Frederick Douglass

413 Words1 Page

Frederick Douglass asserts that he, as an adolescent "understood the pathway from slavery to freedom" upon his comprehension of English reading. To contemporary audiences, this may be a hard concept to grasp, an individual reared from birth as a slave understanding the significance of literacy and equating such with freedom. His cognition of this enormous concept can be explained as such: by breaking the literacy barrier, Douglass raised his status (symbolically) from a subhuman, slave status, to human, a White equal. Because all humans are entitled to certain rights, his symbolic progression from slave to human affords those rights, in particular the right to freedom. Slaves were forbidden to read and slave owners were forbidden to teach slaves to read and write. The existence of such a restriction on educating slaves is proof that the slaveholders felt a need to suppress the capabilities of slaves. As a slave, Douglass was given the opportunity to learn and elevate his status only to have all that, including the invitation to join "high" society snatched away. Such a tease and broken promise of a better day proved to be more than Douglass could bear. He devoted each of his idle moments to mastering the language arts. In addition, as if mastering it were not enough, Douglass meticulously educated other slaves in the English language of reading and writing. Douglass' action was indicative of the significance found in literacy. If he had not put literacy at such high esteem, he would not have taken the time to continue his education and persuade others to pursue theirs. Douglass knew first hand that education was a effective tool of empowerment especially to slaves—those who had spent their lives without any power. This separation of man from education was a control issue and reclaiming control meant education one's self and his or her peers. Through educating his peers, Douglass demonstrated his knowledge of the underlying power in literacy. Douglass practiced not only reading but also writing his English language.

