Throughout the book, it may seem to others that Hayes does not appear to be “free.” Being free is not having someone controlling you, and having power over someone. Although Nate became free from slavery at the age of sixteen, his view of being free differed from his father 's. To Hayes freedom really does not exist beyond paper, and Nate would feel that freedom should be more than a piece of paper, it should be morals. Both Hayes and Nate had different viewpoints of what it meant to be “free.” Hayes Shaw was a shade or two darker than Nate Shaw, his son. At the age of fifteen, Hayes surrendered his freedom. “I didn’t have no knowledge of what surrendering was…that was the days of free in the colored people” (7). Hayes would beat his wife “My daddy was a free man but in his acts he was a slave” (26.) He was not afraid to beat his children, but when it came to speaking up for himself to the white man, he did not speak his mind. Hayes not speaking up for himself can contradict what freedom is, he still obeyed the white man from when he was a slave. “He wasn’t a slave but he lived like one” (33). Hayes was always afraid to speak up for himself and because he had trouble breaking out of the mindset that he was no longer a slave. Hayes showed his actions with anger, and he could not let go of the past. He was not really free, but Hayes thought he Her name was Hannah, and she was the prettiest lady he had ever seen. Nate prepared himself all week to ask her for the privilege to carry her home, and he later proposed to Hannah. In 1907 Nate started to make a good amount of cotton, he made baskets, and cut stove for people so he could by himself a mule. Nate married the prettiest woman, and he was free to do so. Although he had to work hard, and provide for is family. He was content with his surroundings. While Nate was working hard, he was able to by himself two mules, and it made him feel accomplished. Hayes and Nate had different viewpoints on what freedom is. Although Nate’s lifestyle was different from his father’s, he still was not free. Nate worked to provide for his family, and his father did so as well. Hayes had the mindset of a slave, and held onto the past, and it showed in his behavior towards people. Nate, however, was not free, but still worked to provide for his family, married happily, and worked hard. Hayes was free, but yet he still had the mindset of a slave. From beating his family, dating multiple women, was his way of expressing his freedom. He was still afraid to speak up to the white
For most of the book, readers can recognize that Downs has many assumptions imbedded in his argument, but he does not deviate from factual support in order to make any claims. This style pays off as it allows readers to assess his argument purely on the basis the facts he has presented. Downs is skilled in how he pulls readers into his book. Early on in the book, Downs shares a story of what happens to a young boy and his family after emancipation. The story of this young boy turns from optimism to overwhelming reality as it reaches a point of illness for the young boy. This early narrative gives readers an early look into how tragic emancipation was for some African Americans. It helped Downs usher in his argument that emancipation did not usher in the instant freedom that is often
It also shows us that whites and blacks are equal regardless of the skin colour. The point of equality is supported by the fact that Nat’s plans for freedom do not work, but we understand that he had a lot of intelligence to plan that rebellion. This proves to us that blacks have equal intelligence as the whites since everyone is equal. The author tries to take us back to the ages of slavery and make us suffer with the slaves so as to feel what it was really like. The author succeeds in making us feel the pain, and he succeeds in making us get that clear picture of what happened.
They argue that the accruing of property by figures such as Johnson meant that they literally did not think of themselves as living within a racist society, and that, despite the decline of this freedom, it is a mistake to consider their opinions as an “aberration” in a narrative of inevitable racial exploitation (Breen & Innes, 112). Rather, they claim that to understand such people as such an aberration inevitably leads to a situation in which the real equality of their freedom is
In this story it clearly shows us what the courts really mean by freedom, equality, liberty, property and equal protection of the laws. The story traces the legal challenges that affected African Americans freedom. To justify slavery as the “the way things were” still begs to define what lied beneath slave owner’s abilities to look past the wounded eyes and beating hearts of the African Americans that were so brutally possessed.
To understand the desperation of wanting to obtain freedom at any cost, it is necessary to take a look into what the conditions and lives were like of slaves. It is no secret that African-American slaves received cruel and inhumane treatment. Although she wrote of the horrific afflictions experienced by slaves, Linda Brent said, “No pen can give adequate description of the all-pervading corruption produced by slavery." The life of a slave was never a satisfactory one, but it all depended on the plantation that one lived on and the mast...
Have you ever thought about what it would be like not to be free? What would it be like not to be able to make choices? What would it be like not to be able to do what you want? It's scary to think about not being free, but even in the world today some people don't even have basic human freedoms. Lois Lowry shows us in her books The Giver and Gathering Blue what it would be like not to have freedom and how important it is that we have it.
