Importance Of Literacy In Frederick Douglass

In today’s world, literacy is often something taken for granted. An illustrative example of the significance of literacy, for those who have ever questioned its importance, would be Frederick Douglass. Born a slave, Frederick Douglass’s life and written works prove just how freeing literacy is. In addition, his compelling autobiography exemplifies the horrors and hardships of being a slave. To the modern day reader, the story of Frederick Douglass may seem like an outdated, inapplicable narrative in today’s world. However, Douglass’ autobiography serves as a potent reminder of just how crucial literacy is. His story also depicts the resilience of humans in the worst of situations. The story of Frederick Douglass and his efforts to become

literate illustrate not only the importance of literacy, but also prove just how freeing this capability is.
When Douglass’ lessons begin under the instruction of the mistress, the reader is able to see the harsh dichotomy between blacks and whites. As Douglass states, “Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger” (5). Literacy was an entity intended for the elite, and so it became an entity of the whites. In this way, the whites were able to have further power over the blacks, including Douglass, by restricting their capabilities and learning. Unlike other blacks, Douglass saw the power that literacy held, and sought to attain that power. Without literacy, blacks faced further exclusion. Like a child that has not yet learned how to read and therefore cannot understand the world, as a result of being illiterate, they are restricted from activities and comprehension of the workings of the world. Being literate was not just a perk of being educated; it was a way for the whites to exercise dominance over the blacks.
Frederick Douglass went to extraordinary lengths to learn how to read, such as meeting with young white boys who would teach him. Douglass knew that this activity was forbidden: “prudence forbids; - not that it would injure me, but it might embarrass them; for it is an almost unpardonable offense to teach slaves to read in this Christian country” (6). In this way, Douglass reveals the lengths he is willing to go to in order to become literate, even at the possibility of his own expense. He is not able to consult with other adult men; rather, he must consult with children, children that are more educated than his self. He does not let this wound his pride, as it would with other younger men by having to seek help from children. Instead, he appreciates their kindness and even gives them bread in exchange for helping him. Being humbled is something every human must experience, but Douglass, already being a slave, has been humbled his whole life. To have to seek out help from younger children, children that have had far more education than him, illustrates Douglass’ resilience and humble character in his efforts to become literate.
Douglass also speaks of the books he reads and how they profoundly influence his beliefs. As Douglass states, “The reading of these documents enabled me to utter my thoughts, and to meet the arguments brought forward to sustain slavery” (6). However as Douglass reads on and learns more, he is able to further comprehend the enormity of his enslavers’ actions, and just how debilitating slavery is to him and other slaves. In this way, Douglass reveals how knowing too much, as powerful as it can be, can also be very painful. Douglass goes on to say how reading may, at times, be more of a curse than a blessing, as his eyes are opened to the extreme unfairness of his life and other slaves’ lives. In a way, this is fairly similar to what all young adults must experience as they grow up. The world is not always the nice, fun place as it is when we were children. The more we learn, the more we must come to terms that there are both evil and good components in the world. Parallel to Douglass’ experiences as he learns more and more, we must all grapple with and face the fact that with further knowledge comes pain in understanding the world.
While Douglass realizes just how empowering literacy is, he does not oversimplify the connection with freedom.

“It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy,” as Douglass states (7). Education and literacy, though freeing to an extent, does not automatically guarantee freedom to slaves. Education helps the slaves to articulate their restrictions and injustices to others. However, freedom is not immediate, and the knowledge of learning this brings additional suffering to Douglass. As the slaves become aware of the prevalent injustices, they, in turn, loathe their captors. However, to escape will only meet more dangers. As Douglass realizes this, he is more and more upset and perturbed by the inequality. As painful as it can be to face the reality and truths of such injustices in our world, we must also decide what we can do, what we should do, when empowered with such knowledge.
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

progress.