Comparing Frederick Douglass And Reading Books
766 Words | 2 Pages
Many people take for grant of the freedom we have, but Douglass shows that having freedom means having the ability to control one’s own destiny. Douglass was a slave who like any other slaves cannot be educated. Douglass finds this out by accident when he overhears the reasons why it was illegal for them to get education- it because the white slave owners did not want slaves to gain knowledge as it will bring disorder and rebel against slavery. As a result of this finding, Douglass seeks out his own education. One of his methods of learning how to read is by exchanging foods for learning to read. During the slavery, poverty also affected all different people, so Douglass would give breads to poor children and for exchange teach Douglass some words. For Douglass learning meant punishments or even death, but he takes the risk and did all he can to gain knowledge because this is the only way he can be free. He demonstrates to people that education is powerful and the way one can truly be self-governed. Douglass story is a reminder to always appreciate education and to take the most out of learning because in the end no one can take away what’s in our
Read More
Literacy For Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Analysis
381 Words | 1 Pages
Literacy for Frederick is not only about liberating himself but also about being a part of society and community - which were continually denied to him as a slave. Douglass figured out that why literacy was not appropriate for slaves and that his master was not just talking about freedom but also his psychological wellbeing and his ability to take control of his own psyche. If Douglass was literate he would no longer be able to live in the system of slavery; he would be outside of it and try to run away with himself. Frederick knew that literacy would transform the life of child-slave into a free-man’s life.
Read More
How Did Frederick Douglass Affect The Cost Of Freedom
908 Words | 2 Pages
While at this plantation, his master wife taught him the alphabet and how to spell simple words. His master caught them one day and this is where Douglass learns that African American are not allowed to learn. This giving him the idea that if he became educated he would gain power. In Douglass’ struggle to continue his lessons he traded bread with the poorer white kids in his neighborhood in exchange they would help him continue to learn. Over the next seven years, Douglass’s mistress tender heart slowly turn to stone and became more “tiger-like fierceness.” (43) Douglass was not sure as to why he has deprived the same privileges as the white men. Only allowing envy and jealousy to develop within Douglass, that certain people had the privilege to know the unknown. This starting his educational journey to freedom.
Read More
Frederick Douglass Language Analysis
969 Words | 2 Pages
White slaveholders kept their slaves in the dark in terms of education, as well as individual identity. Slaveholders would not tell slaves about their family or where they came from, or how to read and write. Slaves were kept illiterate so they were unable to document their experience as a slave, and so they could not read about abolitionist movements, or documents of that nature. To whites, knowledge was the equivalent to freedom, so they forced their slaves to remain illiterate. However, Douglass was accidentally shown the ticket to freedom, through Mr. Auld. Once Mr. Auld explained to Douglass that he was not allowed to become literate, Douglass “understood what had been to [him] a most perplexing difficulty...the white man’s power to enslave the black man” (page 47). Once Douglass understood what it would take to become a free man, he worked hard to become literate. By becoming literate, he was no longer inferior to any white man. He understood what it meant to be an abolitionist, and began planning ways to escape. Other slaves inhibited intellectual capabilities because Douglass “devoted [his] Sundays to teaching [his] loved fellow-slaves how to read” (page 87). Douglass and his fellow slaves worked together and devised a plan to escape slavery, which involved Douglass writing passes for each individual. Later on in the novel, literate slaves help Douglass become a free man. This further proves Douglass’ point that blacks are not intellectually inferior to
Read More
Douglass: The Power Of Education In Slavery
384 Words | 1 Pages
In Douglass’s writing, he explores the power of education in slavery. He underwent many struggles to become literate. In the book, he mentions that he was separated from his mother when he was an infant. He witnessed the cruel punishments and conditions that were put on slaves, an entrance to the hell of slavery, through which he was about to pass. He always lived with his grandmother on the outside of the plantation and grew to be a young child who was widely ignorant and was not aware of the systematic slavery. Most slave owners didn’t allow their slave to read or even know their age because if they did it gave them knowledge and made them aware of the truth of slavery. Which is why many slaves are illiterate and their ignorance became a
Read More
The Higher Education System or Lack Thereof
1952 Words | 4 Pages
The higher education system (or lack thereof) is not serving the country and its citizens. The increasing number of admission standards, exponential tuition increases, the financing of the cost through loans, and the boasting of turning students away all contribute to rising disparity between the quality of education that upper class families can afford compared to lower and middle income families. The rising costs of higher education in this country are problematic in that they fuel a disparity between economic classes. Capitulating the problem is the amount of debt college graduates have accrued at the time of graduation. The Institute for College Access and Success (2013) reported that 70% of graduates had and average of $29,400 of debt. This number primarily focuses on non-profit and private institutions. The average annual salary of a college graduate is $57,616 (United States Department of Labor, 2014). So many college graduates have accumulated a debt worth half of what their starting salary may end up being. The Institute for College Access and Success (2013) reported that 20% of that debt “is comprised of private loans, which are typically more costly and provide fewer consumer protections and repayment options than safer federal loans3” (p. 1). This is an oversimplification in that it is looking at a very general population. Based on the degree and the subsequent employment, income will vary as does the institution attended and the student’s economic status affect the overall individual debt.
Read More
Persuasive Essay On The Price Of Higher Education
1008 Words | 3 Pages
