Frederick Douglass Autobiography

Frederick Douglass’s autobiography was published in 1845, amidst the abolitionist movement in the United States. The narrative tried to show truth in the most honest way possible, in order to bring awareness, and with awareness, justice. During this time, many other abolitionists were doing all that they could to manumit the fettered men; including giving orations and writing accounts of their past experiences. The reason the narrative was published was to promote the abolitionist cause, in order to bring an end to slavery. Among the most well known novels were, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and “Appeal… To the Colored Citizens of the World.” Frederick Douglass, the most well-known black abolitionist worked alongside William Lloyd Garrison, the

A part of the reason as to why slavery is so horrifyingly sad is that it tears families apart. His birthing situation was the first brutal incident of many in Douglass’s life. Over time, he witnessed many traumatic incidences, including the beating of his Aunt Hester:
I remember the first time I ever witnessed this horrible exhibition. I was quite a child, but I well remember it. I never shall forget it whilst I remember anything. It was the first of a long series of such outrages, of which I was doomed to be a witness and a participant. It struck me with awful force. It was the blood- stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass. It was a most terrible spectacle. I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it

It seems ridiculous, but part of Douglass’s path to liberation was learning what slavery actually was. He gradually learned that the owners will do whatever they can to suppress the learning of the slaves in order to keep them in their lowly position. Douglass was first introduced to learning under the Auld’s watch, when Mrs. Auld began teaching Douglass how to read. When Mr. Auld found about Douglass’s instruction, he forbade her to reach him anything further. Mr. Auld remarked, “Learning would spoil the best n----r in the world.”(78) This comment must have been extremely hurtful to Douglass, as the connotation of the word ‘spoil’ equates him to meat or something of the sort, rather than the person that he was. Auld said, “If you teach that n-----r (Douglass) how to read, there would be no use in keeping him.” (78) This statement proves that the master really knew that the black man was equally capable of becoming intelligent, but that by deceit, the black man could be made the bondservant of the white man by keeping him ignorant. After Douglass had educated himself by reading, he became more