Frederick Douglass : The Struggle For Progress And Freedom

Frederick Douglass, who was born into slavery around 1818, will forever remain one of the most important figures in America's struggle for civil rights and racial equality. As an ex-slave, his inspiration grew beyond his boarders to reach the whole world. Without any formal education, Douglass escaped slavery and became a respected American diplomat, a counselor to four presidents, a highly regarded speaker, and an influential writer. By common consent Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (1845) is recognized as the best among the many slave narratives that appeared before the Civil War. He amazed people when he spoke bravely in his Fourth of

Slavery was an embarrassing time in America’s history. In 2016, slavery has become a distant memory. It’s easy for us to admit that slavery is wrong but, in Frederick Douglass’s time no one thought that it was. Frederick Douglass went on to write books and give speeches in hope that one day all slaves would be free. In the book called “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, he attempts to shine light on the American Slave system in the 1800’s.

Fredrick Douglass (1818-1945), both a fugitive slave and a free man, was one of the most courageous and influential leaders of the abolitionist movement. His narrative, published in 1845, illustrates his childhood and early manhood experiences as a salve, as well as his escape to the North and find of freedom. Within his narrative entitled “The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass,” Douglass argues that in order to achieve physical freedom, a slave must seek knowledge and an education.

“You are a product of your environment.”- W. Clement. The way you were raised, the people who raised you and the community that you are raised in all play a role in who you are as an individual. Constantly throughout time the way an individual defines themselves is based on their roots, the actions or reactions that have built a foundation of who they’re today. Through the lens of a slave later turned into one of the largest faces of abolitionist acts, Frederick Douglass creates “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” in which he accounts the community he was raised in and the constant fear instilled within his community as well as his later assimilation into new communities and possibly being responsible for creation of a

According to google, the definition of freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. The Freedom from imprisonment or enslavement from those who holds a person against their power or will. However, when freedom is expressed by an ex-slaved, their views are completely different. Ex-slaves found it difficult to adjust to the liberal freedom because they have to deal with relocating families, no political rights to vote, and the ability to establish land.

Everyone has the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every man has these rights but unfortunately slaves and women do not. Women do not receive the same rights as men do. They get paid less and don't get hired as often as men do. Slaves do not get any rights to do anything and get punished for their actions. Women at least have some rights as men do but Slaves however, Man or Women, are not given any rights at all. I believe that all women and slaves should be given the same rights as men and everyone should be equal. Today's society is still not perfect but is still better than what it used to

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” This famous quote is from a speech given by one of America’s most influential abolitionist speakers, Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery, this great American leader led a life many of us would find impossible to bear. After gaining his freedom from slavery, Douglass shared his stories through impressive speeches and vivid autobiographies, which helped America move forward as a country liberated from racial inequality. Although Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave allows readers to understand what life was like for slaves in antebellum America, the most important and relevant lesson to take away from this narrative today is the importance of perseverance. Douglass’s courage to resist and learn paired with his determination to keep his faith and ultimately find himself, is something to which people from every culture and time period can relate.

Panic struck the people of New York City. Black, billowing smoke began to rise. The beloved Twin Towers had been destroyed. During the chaos and madness that occurred on the day of 9-11-01, some people acted and did all they could to help those around them, even though they knew obstacles stood in the way. Those people are true heros. Heroism is acting in times of need when obstacles may stand in the way, being willing to sacrifice everything, and not letting setbacks keep from achieving goals and being an inspiration to others.

unaware of his father's identity, he was left to bear the burden of slavery all on his own.

Throughout the nineteenth century there was a movement that swept the upper south. This movement was the abolitionist movement which made an effort to emancipate all slaves and stop racial segregation along with discrimination. This movement led to many renowned historical figures contributing through speeches and writings with the goal of seeking an end to slavery. One of these individuals was Frederick Douglass who escaped slavery with the determination to encourage freedom for all slaves.

Frederick Douglass, social reformer of an African American descent, was an orator, writer, statesman, abolitionist movement leader. He was born in 1818 in Talbot County in the United States in the area of Maryland. He gained prominence because of his extraordinary oratory skills. His antislavery writings were appreciated across America, particularly when he pointed out that the slaves lacked the basic intellectual rights to perform as the independent American citizens. Northern citizens of America, even had the hardest time to believe that such a good orator was once the victim of slavery tradition in the American continent (Frederick, 2009). He had a strong believer in relation to equality of people, be it of any class, color, sect or religion and dedicated his entire life for this cause. He had once said that he would unite with anybody to do the right thing and said that he would not unite with anybody to the wrong thing.

When asked about abolitionists, one person that comes to mind is Frederick Douglass. He was considered one of the most influential people of the movement, and he is certainly someone who stands out. But why? What makes Douglass so special is the fact that he escaped slavery but then put himself right back into a dangerous situation for the greater good. Running to the North was risky, but putting his name out after doing what he did was far worse. He was fighting against slavery in the 1940s, but at that time there weren't thousands of people to back him up since the Civil War hadn’t started yet. Not only that, but he was able to overcome slavery which gave hope to other slaves and abolitionists during the battle for freedom and human rights.

Fredrick Douglass was born Fredrick Augustus Washington Bailey, as a slave in Talbot County, Maryland in 1818 and later became a prolific abolitionist in the human rights movement. According to civilwar.org, Douglass was sent as slave to Baltimore, Maryland to serve the families of Hugh and Ms. Lucretia Auld. While under Ms. Auld’s care, Ms. Auld taught Douglass the alphabet, and how to read plus write. In 1838, after escaping slavery at the age of 20, Douglass traveled to New Bedford, Massachusetts where he met Mr. William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips, two well-known slavery abolitionists. Garrison and Phillips encouraged Douglass to write and publish Douglass’s story about his life. Douglass then published his narrative titled “The

Would you risk your life to wangle literary even if you were forcibly shackled into slavery? In the 17th century, you would have not even been close to a book. During this time, white colonist forbid the liberty that slaves could have the qualification to attain literacy---fearing that the increase in literacy will oppose a threat on the institute of slavery, the colonist themselves, and emit true political sovereignty. As a result of this mental genocide, slaves had been dependent on their masters. There were exceptions. Slaves were discouraged to acquire critical literacy however, whites forcibly taught the slaves about Christianity. Frederick Douglass, a notable abolitionist, presents the battles the continuing problem of the

Frederick Douglass stated, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will.” Meaning that, there is no progress, or in other word, no freedom without fighting and proving that one is worth of it because freedom is taken not given. Many actions taken by Frederick Douglass in “Resurrection” and Dave Saunders in “The Man Who Was Almost a Man,” to prove their manhood and to get their freedom, readers understand that manhood comes through actions, but not what one possesses.