In many cases it seems both logical and necessary to obtain an education in order to broaden the horizon as well as expand ones knowledge of not only a classroom education, but also an education of the world we live in. Education is a gateway to a positive future and a successful life. According to George Washington Carver, “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” Education is not a gift; it is a process that takes dedication and hard work in order to achieve the most positive outcome. Without education, many things cannot be accomplished; and many positive aspects of ones life could be missing. A beneficial education has the power to do great things, but a wasted education could lead to destruction.
A prime example of a beneficial and advantageous education would be that of Frederick Douglass, who struggled through extreme adversity but had the mindset to stop at nothing in order to achieve an education. In the early stages of his life, he discovered how a slave obtains freedom and he stated that it is through education in itself. Once the initial flame was lit, Douglass refused to stop learning and even through struggle, he knew that it would benefit him. He stated, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” He went so far as to take bread from his master’s house so that he could trade it for a short lesson of writing or A,B,C’s from the town white boys. To Douglass, education was valued as the very thing that could release him from bondage and set him free.
Douglass not only achieved his goals, but he created a gateway for other slaves to take a stand to build their own confidence in setting themselves free. Douglass earned his freedom and he deserved it. Douglass battled through separation, starv...
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... students struggled through problems due to racism, gang violence, etc. Their resources for knowledge were also very different, as Douglass learned from little white boys, and the students learned from their teacher, Mrs. G. The goal of Frederick Douglass was to earn knowledge for freedom while the students’ main goal was to graduate from high school and to lead a life of success.
The power that can come from earning an education can be so fulfilling and beneficial that it makes a lasting impact on generations to follow. Regardless of how Douglass or the students received their education, they both left an impact, as well as reached their goals. Frederick Douglass found his freedom and the students overcame their struggles in school. Through these two examples, education was proven to be something of a miracle and something that is earned - not given.
Along with family and religion, education is one of the most important aspects in society. Fredrick Douglass realized the importance of a good education by learning to read and later becoming a writer, author and advocate of African Americans, women, and many others. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, we learn the significance and importance of Douglass learning to read, the affect the institution of slavery had on both whites and blacks, and why learning to read threatened the institution of slavery in general.
Many great minds believe that education is a powerful tool. Investing in your education is the most valuable and most rewarding thing a person can do to secure their future. Influential people who have brought positive changes to the world have said: “The investment in knowledge pays the best interest”. (Franklin). “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. (Nelson Mandela). “A brighter future starts with an education”. (Montgomery).
Everyone should value books. Books can provide us an understanding of the world and ourselves. In the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and A Separate Piece by John Knowles, these books provide knowledge, wisdom and a lesson one can gain after reading these books. What all three books have in common is that it’s either related to studying or learning: from Franklin’s love for reading and writing, Douglass using education to gain freedom, or knowing how to learn about ourselves.
By Frederick Douglass simply learning the basic fundamentals of reading and writing, he imposed a threat to his superiors. His narrative is a direct product of his enslavement; his powerful narrative brought light to a situation. Douglass is exactly what slave-owners feared. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery; as a result of Frederick’s continued resistance against his unfortunate “birthright”, he continued on to be an educated adult, a famous abolitionist, and inspirational orator.
As a result of his persistence and eagerness, Douglass achieved mental emancipation. He was no longer an ignorant nigger that was supposed to obey his master.*(274) He was halfway to getting true freedom. It was now up to him to use his newly gained knowledge to gain physical emancipation.
In reading The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, I, like others, found myself to be deeply moved. The way in which Mr. Douglass walked me through each stage of his “career” as a slave gave me a better understanding of the African American slaves’ struggle. I realized in reading this mans story that he was a gifted individual and I pondered over where his strength came from? It is true and obvious that Mr. Frederick Douglass was an extremely gifted man, but with no mother or father to guide him, what motivated this man to accomplish his goal? For this man did indeed become free.
