Fredrick DOuglas Essay

Submitted By AshontyE1
Words: 1417
Pages: 6
Open Document
Fredrick Douglas Narrative In today’s society people often ignore the act of slavery that existed a few centuries ago. Slavery was one of the main reasons why many families were broken apart and many individuals treated unequally as a citizen in the United States. As a slave an individual was treated as an animal with no knowledge of his surroundings or even themselves. Most slaves did not have the opportunity to explore and learn criteria in life such as a bold, brave man name Fredrick Douglas. Douglas was a bright young man who seeks different ways to be filled with knowledge every opportunity that he was not given to him. Within reading the Narrative of Fredrick Douglas the reader will than explore key points of slavery, the influence audience of who he reaches out to, how the audience shaped his appeal, and his common ground that introduces his effect on abolition of slavery. The first target in getting readers to understand where Douglas collected information of slavery was to vividly illustrate the main key points of a slave’s life. It was a known fact that slaves were considered a piece of property that was owned by a slaveholder. As Douglas continued his life as a slave he realized that many slaves had the slightest information as a person with knowledge. Many slaves did not know the basics of education such as knowing the alphabets or numerical numbers. Since many slaves were taken under a critical situation from their family, many slaves never knew their own names, ages or birthdays. The slave holders were so cruel and mean, that they would command the slaves to do certain task and calling them out of their names. If the slave holders thought that the task was not done in their timely manner or done in the in their liking they would whip the slaves often slashing off pieces of their skin. Slaves were emotionally drained from always being physically and mentally that they would often sing songs to represent one of their ways of being sad and emotionally hurt. The logic of why a human could stand to treat other humans in a cruel way such as animals is still being figured out in today’s time. Slave holders would literally treat the slaves as animals such as throwing out scrapings of left over’s such as they would do to pigs. There were no beds given the slaves, unless one coarse blanket is considered- nor man or warn had these” (521). Slaves missed out on many opportunities in life because they were short changed and misfortunate because of their skin color. The house slaves have the better advantage more than the other slaves because they were placed Boston where slaves were mildly accepted. Douglas had a better opportunity because of his lighter completion and white features allowed him to venture into the world piece by piece teaching him by hearing people talk. Even as slaves they should have been treated as equals. While reading this novel the reader will see the hardship of the slaves and all of the trials that they had to experience. As, Douglas continues to write his narrative of a slaves life he targets a main group of audience that he could reach out to causing them to see how him and slaves felt. Douglas targeted his point of view of slavery towards the people up North. Douglas knew that people that were in a higher position in life would see the unequal treatment that the slaves were receiving and would want to step in and try to solve the problem for a better outcome. The people up North had many rules and regulations that they did and did not allow. So Douglas made sure that his illustration of mistreatment was expressed throughout his whole novel so his message was clearly explained. In the North slaves had some freedom that was almost as equal as a free man in other places in the world. “Only think of it; one hundred miles straight North, and I’m free!” (546). Douglas knew that he would have the chance to experience more life opportunities than he would down south. It was important for him to
Show More

Related Documents: Fredrick DOuglas Essay

Fredrick Douglas: A Hero

is someone who goes above and beyond what is expected to protect his community no matter the cost. Heroes often get largely rewarded for helping their community and breaking expectations. Fredrick Douglas was a hero because he went above and beyond what anyone thought he could do. For instance Fredrick Douglas was an escaped slave who feared the thought of being captured so much he almost did not attempt to escape. When he did escape he made it to a free state…

Words 433 - Pages 2

Fredrick Douglas Argumentative Essay

Fredrick Douglas was an African American abolitionist. During his life, he worked on a plantation, and he worked for a shipwright. When he was in a plantation he was given harsh beating for being disobedient. Mintz writes,"one hot August morning he could take no more. He fought back and defeated Covey in a fist fight. Covey never mistreated Douglass again" ( Mintz). I could not believe that Fredrick Douglas would do that to his Master, Covey. If Douglas would have lost, Covey could have done almost…

Words 136 - Pages 1

Fredrick Douglas Argumentative Essay

has been a really huge conflct in many part of the world.In our day there is still people who come upon this problem but not as much as in the past.Fredrick Douglas was a very important man who changed the way rascim should be seen and how poeple should be treated even if colored skin or white. A man that i really look up to is Fredrick Douglas, Frederick was born in Maryland on February 20 1818.He was a african american slave in 1845, In the book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”States…

Words 759 - Pages 4

Fredrick Douglas: A Brief Summary

Fredrick Douglas was an American slave who escaped slavery and wrote a narrative of his life in slavery and how escaped. He was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, he thinks that he is around the age twenty eight when he wrote his narrative. Fredrick’s fathers was a white man and possibly could also be his master. He was separated from his mom when he was nothing but an infant. Then he was put in a home with an older lady who was too old to be in the field. His mom would make her nightly twelve…

Words 687 - Pages 3

Fredrick Douglas Equiano's Middle Passage

United, slaves created a “slave culture” of slave narratives that included the most “extensive and influential traditions in African-American literature and culture.” Centuries passed with little progress to the slave community, in the 1800s Fredrick Douglas becomes an escaped slave whom “devoted his entire life to eradicating the slavery of blacks and extending the vote to both blacks and women” thorough his writing in the newspaper, becoming one of the first slaves to take the step towards freedom…

Words 738 - Pages 3

Great Gatsby: The American Dream

opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." As seen, James Truslow's definition of The American Dream differs from Anna Wulick's and that is because, over the course of time, The American Dream has taken on many meanings. For example, Fredrick…

Words 816 - Pages 4

Similarities Between Frederick Douglass Barbarity And Hypocrisy

acidentally made a mistake so she got whip to death. Everything was falling apart but then something started to revolve. This will be about Fredick Douglas and why Americans still ignores babarity and hypocrisy. This will not only be about Fredrick Douglas, this will be about how slaves evolved and how black people are treated tot this day. Fredrick Douglas was born in the year 1818 he did not know what day or month he was born…

Words 1451 - Pages 6

Black History Research Paper

history month is celebrated in the month of February to pay tribute to Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, I also believe that the emphasis shouldn’t be placed on the number of days it is celebrated, and also because other ethnic groups would feel the need to make a change to their ethnic celebration. Black history month was chosen to be celebrated in February to honor Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Both Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln played key roles in the advancement of African Americans…

Words 521 - Pages 3

Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Fredrick Douglas was an abolitionist and social reformer. While reading his speech, I felt like the piece had different subsections. The lighter hearted section, if there is such a thing when talking about slavery, when Douglas reads allowed the recently published sermon by Rev. Bishop Meade. Then the darker section towards the end of the speech when Douglas recalls find freedom for the first time “beyond the limits of the American eagle (pg. 3).” I think that Fredrick Douglas crafted an almost effortless…

Words 808 - Pages 4

How Did Frederick Douglass And Sojourner Truth Have Equal Rights

Fredrick Douglas and Sojourner Truth believe in everyone having equal rights because they were held as slaves when they were younger and knew how bad it was for slaves. Fredrick Douglas was a half black and half white slave. His father was most likely one of the slave owners. He was held in a slave home and didn't get very good treatment. He escaped slavery and started his life by doing speeches on why slavery was bad. He understood what it was like to be a slave and felt other people should know…

Words 237 - Pages 1