This week’s reading has been quite interesting (mainly the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass). The other reading “But Would That Still Be Me?” by Kwame Anthony Appiah has also been interesting. Both passages have been interesting because I feel like they relate to my life and my education. 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 …show more content…
from an inch, he began to stretch his knowledge into an ell even when he knew of the consequences that was ahead of him. From his master’s words: “Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world” and “He would at once become unmanageable…”, these were the words that pushed Frederick Douglass and motivated him to read and write so he can prove to the white man the capabilities a slave has and can do. Usually, negative words like the master’s breaks a slave's will, but Douglass was different even at a young age. He fed on the negative words and turned them into something positive. To me, Frederick Douglass is the definition of claiming an education. The man didn’t wait to be taught by his mistress, even though, it was against the law to educate a slave. Frederick Douglass was restless to learn about the situation he was in. Why was he a slave? Why couldn’t a slave be educated? and Why did the whites fear an educated slave? He wanted to know all of these. He was sneaky and tricky, using his surroundings to slowly build his knowledge. I think this is what this generation lacks in their education. Every young black student should have a little Frederick Douglass personality in them. We wait to receive knowledge from instructors while those who are higher are moving faster than us. By “we” I mean blacks and by “those who are higher”, I am referring to whites. Yes, there are other races we should be worrying about, but we are competing with whites in the U.S. Slavery may have ended a long time ago, but I feel like there is a new form of slavery hiding itself. This new form of slavery is hiding in the educational system. I see it as this: young black students who wait to receive education represents the slaves and the instructor aka the white man as the oppressor. White society tells the blacks there are things they can’t do to be on the same platform as the white society and we believe it without even challenging those words. I am like Frederick Douglass in some way.
He was exposed to a new land where there were restrictions and I have also been exposed to a new land, different from my country, where everything is different especially with education. Just like Douglass, who wanted to read and write and to be educated, I too have left my country and traveled to the United States of America to gain knowledge. The educational system in the U.S. is on levels higher than those in Ghana. That is why I am in this country claiming an education. As a black male, it is difficult to be living in a society where one race acts like it is superior than the rest of the mixed races in the same country. Whites live by this code “white supremacy” where they base their rank above the other races (blacks, Hispanics, Mexicans, etc.) because of the color of their skin and level of education they have acquired. Furthermore, as a foreigner who has entered a completely different atmosphere in another country and I my skin color is black, I have to be alert. It is not easy for a person who is African American to live in this country just like it was hundreds of years ago. The only difference is that African Americans now have access to education but we must be fierce about claim that education. I must claim my education to prove to my critics that I too, just like Frederick Douglass is capable of doing much more than what I am
told.
One day, Douglass eavesdrops on him and Mrs. Auld’s conversation. Mr. Auld persuades her that reading “could do him (Douglass) no good, but a great deal of harm.” (page 39) This antithesis along with the rest of his statement makes Douglass come to the realization that literacy is equated with not only individual consciousness but also freedom. From that day on, Douglass makes it his goal to learn as much as he can, eventually learning how to write,
Frederick Douglass’s “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave” recounts the life of Frederick Douglass as a slave on his journey to finding freedom. As a slave, he was treated as a second-rate citizen and was not taught how to be literate. Literacy is the ability to read and write. Slaves were robbed of the privilege of reading and writing and thus robbed of any educational means. Without these educational means, slaves were not allowed to grow in society and have a sense of capability within society. Instead, slaves were suppressed by the white man as property and forced to labor as the lowest part of society. Literacy is the education that separates humans from other forms of life and whites from slaves. Literacy
Frederick Douglass’s tone in his introductory paragraph of Learning to Read and Write is learned and reflective. Douglass begins his introduction with a brief background of how he “succeeded in learning to read and write” despite the difficulties presented by his masters. He does not use words or phrases that suggest remorse even the slightest bit of bitterness, instead he uses analytic descriptions of how his mistress “kindly” began to instruct him, but because of the disapproval from her husband, stopped and allowed no one else to teach him. Douglass then explains that his mistress, although was a strict slave-owner, “first lacked the depravity indispensable to shutting me [him] out in mental darkness.” Through reflection and analysis, Douglass concluded that his mistress treated him badly not out of heart but because she had become corrupted in attempts to receive the approval from society. This itself I find ironic because instead of having developed resentment towards his mistress, Douglass respectfully describes her as a woman who was simply following the norm. Also, because of the emphasis on her kindness, after he explained that she was deprived from teaching him,
... and unhappy (Douglass 78).” Learning how to read was as big a step towards freedom for Douglass as it was back. It made him aware of the circumstances but it also made him realize how difficult it would be for him to ever find himself a free man. However, knowledge overpowers ignorance in the sense that his masters could never take his ability to read away from him and because Douglass now knew his condition, he knew that he deserved a better life.
