Obstacles In The Life Of Frederick Douglass

Fredrick Douglass explains in this excerpt from The Narrative Life of Fredrick Douglass that no matter how hard they try, a white person will never understand what its like living the life of a slave. Throughout the excerpt Fredrick Douglass talks about how freedom from slavery is not how he ever imagined it would be. He says that once free, he was lonely and could trust no one, which contradicts all the positive connotations of freedom. This excerpt, in addition to the whole narrative, is aimed at white intelligent people since Fredrick Douglass’s audience could only people who knew how to read and write in 1838. Fredrick Douglass conveys his point through his syntax, imagery, and figures of speech.

One of the most important examples of perseverance in Douglass’s Narrative is his constant thirst for knowledge. The great impact learning had upon Douglass is inarguable. When his master Anthony takes him to Baltimore, he is introduced to Mrs. Auld who begins teaching him letters and small words (Douglass 250). Once Mr. Auld finds out, he warns the woman of the dangers of this kindness and forbids her from continuing these lessons (Douglass 250). Douglass’s hearing of this stirs within him his most important revelation. He tells readers, “From that moment, I

Power; a person or organization that has a lot of control and influence over other people or organizations (Miriam Webster). We all have our own sense of some sort of power. Whether that power is over the United States of America. Or the power to vote as an American Citizen and decide who gets that power. It’s great thing but also a tainted thing.

Fredrick Douglass had a long career after escaping, the key decisions he made in slavery before his escaped helped him prepare for his career.

INTRO.Frederick Douglass, went from a slave to a man who changed society and the way people saw others.He was born a slave and raised by a nanny not even his own mother.Douglass was young when he was first exposed to the harsh lifestyle of slaves.As he grew into a man he began to see the world for how it was and wanted to make a change.Frederick Douglass played a significant role in United States history, which brought about a tremendous change to society.

Frederick Douglass’s determination has inspired me to earn my BA in Social Work. His life experience has inspired me to overcome similar obstacles. Douglass was a slave who learned how to read by his master producing a desire to learn more. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hugh stopped teaching him and even prevented him from reading. He was convinced that by learning he would achieve freedom but he had to overcome challenges.

In 1883 , a small child was separated from his mother and sent into slavery. During slavery he witnessed many horrible sights, yet alone he got abused by his master. Through it all his ending results was successful. Douglass has impacted many lives throughout the years. He has made it possible for African Americans to change society today. Frederick Douglass is one of the most significant african americans in the U.S. thru “power of the spoken and written word,” “win many new friends for the abolition movement” and becomes “the most prominent spokesperson for black Americans” til this day.

Douglass had an obvious want for knowledge and understanding, which he clearly fought for through his autobiography. He was taught the alphabet and how to spell at a young age by his master’s wife. However, his teachings were put down when his owner told his wife that there’d be no fit for him if he learned how to read. Douglass soon started to realize that if he wanted his freedom he’d have to learn to read. Being told not to learn only made him want to learn more so that one day he will gain the respect, knowledge, and freedom he deserved. He even used bribes to have young boys teach him to write. His want for education was very strong, and that’s where he uses his desire to his advantage in the writing style of his self written life story. He tells his story as if we were alongside him the whole way learning how he put each little teaching he learned together like a puzzle to make one big magnificent masterpiece at the end when he finally gained his freedom. As Douglass continued to gain knowledge, he gained more character and found himself to not be just a slave but a human being, a valuable and important man who wanted to make a difference in the way he

“I could do little; but what i could, I did with a joyful heart …”(120). Frederick Douglass is well known for his part in freeing the slave. He was a slave himself once, and he had escaped, but through his life he learned that he could be of use, that there was power in reading and writing. And that he had the power to do something. Douglass made a difference in his society, his culture, geographical, and physical surrounding shaped who he was.

Douglass describes the move to Baltimore, as one of great luck and destiny. When greeted by Mrs. Sophia Auld, he had never seen a more pleasant looking face with “the most kindly emotions” (35). He was tasked with taking care of their son; Thomas. Douglass describes his relationship with Mrs. Auld contrasting his relationship with any other white woman he had encountered thus far. Since Douglass was the first slave she had ever owned, she treated him like she would any other human being. She was disgusted by how he kneeled at her feet, she didn't seem bothered when he looked her in the face, and she even taught him to read. Once her husband explained that teaching him to read was making him worthless and that she would be losing Douglass and all the things he does for her, she changed her mind.

One reason Douglass 's story remains to prosper is that his life symbolizes the American dream of overcoming difficulties and reaching greatness. At a young age he

The scene that began Douglass’s future success occurred when Douglass worked for Mr. Hugh Auld’s

One reason that Douglass’ story continues to resonate within people is that his life exemplifies the American dream of overcoming monumental hardships/circumstances to become successful and make a significant difference. Starting from an early age, Frederick worked for twenty years as a slave, first on a Talbot County,

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. After two failed attempts of escaping, he finally found freedom in 1837 after he climbed on a train with his girlfriend, Anna Murray, on the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad to the bigger northern cities. Upon arriving in New York, they gathered supplies to setup a home, and were married by a black presbyterian minister with the last name Johnson to divert unwanted attention. After settling in New Bedford, Mass, the couple took the Douglass last name, and joined a local church. He began attending abolitionists meetings, where he met one of his first friends, William Lloyd Garrison. Douglass became a well regarded writer, and speaker. He toured throughout Ireland and Britain, and was amazed by the lack of discrimination. Upon returning to the US, Douglass started an abolitionists newspaper called The North Star, that promoted equal rights. Garrison, a white man, ran a newspaper called the Liberator. His views were way ahead of his time. His newspaper covered everything from women’s rights, to racial equality. He was also president of the American Anti-Slavery Association. Even though, at the time, his views put him in danger and made him disliked by most of the white community, he continued to provide support. In 1865, after slavery ended in the US, Garrison decided to resign from the AAS. A few years later he joined the American Woman Suffrage Association as associate editor, and was a major figure in that area

Frederick Douglass is a former slave who made great effort in order to obtain freedom. He is born into slavery in the state of Maryland and he barely knows his parents. Douglass is unique compare to other slaves because he learns how to read and write. He found a way to escape from his master and settles in Massachusetts. Frederick Douglass writes his text to abolish slavery and to change it as well; he plays an important role in securing the equal rights of African-Americans and the abolition of slavery. Frederick Douglass went through tough and undeserved treatment from the majority of his masters which took him through trials of slavery that enabled him to gain his education, gain his manhood and gain his freedom.