Frederick Douglass Learning To Read And Write Essay

“Learning to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglas, is about the author’s personal experiences and challenges faced to receive an education. Born a slave in Maryland, his original instructor was his mistress for seven years. While only being taught the basics of reading and learning the alphabet, she then abruptly decided to terminate his education, believing that this would only make him dangerous. He writes, “The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching
me the
alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking
the
ell (Douglas, 1845, p 101)”. After already being exposed to the power of knowledge, he became friends the poor white boys in his neighborhood, and bribes them with bread in exchange for reading

lessons. This is ironic in that, despite white people being considered superior during that time, a slave was in procession of something they didn’t have. Reading at every opportunity available, he became aware of the limitations and disadvantages slaves faced. Frederick learned to write initially by watching the carpenters working in the shipyards label pieces of wood with letters. His penmanship improved more so when he would copy the words from Master Thomas spelling book when he left for school. Therefore, by persevering through the challenges against him Frederick learned to read and write.

In the excerpt “Learning to Read,” by Alex Haley, is an autobiography about Malcolm X and what he endured during the seven years he spent in prison.

During his time in isolation, Malcolm quickly realized the “street smart” knowledge he thought so highly of, lacked in substance. Seeing the way another inmate named Bambi, effortlessly took control of any conversations he engaged in, Malcolm was envious. Shortly after that, he started to educate himself by reading the dictionary and work on his handwriting. Moreover, he continued his education by reading at new books and stories daily. “Let me tell you something: from then until I left that prison, in every free moment I had, if I was not reading in the library, I was reading on my bunk” (Helery, 1965, p. 2). He motivated himself, in spite of being in the prison environment and took responsibility for bettering his life. Malcom X continued his education, and eventually became a disciple of Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam.

Both autobiographies are about African American Male writers who persevered through their short comings and gave themselves some form of education. Douglass is from when slavery was ongoing and reading was unlawful for negros. But buy fighting to build on the knowledge he has acquired over time, he ultimately escaped successfully to the North. Malcolm X was inspired to educate himself, when he quickly realized that education was the key to his redemption and freedom. These excerpts gives the reader

insight on how far back in history it was for people of color receive an education.