still searched for ways to learn elsewhere. He was able to receive help from a school for boys along the street clandestinely (“Frederick Douglass,” PBS 1). Succeeding in his life, Douglass had put together that literacy and freedom are connected. He concluded this by getting help from the school boys when he was learning to read more. When Douglass was twelve, he managed to buy a book called The Columbian Orator. The book was filled with excerpts on natural rights, debates, and revolutionary speeches (“Frederick Douglass,” National ). The book gave words to the feelings he had about slavery, and that was when he had learned the meaning of abolition (Reed

In “Learning to Read”, Frederick Douglass reflects on the critical and empowering aspects of his life that contributed to his success and shaped his attitude towards learning. During his early years, Douglass was not able to learn through formal schooling. He encountered many teachers throughout painful and distressing moments of his life, which played a vast role in shaping the perceptions of his literacy. Douglass’s narrative is able to illustrate his persistence and tenacity as an individual. He later began to regret those aspects of himself, as he became the most educated among the other slaves during his time. Douglass often felt discouraged by his literacy and knowledge. However, his education later allowed him to escape the harsh and brutal aspects of slavery and contribute his efforts to fighting against it. As the narrative continues, the negative and positive aspects of Douglass’s literacy become evident, as he shares his experiences as a self-taught slave who gained freedom and became emancipated. Similarly to Douglass, I have experienced many positive and negative aspects of learning that have altered and shaped my attitude towards school.

Reading and writing play key role in society throughout history. It testifies the progress human nature make from stone age to civilization. In the exceptional 19th century, slaves were prohibited to learn how to read, so that the slaves can neither escape from their master nor realize that they are living in abhorrent lives. In the autobiography Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, Douglass understands the importance of reading thus discovered that education is a slave’s key to freedom.

It is well known that teaching a slave to read or write was a crime, but most slaves did not understand why. However, Douglass pushed and pushed for reading and writing because he knew the truth, and the truth is that knowledge is power. This intellectual inferiority that the slave owners talked about only existed because they deprived the slaves of the knowledge that they were so hungry for. Douglass not only uses his narrative as an expository on the truth about slavery, but it is also a testimony against the belief that black people are intellectually inferior. It is seen in the book that the slaves are capable of learning and in fact do want to learn. Douglass, although he is supposedly intellectually inferior, states, “Though conscious of the difficulty of learning without a teacher, I set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read.” -(Page 47). If the nation deems Douglass and his “kind” intellectually inferior, then there should be no way that Douglass will continue to learn to read and write, but he does continue on with his education. This is because Douglass is not intellectually inferior, he is just as capable as any other man along with the other slaves. This is just one example of Douglass’s testimony against the belief of slave owners and their wrong opinion of slaves intellectual capability. Douglass is not the only

In this selection, Frederick Douglass discusses the lengths he went to in order to learn how to read and write while living with Master Hugh’s family as a slave for about seven years. Master Hugh’s wife tutored Douglass for awhile until Master Hugh instructed her not to, saying that education and slavery didn’t mix. He then made friends with the white boys on the street, trying to turn trade education in exchange for bread. When he was twelve, he received the book “The Columbian Orator,” which included a dialogue between a master and slave and a speech on denouncing slavery and vindication of human rights. Douglass found this both to be helpful for his pursuit for knowledge, but also a curse because it gave him a view on slavery with no way

Education becomes Douglass’ number one priority when Hugh Auld absolutely refuses to give Douglass an education. When Hugh Auld says that it “ruins slaves”, Douglass can’t help but be curious by this. He learns that slaveowners maintain their power over the slaves by keeping them ignorant and empty of ideas. If you want someone to do something, then tell them that they can’t. Douglass, with a new understanding and respect for education, then believes that in order to be free, he has to be educated. He wonders why white people were able to enslave the blacks. The answer was that the slaves didn’t know any better because they didn’t know anything at all. He then sets on his quest to read by becoming friends with the white kids playing on the streets and learning from them. During his time period of learning how to read, he often questions whether or not it’s a good or bad thing to be able to read, after all, the more he learns, the more it hurts to know what it means to be enslaved to someone. Douglass, a strong abolitionist with his newly literate self, decides to take a stand. Education helps Douglass take another step forward as this novel has been created alarming the civilians of what slavery does to

The wife of Douglass’s master began teaching him to read as he was just a boy at the time and he appealed to her humanity. When Hugh Auld, Douglass’s master, found out about what his wife was doing he became livid and forbade her to teach him anymore. Auld said that if she taught him to read he would become “…unmanageable, and of no value to his master.” And that it would make Douglass “…discontented and unhappy.” (Douglass, 20) It was at this moment that Douglass realized “…the white man’s power to enslave the black man”

However, what was he trying to tell his audience in his autobiography? Douglass was trying to show readers that education is imperative in existing as a freed person; simply, a physically freed person would not be truly free without gaining knowledge about their indemnity through literacy and education. In his autobiography, Douglass gives readers an up-close look at his experience with education and his feelings towards it. Early in his life, he introduces readers to how education first gave him the idea of freedom. Next, he criticizes education for these freeing ideas and lack of ability to physically free a person. Later, Douglass evidences all the ways he has tried to spread education: through Sabbath schools, speeches, and even his famous Narrative. Through all of these methods, Douglass shows readers that education is required to become a truly freed person; his life is a testimony of this statement. Although his book was written almost two centuries ago, its theme of education being crucial in obtaining a freed life is still thoroughly relevant today. When children become literate, their worlds are transformed. They are able to comprehend more complex ideas and later forge their own unique identities. In obtaining education, they become free from

The ability to read, although taken for granted in society, is something that ignites hope into ordinary lives. An education provides worthwhile knowledge, but it is irreplaceable facilitator for freedom and independence. Having the skills to read and write lead way to independence, one no longer has to solely rely on others. Reading inspires; it creates opportunities and adventures to embark on. The wonderful benefits that come directly through reading and writing, change lives. Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with the same opportunities of having an education and being instructed to read and write. Fredrick Douglass, author of “Learning to Read and Write.”, was once a slave and had the privilege snatched away from him. But, he had a passion as well as a desire to be educated. Douglass did not let the binds of slavery disable him from learning.

In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave by himself, the author asserts that no one should be held as a slave if they have the ability to read, write, or think. Douglass, a former slave himself, was denied the simplest knowledge other children were privileged. Douglass supports his claim by telling the audience how one of his masters stopped teaching him because her husband said that if you teach a slave they are unfit to be a slave, secondly by telling the audience how he did not know his own birthday. The author’s purpose is to show how terrible slave is in order to bring slavery to an end. Based on the purpose of this book, Douglass has written to the people who have the power to abolish slavery.

Douglass made himself, for that he taught himself how to read and write. He taught himself the importance of being intellectually free. His master’s words when found Lady Sophia teaching Douglass alphabet, fueled Douglass’ desire and determination to absorb much more for the books. They were of main importance for a man to release his mind from being controlled by masters.

Although literacy can free our minds from the foolishness, it can bring despair and misery when the question about the inequity is being asked. As learning literacy, Douglass also experienced a range of emotion as the world opening up for him. He expresses his frustration when he writes, “The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers,”(3). In making this comment, Douglass then viewed the world as an unjustifiable place and wished he would not have known literacy. He thought education could make him free and independence from slavery, however, he felt hopeless and powerless.