Comparing Fredrick Douglas And Freire's Views Of Social Justice

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Social justice is a very popular topic when it comes to Douglas and Freire’s pieces. Fredrick Douglas was a slave in the 1800s who was lucky enough to learn the ability to read and write. However, slaves during this time period were afraid to learn to read and write since they feared the consequences that were unknown. Douglas found himself regretting to learn how to read and write and even says “I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead.” (Douglas Pg. 27) His own people thought he was out to get them and did not consult with him. Only Douglas knew what his circumstances were during his time of being a slave. Freire addresses the problems in the community’s educational system. Students never talk or participate
There is a banking system that Freire talks about that regards to men as adaptable and manageable beings. Freire even says “The more students work at storing the deposits entrusted to them, the less they develop the critical consciousness which would result from their intervention in the world as transformers of the world.” His concept on education is that the teachers in the community needs to get the minds of students more active. Fredrick Douglas and Paulo Freire have very different views on the social justice behind learning to read, however, their arguments are very similar to each other as well. In the 1800s Fredrick Douglas was a slave in Baltimore, Maryland. He was taught to read and write by his masters mistress; Sophia Auld. At first Sophia was perfectly fine with giving Douglas lessons in reading and writing. However, one day Hugh Auld told Sophia that he did not want her to give Douglas anymore lessons. Douglas was devastated and still wanted to learn more about reading and writing. One day Douglas ran into some white boys
Douglas talks about how people who refuse to learn about their situation do not want to face their oppression. However, Freire says nearly the same thing just that students believe they know everything from the whole banking concept idea. Another similarity that both these pieces present is the value of education in society. Douglas talks about the education prospective from his point of view in the 1800s which is very different from now but he still represents an argument. People should want to learn how to read and get a better understanding on their unfortunate circumstances. However, Freire’s point of view is from the late 1900s which is more recent then Douglas. Freire talks about how teachers need to change their style of teaching so students become more active in the classrooms. However, these pieces can be very different based on what is the social problem in both articles. Douglas faces the problem of race, since Douglas is African he was unable to learn how to read and write unless the lessons were given in secrecy. When Douglas learned how to read and write he tried to teach his people and they refused to so he lost faith and trust in everyone. Freire talks about the problem in the classrooms, how teachers need to get the students more active to help them feel a need that they are incomplete unless they are

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