The Right To Education In Frederick Douglass : The Life Of A Slave

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

Frederick Douglass was a former slave who worked and powered to be free coming across many hurdles. Despite his rough beginnings, Douglass became a well written author who later wrote three autobiographies and a multitude of speeches that later aided in the abolition of slavery. He went on to become one of the most profound black American leaders of the 18th century, he helped shape and lead the way for the anti-slavery movement.

Frederick Douglass was born a slave but was determined not to die as one. Eventually, he realized that being literate was the key to being free. His quest to become literate was definitely not easy but with discipline, he was able to succeed in his goals. He wrote “Learning to Read and Write” as a way to chronicle his journey. The article details his obstacles and overcoming them, despite the odds. Frederick Douglass faced many barriers as he learned to read and write. He used a variety of strategies to overcome these hurdles in his pursuit of comprehension and script.

In lines 18-32, Douglass describes what was an abnormality in those times- a white woman (his master’s wife) taking pity on him, and teaching him to read and write. Douglass’s juxtaposition of his master’s wife’s attitude toward him- which was one of a “pious, warm and tender-hearted” nature, to the way the rest of society perceived him as a “mere chattel” helped highlight just how abnormal her behavior was. This contrast further developed through the fact that to treat a slave as a human being back in those days was “not only wrong, but dangerously so,” yet despite that commonplace assertion found all throughout life back then, his master’s wife still treated Douglass no different than she would treat a friend. This section of the text elaborated upon her kind-hearted nature, which led her to pity and help those worse off than her, no matter how society perceived it. Douglass emphasized this point by using mostly long, well constructed sentences that were filled with figurative language. This syntax helped elaborate upon the tone of newfound hope in this section, by demonstrating his flowing thoughts and feelings, due to his newfound freedoms. This syntax helped emphasize the fact that Douglass had acquired the very knowledge slave owners sought to keep from him, therefore acquiring the power that had been kept from him his whole life.

Even after the American Revolution, not everyone was given an equal opportunity to gain their civil rights and freedom. In particular, slavery was still a big issue that was going on after the American Revolution. The way that the slaves were being mistreated by their owners damaged them emotionally, intellectually, and physically. Frederick Douglass was a literary and historically significant slave who worked his way up from the struggles of slave-life. He eventually emerged as one of the most important leaders in the movement to abolish slavery. The way that slaves were being intellectually abused had the biggest domino effect of the way that they wouldn’t be able to self-empower themselves.

Frederick Douglass autobiography learning to read and write was written in 1845 and is a story of his struggle to learn to read and write. The story talks about how he was self-taught because back when he was a kid, a slave in Maryland, it was not allowed for a slave to learn to read and write. Douglass had to sneak and trick people into teaching him how to read and write. He never went to school, never had a teacher to guide him or supportive parents like had while I struggled through school.

"It's easier to build strong men, than to repair broken ones" (Frederick Douglass). In response to the rising demand for labor in America, slavery gradually succeeded indentured servitude due to its outweighing "advantages" to landowners. Despite the prerequisite of having to have to money to purchase slaves, their denied freedom guaranteed lifelong service and provided more slaves via reproduction. Slavery was the universal, identifying characteristic of the South that powered and flourished their economy. Because of this, the unfortunate institution was considered by some a "necessary evil," or even so far as a "positive good." Although slavery was generally beneficial to the South, the repercussions of instilling power to one "superior"

[he] understand[s] the pathway from slavery to freedom." (20). Without this understanding he may have been unhappy but he would have contented himself with the fact that it was his fate as a black man, to be a slave for the rest of his life. For the majority of slaves in Douglass's time, there were no kind mistresses to teach them how to read or write let alone a master who would unwittingly reveal the means to becoming free. It is for this reason that many slaves, cloaked in ignorance, were content in their situations and comforted themselves with false beliefs and

By definition the word abolition means,” The act of abolishing... the state of being abolished... the legal prohibition and ending of slavery, especially of slavery of blacks in the U.S.(Definition).” When Frederick Douglass wrote his personal narrative it had a profound effect on the abolitionist cause. People were astounded at how it opened their eyes to the horror of what slavery genuinely was. The book allowed people to recognize how slaves felt, and reminded them that they were intellectual beings who had thoughts and feelings. Many repeating themes throughout the novel changed the lives and beliefs of many northerners, especially regarding education, equality, and freedom for slaves and

“What I told you is what your grandparents tried to tell me: that this is your country, that this is your world, that this is your body, and you must find some way to live within the all of it.” (Coates). This powerful quote exemplifies the mistreatment of blacks in America as something that has been prevalent throughout our nation’s history and is still present in our contemporary world. Our national founding document promised that “All men are created equal”. As a nation we have never achieved the goal of equality largely because of the institution of slavery and its continuing repercussions on American society.

Frederick Douglass was a young slave with an aspiring dream to learn and further his life of knowledge and education. There was only one thing stopping him: his lack of freedom. The ability to read and access to an education is a liberating experience that results in the formation of opinions, critical-thinking, confidence, and self-worth. Slave owners feared slaves gaining knowledge because knowledge is power and they might have a loss of power, which would result to the end of cheap labor. Slave owners made the slaves feel as if they had no self-worth or confidence. If the slaves got smarter they could potentially begin to learn how unjust and wrong slavery was and they would have enough reason to rebel against it. Douglass was learning how to read and write from his slave owner’s wife. Unfortunately, both of them were told how wrong it was for him to be learning because a slave was not to be educated and was deemed unteachable. There was also another fear that the slave owners had. They feared that slaves would have better communication skills which would lead to escape and ways to avoid slavery. Reading opens your mind to new ideas and new knowledge one has never had the opportunity of knowing.

Education is a key. Not many can find it, but those who do can unlock the door to endless knowledge. Abolitionist leader and American slave, Frederick Douglass, in his autobiography A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, contemplates the enslavement he endured while emphasizing the importance of education as a key to freedom. Throughout Douglass’s educational awakening and his realization of its overall power, he comes to understand the slaveholder’s evil doings in keeping all slaves trapped in ignorance. Thesis too wordy condense it & briefly incorporate rhetorical strategies he uses (repetition, understatement, imagery, diction, etc).

“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.

Literacy plays an important part in helping Douglass achieve his freedom. Learning to read and write enlightened his mind to the injustice of slavery; it kindled in his heart longings for liberty. Douglass’s skills proved instrumental in his attempts of escape and afterwards in his mission as a spokesman against slavery.

Frederick Douglass is perhaps the most well-known abolitionist from American history. He is responsible for creating a lot of support for the abolitionist movement in the years before the Civil War. He, along with many others, was able to gain support for and attention to the abolitionist movement. People like him are the reason that slavery ended in the United States.