Compare And Contrast Frederick Douglass And Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley and Frederick Douglass were two of the most well-known African American writers that were both for the abolishment movement in America but had two vastly different ideas about the unholy institution of slavery. Through her poem, “On Being Brought from America”, Phillis Wheatley appears thankful for her journey from Africa to America, clinging tightly to her Christian views and faith in God but still reminding the slave owners that people of all races will be welcome in heaven. In Frederick Douglass’ story, “My Bondage and My Freedom”, he displays no joy in the evil institution of slavery and points out the differences between the cruel actions of the southern Christian slaveholders against those of the peaceful doctrine of

He is often remembered as an abolitionist, editor, orator and autobiographer that argued passionately and eloquently against the institution of slavery (Bader 67). In Douglass’ early years he dealt often with constant hunger, sleeping on dirt floors, many beatings and lashings, as well as witnessing these same actions performed on family that he loved. At a young age Douglass recalls questioning why white children knew their birthdays and their ages and black children did not. He struggled for a long time to finally make sense of it until he eventually came to understand the injustice of slavery (Bader 68). Frederick Douglass reports a defining moment he had with owner- Sophie Auld and how she demanded he abandon his cowering posture and to look her in the face when she is speaking to him. It was the first time he remembered being treated like a human being and not long after Auld started teaching him how to read and write until it came to an abrupt halt by Sophia’s husband, Master Hugh Auld because he said an educated black man would no longer be content being a slave (Baechler & Litz 154). While Douglass was angry that his learning had been interrupted, he channeled the anger to the motivation he needed to make his road to freedom be his number one mission. With patience and tenacity, Douglass devised a plan of escape that took years in the making. Every privilege or attempt at appeasing him, by his Master, only strengthened the conviction that he deserved to be free, further igniting his passion for liberty. When Frederick Douglass began writing his autobiographies he was a fugitive slave and therefore had to stay on the run (Baechler & Litz 155). Douglass continuously proved his courage by publishing his stories where he exposed the atrocities of slavery through his personal experiences and observations as well as his eloquent