In order for Douglass to reach his goal of becoming a free man he thought the only way out was education. He needed to learn how to read, write, and think for himself about what slavery was. Since literacy and education were so powerful to Frederick he persevered to get himself the education he wanted. …. Douglass knew it wouldn’t be easy, but that didn’t stop him. Douglass realized the “ conscious of the difficulty of learning without a teacher, I set out with a high hope, and
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...
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 to escape and afterwards in his mission as a spokesman against slavery. Douglass was motivated to learn how to read by hearing his master condemn the education of slaves. Mr. Auld declared that education would “spoil” him and “forever unfit him to be a slave” (2054).
In his speech he tries to make white people consider the behavior of black people. Specially their feelings towards a national occasion such as Independence Day. At the time of Douglass’s speech America were actually two different nations, white and black. Two separated nations one had great benefits after the independence and another still fight for basic human rights. What does the independence means for people who still suffer after it? This question is the most important. In the Declaration of Independence. He is implying that these rights are not being extended to African Americans. When this country was created it was meant to be a plac...
Americans should realize the magnitude of slavery’s consequences on African Americans as a whole. Blacks were brainwashed and stripped of self-esteem and taught to be ashamed of dark color of their skin. Many African Americans have effortlessly tried to advocate “Black Pride”, trying to re-instill self-worth and being proud of our distinct facial and body features, and darker complexions. African Americans had zilch to begin with after the abolishment of slavery in 1865. Slaves were promised a “mule/ and 40 acres” and they didn’t live to receive it nor did generations to follow; because the American government has yet to live up to its word. The fruit of the slaves’ labor was stolen from the “land of the free”. The victims of the White people’s African slave trade never experienced such freedom. This race deserves compensation for the mistreatment
Auld, he was introduced to education which gives him a sense of humanity back. Mrs. Auld taught Douglass the alphabet and how to spell small words. However, Mr. Auld found out and disapprovingly said “ if you teach that n- - - - - how to read… it would forever unfit him to be a slave” which Douglass took note of to (250). Douglass realized the importance of his master being scared of him reading and spelling and noticed the value in having and education. Having an education and realizing the importance of that was a major building block in forming Frederick Douglass’s identity.
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.
Fredrick, although his circumstances, strived to read books and write with any opportunity presented. This, I found rather intriguing, with all odds against him he often finds an opportunity to learn, even as a child he would take time from the errands he was sent to do as a slave and learn. Very inspiring story, kind of makes me feel like I’m taking a lot for granted and not doing a lot in my full potential. Although he was weary about the two Irish man he kept what they said to heart and at the end “I” think he managed to escape, since his story is out one can only assume he published this essay because all went well. And since Douglass learned to read and write we as readers can only think or assume he escaped. He kept reading books and his mindset quickly changed and he knew too much to the point he saw it as a curse. It’s sad the hopelessness Douglass experienced in being a slave. Goes to show Intelligence can literally take you places, and Douglass demonstrated this very well in his essay. Very interesting essay, very interesting were the two past essays and both have made me want to read. I myself never have read an entire book in my life feel as if I’m doing many things wrong, both Richard Rodriguez and Fredrick Douglass had to overcome their struggles and even with hopelessness or not having support both men find a
In summary, the story of Frederick Douglass and his efforts to become literate illustrate not only the importance of literacy, but also just how freeing this capability is. All too often, literacy is a capability that we take for granted. From Douglass’ autobiography, we are reminded of just how vital literacy is, and how resilient humans are when faced with adversity. This compelling narrative not only illustrates the harsh injustices in the world, but also depicts the bravery and strength of humans, as well as the determination we all possess when endeavoring towards
Diversity, we define this term today as one of our nation’s most dynamic characteristics in American history. The United States thrives through the means of diversity. However, diversity has not always been a positive component in America; in fact, it took many years for our nation to become accustomed to this broad variety of mixed cultures and social groups. One of the leading groups that were most commonly affected by this, were African American citizens, who were victimized because of their color and race. It wasn’t easy being an African American, back then they had to fight in order to achieve where they are today, from slavery and discrimination, there was a very slim chance of hope for freedom or even citizenship. This longing for hope began to shift around the 1950’s during the Civil Rights Movement, where discrimination still took place yet, it is the time when African Americans started to defend their rights and honor to become freemen like every other citizen of the United States. African Americans were beginning to gain recognition after the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, which declared all people born natural in the United States and included the slaves that were previously declared free. However, this didn’t prevent the people from disputing against the constitutional law, especially the people in the South who continued to retaliate against African Americans and the idea of integration in white schools. Integration in white schools played a major role in the battle for Civil Rights in the South, upon the coming of independence for all African American people in the United States after a series of tribulations and loss of hope.
African-Americans’ lives are better. We have more opportunity and more equality. What we do not have, we fight for. Yet we still see the traces of the past sufferings of our people’s lives today. We still see those traces of racism they were subjected to being repeated in our kin’s lives.