According to John T. Harvey, the rise in student loans and debt creates a drag on short-term economic activity and stunts long term economic growth. Currently, the total student debt is over 1 trillion. Graduates continue to emerge from college facing high costs and are entering what is still a poor job market. Many of these graduates will face under or unemployment, and will quickly fall into debt. This debt takes away the next generation’s ability to create demand, resulting in job loss and a stunt in economic growth. Without jobs, more people will fall into debt, creating a cycle that consistently deteriorates the economy. Finally, by denying many bright minds access to an education, the innovations meant to increase economic activity and make the quality of life better never actually happen. Rising tuition costs, which result in student loans and student debt, promise to grate at our economy and
Read More
Argumentative Essay On Rap Music
1801 Words | 4 Pages
Rap is an excellent unifier of different populations and races around the world. With every trend it creates, rap music grows to be globally accepted (Kruse 53). Consequently, it is no longer limited to African American communities. The non-black communities total to about seventy-five percent of the global rap audience (Wingood 437). Ignoring boundaries of cultural divides, rap music has shown its ability to call out to millions of youths worldwide. This is can be seen in the urban street dressing style copied from rap artistes which include: baggy pants; caps worn backward; and expensive sneakers. These have been understood as the factors which gives its audience a sense of identity while providing support and hope (Kruse 53; Williams
Read More
Reforming Student Debt: Solutions and Consequences
833 Words | 2 Pages
Student debt has become a growing problem for the economy in the past years; it cannot be completely solve, but the increasing rate can reduce by giving a student loan limit for those who are at a higher risk of dropping out, implement high school students an obligatory orientation on financial aid, and put on severe consequences for those who are able to payback their loans but chose not to.
Read More
The Effects Of Student Loan Debt
412 Words | 1 Pages
When college students finally graduate from college they are excited to apply what they learned in the classroom to their chosen fields. A vast majority of graduates find themselves facing student debt. This is a debt larger than students have ever faced before. America’s student loan debt has reached over a trillion dollars. This incredible burden weighs heavily on many millennials. The average student loan balance is in the five figures. This is enough to hold off on life’s milestones. The rise is college cost will result in a decrease in homeownership and hold back new businesses among college graduates in the future.
Read More
Influence Of Rap Music
704 Words | 2 Pages
Music is very powerful. It can control people’s emotions and change the way they act. What people see in music videos or lyrics may affect what they do, especially teens. One of the music genres, hip-hop, caused many arguments since its appearance in the late 20th century. The reason is some hip-hop song lyrics include violence, sex, vulgar language, drugs, and alcohol use. Unfortunately, teenagers are the number one fans of this music. Most parents worry about these negative influences of hip-hop and rap on the teenagers still too young to choose what is right or wrong. They as well as educators need to control or even stop this music. I strongly believe that hip-hop and rap music have lots of dangerous effects on today’s youth, especially the violence, sex, and bad
Read More
The Effects Of Student Loans
743 Words | 2 Pages
Student loans have increased dramatically over the past few years and it has made education unobtainable. Also, student loans have quadrupled since 2004, to nearly $1.2 trillion (Gorman ,2015). For example, for
Read More
Knowledge Vs. Ignorance
712 Words | 2 Pages
If it was not for Frederick Douglass’s learning to read and write, he may have been lived his entire life as a slave, a mere “brute” that no one knows of today. He may have died as an ignorant servant, always submissive under the hands of his merciless white master. He may have never seen the light, success, or integrity that comes with knowledge and freedom. These are all subtle, yet mind-blowing details that were emphasized through Douglass’s text. In his narrative, Douglass portrays how he went against the odds by self-educating himself, which was an act that required great determination and caution on the side of a mere slave, for education was considered a tremendous danger towards the white, slave-holding society. Because he loathed the injustice of slavery and he was willing to risk his life to rid himself of it, Douglass never ceased to think of freedom. Frederick Douglass's memoir, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, truly portrays that through one’s determination and the aid of a kind Providence, knowledge becomes a superpower against the weapon of ignorance as it serves as a crossroad between the appalling chains of slavery and the “silver trump of freedom” in a prejudiced, Pre-Civil War society.
Read More
The Power Of Education In Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass
596 Words | 2 Pages
The power of education featured in the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” was one, if not, the most important theme that took part in his narrative. Frederick Douglass understood that the only path to become free for himself and other slaves was through learning to read and write and by having a solid education background to build on. However, Douglass was disgusted because by having an understanding of knowing how to read and write, he finally knew the extent of the horrors of slavery. Therefore, slaveholders used different tactics to keep this from happening, decreasing the confidence of slaves to act freely in a mannerly way.
Read More
The Negative Effects Of College Loans
982 Words | 2 Pages
For most Americans, the best way to better your life is by attending college. Numerous American college students take out loans to be able to attend community college, and a university. Unfortunately, with college tuition increasing, so does the amount of loans that is necessary to afford it. Many Americans are in debt, it is affecting the American family, and prevents college students to start their own family. Countless students who took out loans are struggling to be able to pay off their student loans, and many of them are defaulting on their loans (Jackson & Reynolds 2012). Default on student loans from the department of education can result in garnishing wages and lower your FICO score (Jackson & Reynolds 2012). With so many Americans
Read More

Open Document

Wait a second!

Frederick Douglass

Comparing Frederick Douglass And Reading Books

Literacy For Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Analysis

How Did Frederick Douglass Affect The Cost Of Freedom