Freedom In Frederick Douglass Essay

378 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Slavery in world history

Freedom, is a universal privilege, a privelege that the modern day American takes for granted. When looking at freedom through the eyes of others it can be seen through many perspectives. During the mid to late 1800’s the blacks making up a large portion of the population felt as if their freedom was non-existent. Freedom for one is not necessarily freedom for all. To introduce this unjust behavior with which blacks are mistreated and set apart from the rest of the nation it is stated from Frederick Douglas’s speech that, “The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me” (Douglas 1). This passage summarizes how the life of a negro is dangerous and unhealthy as slavery has taken a toll on them compared

Show More
Related

  • Frederick Douglass Character Analysis Essay

    654 Words  | 2 Pages

    Not knowing what to do is the worst kind of suffering. The characters in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass suffer as they struggle to make the right decisions. The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass was written by abolitionist former slave Frederick Douglass. The book highlights the factual details about the harsh treatment and the poor living condition of African American people during Slavery. The book also display the dehumanization and the inferiority of African American people. Each character falls in different stages of Lawrence Kohlberg’s “Developmental Stages of Human Moral Reasons.” Kohlberg is an American psychologist best known for his theory of Stages of Moral Development. Colonel Edward Lloyd is in stage one

    Read More

  • Analysis Of John Reekie's The Burial Party

    1929 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people were afraid of what would happen to society after the emancipation of the slaves and wondered if that emancipation was worth losing the lives of so many soldiers. Frederick Douglas gave what he believed to be a simple and obvious answer to the question of what should be done with the emancipated slaves once the war had ended in his article, “What Shall Be Done with the Slaves If Emancipated?” After emancipation, people were at a loss when it came to what to do with the black population, believing that “they would not work; they would become a burden upon the State, and a blot upon society” (Douglas 55). Douglas counters these fears by emphasizing the fact that black men will work for a living since work has been all they have known for their entire lives. Freed slaves were arguably the hardest working people of the time since they had no other choice than to do whatever work was thrown in front of their face, or else be severely punished. This is shown in this image as they work hard to do one of the most heart wrenching tasks possible: burying their fallen brothers. Douglas’ stance was clear- the freed black men and women were to be left alone to do what they felt they needed to do, without the interference of the white society. He argues that white people’s “doing with them [was] their great misfortune” and that “they have been undone by [their] doings” (Douglas 57). Douglas advocated that the answer to the question was obvious since the South needed black men to function. He states that the “black man as a freeman is a useful member of society. To drive him away, and thus deprive the South of his labor, would be… absurd and monstrous” (Douglas 59). This argument is shown through the picture- even though the men are free, they are still performing the hard work

    Read More

  • The Meaning Of July 4th For The Negro By Fredrick Douglass

    707 Words  | 2 Pages

    After suffering the overwhelming ferociousness and inhumanity of being a slave for over two decades, a black man by the name of Fredrick Douglass fled from enslavement and began to make a concerted effort to advance himself as a human being. Combating many obstacles and resisting numerous temptations, Douglass worked assiduously to develop into a knowledgeable gentleman rather than the involuntary alternative of being an unenlightened slave. In doing so, Douglass successfully emerged as one of the Civil War era’s most prominent antislavery orators. From his first major public speech at the age of 23, Douglass became widely renowned as a premier spokesperson for Black slaves and the movement for the abolition of slavery. In one of Douglass’ most distinguished speeches, “The Meaning of July 4th for the Negro,” he uses the intermittent occasion of speaking on behalf of African Americans to a multitude of White Americans to outline arguments against slavery.

    Read More

  • Pursuit Of Freedom In Frederick Douglass's The Heroic Slave

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the era of slavery in America, it was common to see slaves being content with their given social ascription of identity. Many had accepted their fate of forever being bound. Madison Washington, the main character in Frederick Douglass’ novel, The Heroic Slave; however, couldn’t come to terms with being denied the inalienable right of being free. This book focuses on Washington and his journey in pursuit of liberty. He does whatever he can to be free from the bonds of slavery, and is fueled by the knowledge that slavery cannot be right or justified.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Frederick Douglass, The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    A human being is a complicated entity of a contradictory nature, where creative and destructive, virtuous and vicious are interwoven. Each of us has gone through various kinds of struggle at least once in a lifetime, ranging from everyday discrepancies to worldwide catastrophes. There are always different causes and reasons that trigger these struggles, however, there is common ground for them as well: people are different, even though it is a truism no one seems to be able to realize this statement from beyond the bounds of one’s self and reach out to approach the Other. The concept of the Other is dominant in Frederick Douglass’s text “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro”, for it determines the main conflict and illuminates the issue of intolerance and even blasphemy regarding the attitude of white Americans towards Negroes. The text was written as a speech to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and delivered at Rochester’s Corinthian Hall on July 5, 1852.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass and Slavery

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    Frederick Douglass's Narrative, first published in 1845, is an enlightening and incendiary text. Born into slavery, Douglass became the preeminent spokesman for his people during his life; his narrative is an unparalleled account of the inhumane effects of slavery and Douglass's own triumph over it. His use of vivid language depicts violence against slaves, his personal insights into the dynamics between slaves and slaveholders, and his naming of specific persons and places made his book an indictment against a society that continued to accept slavery as a social and economic institution. Like Douglass, Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery, and in 1853 she published Letter from a Fugitive Slave, now recognized as one of the most comprehensive antebellum slave narratives written by an African-American woman. Jacobs's account broke the silence on the exploitation of African American female slaves.