Fredrick Douglass’ goals were to show that slavery was not the answer. He wanted the people of his time to realize it. He campaigned against slavery as an abolitionist and through his book the “Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglas,” which told about his own experience with slavery as he was a former slave. Douglas used the stories of his life as a slave to persuade people who read his book on all the wrongs of slavery. He shed light on the life of a slave boy. The obstacles
...nineteenth century. Douglass was given some education and worked on it by himself after lessons ceased. Slaves who had any education were a rarity in the south. By taking away any opportunity for a better life, slave holders controlled every aspect of a slave’s life. However, after some education, Frederick longed for a life out of slavery. He realized he not only had to have a sound mind, but also a sound body and soul. The will to leave his old life behind was as important to education in obtaining his freedom. Frederick had many experiences that coincided with the average life of a southern slave during his time in captivity. However, after his escape, his life was very different from slaves who had obtained freedom by some means. Frederick Douglass became one the most prominent men in his time due to his hard work and determination he gained from being a slave.
In the beginning of Douglass’ life, his only knowledge is the slave world and their duties. He knows the land, the families, and the brutal ways of life as a slave. When Douglass is sent to Baltimore to babysit, Mrs. Auld, his mistress, teaches him the alphabets. Mr. Auld tells her that she cannot teach a “nigger” no more because he thinks that ones they learn, they will be uncontrollable. This changes Douglass’s whole perception of slavery. He realizes that the only thing that stands between a slave and freedom is education. After Mrs. Auld stops teaching him, Douglass starts to read newspapers and books to teach himself how to read and write. The more Douglass learned, the more he starts to realize the ugliest side of slavery. This helps Douglass to be determined to put an end to slavery and eventually helps him escape. For Frederick Douglass, it was knowledge that freed him and changed his life so completely, and that he later uses to help other slaves. Knowledge was what gave Douglass a new life and determination to accomplish something instead of struggling his whole
Douglass an individual who was born into slavery was separated from his mother at an early age, from my point of view without my parents specially my mother I would not be where I am today. Even though Douglass was separated from his family and in a way, did not have sense of family he did not let himself to be broken by this. He was a smart child who was determined to enjoy life to be best he could, even though at an early age all he understood about a slave life was misery. As he matured and grew, he started to noticed that there was more than just slavery but he was eventually broken by the harsh treatment of slavery. As Douglass
Let us begin with what is, perhaps, the most famous Douglass quotation: "You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man" (64). This sentence serves as the turning point, the climax, of both Douglass' narrative and his life. Up until that point, throughout his entire life, the world had been busy making him a slave. From the moment he was born to a slave mother (even though his father was white), the forces of slavery had been suffocating his humanity. When he was forcibly separated from his mother, he lost the human closeness of family. When he helplessly witnessed his aunt being brutally beaten and was subjected to repeated beatings himself, he lost the human sense of pride. And, when he was denied education and literacy, he lost the human ability to obtain knowledge. In all of these ways, society turned Frederick Douglass, a man, int...
Education is a privilege. The knowledge gained through education enables an individual’s potential to be optimally utilized owing to training of the human mind, and enlarge their view over the world. Both “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” by Frederick Douglass himself and “Old Times on the Mississippi” by Mark Twain explore the idea of education. The two autobiographies are extremely different; one was written by a former slave, while the other was written by a white man. Hence, it is to be expected that both men had had different motivations to get an education, and different processes of acquiring education. Their results of education, however, were fairly similar.
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.
The significant of education in “Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass” is the most important theme in the entire passage. Frederick Douglass understands that the only way to freedom, for him and also other slaves, is through learning to read, write, and also have an education. Education helps Frederick to understand things that slowly will destroy his mind, and heart at the same time. Understanding the full extent of the horrors of slavery can be devastating to a person who has just set mind on morals, and values. In the passage Frederick says, “It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but offered no ladder upon which to get out” (Douglass 61). Using this quote as your guide, the reader can examine the meaning and importance of education with slavery time, and modern day.
I believe that the purpose of education is to produce the next generation of leaders who are intelligent and have great character. This idea is supported in the article “The Purpose of Education” by Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist who fought for black and white people to have equal rights in America. He writes about the true purpose, and meaning of education in the article by saying, “Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction (MLK1).” This quote from the article explains that being academically educated is very important. It will help people stand up, be a leader, and take charge to make the world a better place for everyone. That gallant leader will argue against the fallacy, lies,