Frederick Douglass And Sojourner Truth Essay

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Nearing the end of slavery and during the abolitionist movement, many emancipated slaves addressed the racial inequalities and brutalities of slavery. These true brutalities consisted of any torture from sexual abuse, mutilation, and psychological deterioration, and this brutality is characterized by mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional pains that affect an individual. During the exposure of the brutalities of slavery, renowned abolitionists, Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, spoke against its institution. It is believed that Sojourner’s narrative is more valid, or authentic, however, Sojourner’s invalidity roots from the fact that she had not hand written it herself as a result of her inefficient language skills. Despite having …show more content…

He elegantly wrote to “counter the incredulity” of the audiences who were doubtful of his ability to read and write as a result of his background (Smith iii). Therefore, one of his major goals of writing his narrative was to inflame anti-slavery sentiments to not only end abolition, but to prove himself of his worth. This may make his story come across as insincere or forced. Often times through the revision process, original meaning can be altered, manipulated, or exaggerated. Sojourner, on the other hand, had no intention of recording her life in a book until she was addressed by Olive Gilbert. This modest approach may make her more honest in her pursuits, since she had only wanted for others to hear to her story. As noted by William Kaufman, it was indeed Olive Gilbert who wrote The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, and for this reason, however, her story is less valid than The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (Gilbert v). Gilbert had left out important details and imagery that would have portrayed the brutality of slavery more accurately as she seemed to miss the damage of its physical effects, and she was not able to capture the pathos that Frederick Douglass did from a personal point of