    Read More

  • Life and Times of Fredereick Douglass Essay

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    The title of the book for my report is Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, by himself. Its genre is autobiography, and it was first published in 1881 and later revised in 1893. The tone of the novel is contemplative and reflective. He talks about his thoughts on his circumstances and the actions of others constantly and often explains why things were as they were, such as the white children he was friends with as a child not agreeing with slavery. The book tells about his life, including his first realizations of slavery, his experiences and hardships growing up as a slave, his religious enlightenment, his escape from slavery, and his rise to the top as an influential voice for blacks in America. His style includes formal language and going into detail on his reflections.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass And Frederick Douglass Analysis

    1247 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this final research analysis, I will be doing a comparison between the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” and the “Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson” to show how both Douglass and Rowlandson use a great deal of person strength and faith in God to endure their life and ultimately gain their freedom.

    Read More

  • Fredrick Douglass Argumentative Analysis

    856 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe”( Douglass). This famous quote epitomizes the philosophies of Frederick Douglass, in which he wanted everyone to be treated with dignity; if everyone was not treated with equality, no one person or property would be safe harm. His experience as a house slave, field slave and ship builder gave him the knowledge to develop into a persuasive speaker and abolitionist. In his narrative, he makes key arguments to white abolitionist and Christians on why slavery should be abolished. The key arguments that Frederick Douglass tries to vindicate are that slavery denies slaves of their identity, slavery is also detrimental for the slave owner, and slavery is ungodly.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass Author's Purpose Essay

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    The author Frederick Douglas had two main purposes when writing his memoir, the first one was to demonstrate the harsh and cruel world that slaves lived through during that period. This is exemplified by Douglas when he describes how his masters separated him from his mother and he describes a brutal whipping of Aunt Hester as “ causing blood to blood to run an hour at the time; and this, too, in the presence of her crying children” (Douglas 7). The second purpose that Douglas had to write this memoir was to show how he overcame great pain and challenge. For example during the few chapters where he is loaned to Mr. Covey, Douglas must resist the near constant pain that is inflicted on him,

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr Speech Analysis

    605 Words  | 2 Pages

    The topic of Freedom can be seen throughout Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech. In the speech, Dr. King repeats the words “we will never be satisfied…” in other words, this means that he is fighting for freedom for all the African Americans’ and he also refers to the constitution that states all American citizens, including black men and women would be guaranteed all the rights to life. These statements Martin Luther King Jr. made led to all African Americans to have the same amount of rights as the Americans. Also, it’s the country’s promise to give all rights to every American including black men (his quote used

    Read More

  • Universal Rights: A Study on Frederick Douglass' Speech

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    He could not fathom how slavery was still accepted and practiced in a place that was built on the grounds of freedom and equality. Frederick Douglass respected and praised the signers of the Declaration of Independence and believed it to contain great value “The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost.” (Douglass 3). Although the principles of the Declaration of Independence covered great importance, America was still untrue to their founding principles. Frederick Douglass encouraged his audience to continue the work of those great activists whom brought forward freedom and democracy to this land. With this idea he then progresses his main argument and asks the audience a rhetorical question: “ Are the great principles of political freedom and natural justice, embodied in the Declaration of Independence, extended to us?” (Douglass 4). The question was said not for the sake to get an answer but to acknowledge that freedom did not pertain to

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass Desire For Freedom

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    Frederick Douglass’ source, “The Desire for Freedom” was written in 1845. He was born into slavery in 1818 and became an important figure in the fight for abolition. Douglass was also involved in other reform movements such as the women’s rights movement. He “experienced slavery in all its variety, from work as a house servant and as a skilled craftsman in Baltimore shipyard to labor as a plantation field hand” (Pg.207¬). “The Desire for Freedom” was meant to document how his life was within slavery and how his education could someday help him escape it. Douglass meant to speak to American slaves and those who did not really understand slavery in order to help persuade everyone that life was meant to be lived freely. In order to obtain this future, Douglass wrote about his own personal experience and how he believed that enslavers were “in no other light than a band of successful robbers, who had left their homes, and gone to Africa, and stolen us from our homes, and in a strange land reduced us to slavery” (Pg. 208). This source brings on the idea that slaves were willing to fight back, wanted to be educated, and, most importantly, wanted the chance to live life freely.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass And The Abolitionist Movement

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    Frederick Douglass was a gifted slave. Born with natural intelligence, he used this unique talent to accomplish something that is taken for granted today: being literate. This unique talent made it so that he could achieve his destiny at becoming an educated oral spokesman for the abolitionist movement.

    Read More

  • Essay On Frederick Douglass Ethos Pathos Logos

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    1.) Fredrick Douglass’s purpose in this speech was to explain the wrongfulness of slavery in America. Fredrick Douglass states in his speech “Are the great principles of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?” and “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me.” These prove that the freedom and independence Americans have aren’t shared with the Africans when it should be that Africans have those rights as well. Frederick Douglass then talked about how badly whites treat blacks and how wrong it is. “There are 72 crimes in Virginia which, if committed by a black man, subject him to a punishment of death, while

    Read More

More about Freedom In Frederick Douglass Essay

Open Document