In the passage of the Narrative of Fredrick Douglass, the author masterfully conveys two complimentary tones of liberation and fear. The tones transition by the use of diction and detail. The passage is written entirely in first person, since we are witnessing the struggles of Fredrick Douglass through his eyes. Through his diction, we are able to feel the triumph that comes with freedom along with the hardships. Similarly, detail brings a picturesque view of his adversities. Since the point of view is first person, the reader is able to be a part of the Douglass’ struggles with his new freedom. With diction, detail, and point of view, the reader is able to get a rare glimpse into the past of Fredrick Douglass.Fredrick Douglass’ diction is powerful as he describes his life as a slave and with his new freedom. Fredrick Douglass calls being enslaved an act of “wretchedness,” yet he was able to remain “firm” and eventually left the “chains” of slavery. Fredrick Douglass expresses that being enslaved is a wretched act and that no man should ever deserve such treatment. Despite being a slave, he kept strong and eventually broke the chain of society. However, Fredrick Douglass experienced great “insecurity” and “loneliness” with his new freedom, and was upon a new “hunting-ground.” His new freedom brought other devastating factors, being a new state without any friends, which caused his loneliness. In this new state, he grew insecure for he was in a new danger zone where at any time his freedom could be rejected. With new freedom come new obstacles, which are described in the diction of Fredrick Douglass.
In the middle of the night, four white men storm into a cabin in the woods while four others wait outside. The cabin belongs to Alice and her mom. The four men pull out Alice’s father along with her mom, both are naked. Alice manages to scramble away. The men question Alice’s father about a pass, which allows him to visit his wife. Her father tries to explain the men about the loss of the pass but the men do not pay any attention to him. Instead they tie him to a tree and one of the white man starts to whip him for visiting his wife without the permission of Tom Weylin, the “owner” of Alice’s father. Tom Weylin forbid him to see his wife, he ordered him to choose a new wife at the plantation, so he could own their children. Since Alice’s mother is a free woman, her babies would be free as well and would be save from slavery. But her freedom “status” does not stop one of the patroller to punch her in the face and cause her to collapse to the ground.
The author gives well-founded conclusions as they are based on a thorough analysis of the work of the writer. These findings have given me a chance to see the dynamics of Douglass’s identity under the influence of various factors, including the opposition between the two types of identity - the identity of a slave and the identity of a free man.
All in all, Frederick Douglass’s book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, was a story of slavery and freedom. He was fortunate that he was able to experience a better slave life than others. He was able to obtain knowledge about reading that he was not obtaining to be a slave for all his life. He, unlike other slaves, knew he was not supposed to be a slave for the rest of his life. He described the ways by which slaveholders justify themselves for their actions. He was one of the rare ones who did not lose their way to freedom; he discussed the many ways that slaves were kept from thinking about escaping and freedom. Once he was free, he wrote this Narrative and refutes many myths that many have said about slaves and slaveholders.
“There’s never been equality for me, nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.” Hughes quickly puts himself as the one being oppressed. His reader quickly discover that he is portraying himse...
Education and freedom are inseparable. Douglass, a young slave, is fortunate to learn the alphabet from his sympathetic Mistress Hugh. However, his Master Hugh perceives that his wife educates Douglass; then, he forbids his wife from teaching him to preserve their slaveholders’ power. Mrs. Hugh loses her kindness to become a cruel slave owner; she deprives Douglass’s opportunities
At age twelve, Douglas became a slave in the household of Mr. Hugh. Mrs. Auld was very kind and considerate when Douglas met her, because it was the first time having a slave in the household. She even taught him the A B C’s but Mr. Auld forbade instructing him. However, in the later part of the story, she changes into a wicked mistress. Mr. Auld expressed “If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master-to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world” (1) and this revelation was an eye opener of freedom awaits him. Mr. Auld tells his wife that if a slave was taught to read, it will cause Paul to be not satisfied and sad because he will yearn for freedom. Paul learned that learning to read is the key to his freedom. He was longing for freedom because he was treated badly. I am so impressed with the effort he put forth learning how to read and be a good writer. However, he regrets learnin...
In a different situation, Walter would not display his selfish intentions. This behavior can be attributed to working in a degrading, underpaid position and not seeing results. Metaphorically speaking, Walter can be related to the furniture in the small apartment,?tired and broken in spirit?. Every black male in America can be regarded as a provider for his family. However, society does not afford black males the benefit of feeling secure about providing for their families....
Have you ever thought about what it feels like to be a slave? Or why slaves feel the way they do? In the American Slave System, authors wrote stories and poems to help us imagine what it’s like to be a slave. In these stories and poems, the authors included ways to help us put ourselves in a slave’s shoes. The stories and poems of Mother to Son, The Life of Harriet Jacobs, and Strange Fruit throw light on the American Slave System through sharing the personal accounts they endured and those experiences formed their positions on slavery.