Levels of Literacy in African-American Literature - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Song of Solomon, and Push Through literacy will come emancipation. So runs a theme throughout the various selections we have read thus far. But emancipation comes in many forms, as does literacy. The various aspects of academic literacy are rather obvious in relation to emancipation, especially when one is confronted with exclusion from membership in the dominant culture. In the various slave narratives we have examined, all but one writer, Mary Prince, managed to achieve academic literacy to varying degrees (although, Mary Prince was in the process of learning to read and write). And even though she was not literate, Mary was still able to have her story told. Frederick Douglass, made it a point to attain literacy at any cost. Most, but not all, of Toni Morrison's characters in Song of Solomon appear to have attained at least a modicum of literacy. In Push, Sapphire has her protagonist, Precious, pointed down a long road toward at least a minimal form of academic literacy that will allow her to become a more functional human being and a much more productive member of society. What part does literacy play in the advancement of the individual, and to what lengths will one go to achieve it? What part must the individual play to make certain that literacy leads to the desired or implied advancement? And, finally, is there a cost for literacy, or is it always something gained? Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass As a relatively young man, Frederick Douglass discovers, in his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, that learning to read and write can be his path to freedom. Upon discovering that... ... middle of paper ... ...he past, but Douglass and Precious can use their connections with the past as means to avoid its mistakes. So all three find a personal use for what once was reality as a promise for a more fulfilling reality in the future. And in a certain sense, all three find emancipation through their disparate relationships with literacy. Works Cited Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The Classic Slave Narratives. Ed. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. New York: New American Library, 1987. 243-331. Gates, Henry Louis. The Classic Slave Narratives. New York: New American Library, 1987. Graff, Harvey J. The Literacy Myth: Literacy and Social Structure in the Nineteenth-Century City. New York: Academic Press, 1979. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc., 1987. Sapphire. Push. New York: Vintage Books, 1996.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Prestwick House, Inc., 1845. Copyright 2004 by Prestwick House. All rights reserved.
The narrative piece written by Frederick Douglass is very descriptive and, through the use of rhetorical language, effective in describing his view of a slave’s life once freed. The opening line creates a clear introduction for what is to come, as he state, “ the wretchedness of slavery and the blessedness of freedom were perpetually before me.”
Douglass, Frederick. “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W W Norton & Co., 2012. 1187. Print.
Douglass, Frederick. "Learning to Read and Write." Trans. Array The Writer`s Presence. . Seventh Edition. New York: Bedford/St Martin`s, 2012. 86-92. Print.
In conclusion after reading “Learning to Read and Write” and Self-Taught: African American Education In Slavery and Freedom I was able to get a better understanding in how literacy connected to freedom. Learning to read and write ensured them that slavery was not infinite. I believe that so many slaves successfully escaped because they fought so hard to become educated. I learned to appreciate reading and writing on a different level. Without their fight my education would not
A. Preface. The. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Written by.
In today’s day and age, when most teachers only emphasize memorization, and standardized tests determine a student’s capabilities, our education system remains stagnant; whereas, the job market has evolved tremendously. However, according to James Mullane in his article, “The Road to ‘I’dentity in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” when “education fosters dialogue and critical thinking,” students have the tools and opportunities to promote “social and political change” (Mullane 26). Frederick Douglass epitomizes the use of education to make positive influences in the world, as it was through education that Douglass broke out of the shackles of slavery and became one of the most influential African-Americans of the 1800’s. Mullane, in his article, analyzes the significant impact that literacy had on Douglass’s journey of self-discovery.
Douglass, Frederick. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave." 2009. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. 6th ed. Vol. B. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publ., 2009. 2047-048. Print.
shall not make me there a joyful bride… I will not marry yet, and when
In the essay “Learning to Read and Write,” Frederick Douglass illustrates how he successfully overcome the tremendous difficulties to become literate. He also explains the injustice between slavers and slaveholders. Douglass believes that education is the key to freedom for slavers. Similarly, many of us regard education as the path to achieve a career from a job.
Douglass, Frederick. “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written by Himself (ed. John Blassingame) Yale University Press, 2001.
Frederick Douglass was a slave who gained something from his time in “chains” and the cruel words from his master and used his master’s words: “If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell” to prove to the world that a slave is capable of doing more than what their master says they can’t do. He started out learning the basics to reading like the A,B,C’s. Even though it was not much, Frederick Douglass became interested in reading. Starting
Douglass, Frederick. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave." The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Laughter. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Professor David Hennessy, 1845.
Douglas, Frederick. Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (The Harper Single Volume American Literature 3rd edition) 1845:p.1017-1081