Heroism In Oh, Not With Statues By Robert Hayden

Nelson Mandela once said,“courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” In The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass had fear but he found a way to triumph over it. Douglass was very courageous through his actions and through his words. One could say he embodied what it means to have courage, and, in a way, embodied that of the human

Throughout history, there have been many black-rights activists that use their power of speaking to fight injustice and promote equality. One of those activists, who fought for equality with the power of his words, was Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He had a vision of the roles of African Americans during and after the war to ensure they receive citizenship and freedom. Frederick Douglass faced many tribulations throughout his life and that only made his speeches for equality and justice that much more powerful because he was a victim of injustice. Douglass believed that if African Americans want to have citizenship and be seen as equals, they must prove that they deserve it. In order to prove that African Americans deserve citizenship, Douglass encouraged them to enlist and join the fight for equality. Although there were obstacles in seeing his vision implemented Douglass stood his ground and fought until his vision becomes reality.

Frederick Douglass was an human rights leader in the anti-slavery movement and the first African-American citizen to hold a high U.S. government rank. Not only did he have a huge impact on our country, but he also wrote an inspirational quote for the world. He said, “Without a struggle, there can be no progress”(Douglass). This quote can help us have a positive mindset.

In today’s society, almost all people are seen the same way, people have faults about them and have different traits, but all are considered human, men and woman are able to hold the same positions and jobs, and people of all races are able to live together in society. Frederick Douglass was born, and raised, a slave in the 1800s; life was very different, African Americans and white Americans were not seen as equals. As a young boy, Douglass was sent to Baltimore where he learned to read and write. By learning to read and write, Douglass knew the difference between slavery and freedom was literacy. After this crucial time in his life,

To begin with, Frederick Douglass, a former slave wrote and spoke about the establishment of slavery and southern culture based on his youthful experiences as a slave. Douglass is a powerful speaker for the abolitionist movement and became a leader of the anti-slavery movement. One of the main reasons for his writing of the Narrative was to prove to critics that such a well-spoken and expressive man could not have once been a slave. Douglas eventually gains the resources and convictions to escape to the North and wage a political fight against the institution of slavery. I believed that his most inspirational saying was when Douglass said, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”

"Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the 'hero' within us is revealed" – Bob Riley. This quote connects especially well to this story, as a hero was revealed. Being under pressure isn't always good for everyone, but it brings out the hero in some of us.

Frederick Douglass, an inspirational man and the most well known African American abolitionists, was enslaved since birth (“Frederick Douglass,” Historic World Leaders). He attempted escape twice and failed, but on the third try, he was successful. Once in the North, Douglass joined in on abolitionist groups and used his powerful speeches to share his experiences with the public. As he had learned to read and write, he was able to become the editor for the newspaper, North Star, and even spoke to audiences in London about abolitioning slavery and his experiences (“Frederick Douglass,” Notable Black American Men). Serving as a slave from birth to age 20, Frederick Douglass never stopped fighting for his freedom or others’, as after he escaped

As being as slave at one point and time, and escaping to live and tell the story. Frederick Douglass was and still could be a huge influence on today’s younger society in everyday life. In chapter 10, Douglass goes on to say “I’m coming to a fixed determination to run away, we did more that Patrick Henry, when he resolved upon liberty or death.” (555) I feel as if Douglass is provided a great example for all types of people. I take it as he is giving off the idea that whatever one has enough determination to do, they can do. Just like him.

Born into a life of slavery, Frederick Douglass overcame a boatload of obstacles in his very accomplished life. While a slave he was able to learn how to read and write, which was the most significant accomplishment in his life. This was significant, not only because it was forbidden for a slave to read due to the slaveholders wanting to keep them ignorant to preserve slavery, but because it was the starting point for Frederick to think more freely and more profound. Frederick Douglass then taught other slaves how to read and write because he believed and taught “Once you learn to read you will be forever free” (Frederick Douglass). This man was an astonishing individual who

Frederick Douglass is well known for playing a vital role in the abolition of slavery in America. He struggled most of his life trying to break free of the evil chains that were forced upon him by his masters and later to free others from suffering a fate similar to his. Being a brilliant orator and writer, he achieved success in promoting his anti-slavery and equality agendas through his eloquent speeches and through writings in his own abolitionist newspaper “The North Star.” In a significant amount of Douglass’s speeches and writings, he was very prophetic in words as well as in spirit. Throughout his entire life, starting from bondage to freedom, his faith in God was a constant influence on his morals, works and ideas.

Frederick Douglass a slave from birth worked hard as a slave, but wasn’t completely obedient to his masters often asking little white boys to teach him how to read, they often agreed because Douglass would befriend and bribe them with the bread he would carry with him when sent out on errands. Later in his life after escaping his master, he would become an abolisher to fight for the freedom of his formerly fellow slaves. During a speech, he once said, “A man's character always takes its hue, more or less, from the form and color of things about him.” And Frederick’s hue became clear when he was speaking and trying to free his fellow brethren showing that even in the darkest spaces there will always be light no matter how hard people try to snuff it out. Douglass fought for what he believed in, no matter the price

In the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Salve,” the author, Frederick Douglass, teaches significant lessons through his outstanding accomplishments. A superior example of striving for more and not settling for less was shown through various of Douglass’s actions. Furthermore, he strove to achieve his greatest potential and didn’t put a cap on his diverse selection of possibilities. The author’s persistent determination for success amplifies the messages taught throughout his book. Through learning to read, escaping slavery, and becoming a motivational speaker; Frederick Douglass has taught us to continually pursue greatness and to never stop striving for our highest potential.

Douglass’s voice entered every listener and moved them. “I say with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of the glorious celebration. Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us” (Faigley page 378). This was his opening. Just by that sentence you can hear the pain, the anger, and the sadness in his voice. He know first hand that he is not treated like he is equal. He was robbed of his freedom and his dignity. People are drawn to him because he speaks the hard truth. He explains the unimaginable to delicate ears.

Heroes aren’t just fictional characters made for the entertainment of kids and adults and they aren’t just myths and legend; however, it is important to have heroes because they give hope in people and can leave great message behind after their work. Heroes are our last glimpse of hope in a society where corrupt and oppression exist. According to Scott T. Allison, a professor with a Ph.D, he states that “hero stories calmed people’s fears, buoyed their spirits, nourished their hopes, and fostered important values of strength and resilience” (Allison). During time of great depression many can feel loss and become hopeless, however, by having some kind of motivation or reason to not give up can build strength to many. This statement made by Allison

Frederick Douglass once said “Without a struggle, there can be no progress”. He did not just preach this message to everyone; instead, he imbibed it into his life. Indeed, throughout his life, he struggled to make life better for himself and other African Americans oppressed from slavery. After escaping as a slave in 1838, he joined the abolitionist movement to publish the The North Star, a weekly abolitionist newspaper. At the same time, he served as an Underground Railroad conductor to help other slaves gain freedom. He was determined to stop the spread of slavery in America and was never discouraged at the sight of challenge. In fact, even though he fled to Europe in order to protect his freedom in 1845, he still came back to America to