Frederick Douglass Inhumane Essay

Frederick Douglass was a former slave, journalist, author and a human rights activist. In his autobiography, the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave”, Frederick describes the inhumane and cruel practices of his masters, the conditions of the slaves’ clothing, food and sleep and their relationship with the slaves.
Frederick’s first master was Captain Anthony. He draws him as a brutal man who brings pride and pleasure in beating his slaves. He got the name “Captain” by sailing ships in the Chesapeake Bay. Frederick believed that Captain Anthony may or may not be his father, but he could not be sure which to believe. Frederick describes a time where his Aunt Hester, had been absent when the master needed her, she went

The masters’ relationships with the slaves were very inhumane and scary in that every slight mistake that the slave makes will be negatively impacted upon them. The slaves lived in constant fear that they will get whipped or get scolded for practically doing nothing at all. (Douglass 17) Another effect taking place is the dehumanizing effect of slavery on both the slaves and their masters. Masters in a sense have unlimited power over their slaves, their power to oppress and grind down the slaves, which turns a good, kind women who never had any slaves to a brutal and evil being like that of Sophia Auld. (Douglass 35) This explicitly signifies the negative impact that slavery can have on normal people. Most of these masters see themselves as a “Christians” but by what they are practicing, they are sinners, which is somewhat ironic. (Douglass 65) It is much to say that Indentured servants had it much easier than what the slaves had to endure. These Indentured servants, who were European, were treated much better, even though it was harsh for them also, but compared to the slaves who can be tossed around without any rights for them. (Servitude In New England) Being a slave was a lifelong, involuntary, and forced job in which one’s master gets to whip and abuse you every single day, rather than working for them for 7 years and getting the benefits at the end of one’s contract and moving on with their life like that of the servants. (Our Plantation is Very Weak) Additionally, there were even practices of slave breeding going on at this time not just at Douglass’s plantation. (Douglass 65) Masters would breed their slaves to have stronger children that the masters can sell for a higher price or add them to his wealth. In a sense this disgusting practice can be called an indirect sort of rape, in which you are forcing two individuals, who