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Frederick Douglass Meaning Of Freedom

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In 1845, Frederick Douglass published his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Since then, it has become one of the seminal works of pre-Antebellum America. Douglass was a prominent speaker and abolitionist in 19th Century America, and was a key figure in securing the end of slavery in the United States. In his narrative, Douglass gives us an accurate depiction of what life was like as a slave, his path to freedom, and his life immediately following his escape from bondage. Douglass’ narrative helps inform modern day readers how former slaves experienced their new freedom, and just how meaningful that experience was. Every former slave experiences their newfound freedom differently, and thus each has a different interpretation of freedom. To see the meaning Frederick Douglass draws from his freedom, one must look at what back at his experience as a slave and analyze his grievances. There are certain themes that are consistent throughout his narrative and his various masters. Douglass laments the lack of humanity that slavery perpetuates, the lack of education, and the constraints of forced labor. By extension, the removal of these confines define freedom for Frederick Douglass. The meaning of freedom for Frederick Douglass was the restoration of humanity, the promise of education, and the liberation of wage earning. By far the most overwhelming theme in Douglass’ narrative is his disgust with the white people of the South who maintain slavery. He regularly

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