Fredrick Douglass

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Frederick Douglass’s life story challenges the idea that “all men were created equal” in many different ways. Douglass faced many harsh and inhumane conditions in the multiple plantations he grew up in.These slave owners didn’t treat the enslaved people as equal at all. Enslaved humans were not presented with the same opportunities white people were. Slavery contradicts what America stands for, “all men are created equal”.

Frederick Douglass and many other enslaved people lived under very brutal conditions for the majority of their life. Douglass claims that slaves in his plantation were provided with a yearly allowance of only 8 pounds of meat, and scraps of clothing. In the text, “Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass, an American Slave”, …show more content…
Douglass witnessed many brutal beatings of his family members, himself, and other enslaved people on the property. In chapter one of his story, Douglass explains how he witnessed the brutal beating of his aunt. This beating left him horrified. He feared for his life every day after that incident. In the text, Douglass claims, “I was so terrified and horror-stricken at the sight, that I hid myself in a closet, and dared not venture out till long after the bloody transaction was over.” Douglass explains that the reason for the attack was because she was hanging out with a guy. A white person wouldn’t think twice before hanging out with someone, but for a black person, it could cost them their life. Douglass opens up about his experience at Mr. Covey’s plantation and the inhumane beatings he received. In the text, Douglass states, “Upon this he rushed at me with the fierceness of a tiger, tore off my clothes, and lashed me till he had worn out his switches, cutting me so savagely as to leave the marks visible for a long time after. This whipping was the first of a number just like it, and for similar offense.” Whipping and beating someone is unconstitutional. Slave owners such as Mr. Covey thinks of African Americans as a level lower than low. These slave owners do not consider people different from them as
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