Frederick Douglass Learning To Read And Write Essay

Frederick Douglass was a slave who, despite his circumstances, learned how to read and write. His undying desire to learn to read and write, is reason enough, to learn who Frederick Douglass was and why he was an important figure. Personally, I feel Frederick Douglass was, still is, an influential man, on the account of, his commitment to learn despite the danger these actions entailed. At a young age, Frederick Douglass wanted to learn to read and write, however, he faced quite a few obstacles. Noticeably, his biggest barrier was due to his enslavement; as those who where born into slavery were not allowed to read nor write. For a slave that could read, let alone write, potentially, would be flogged or even lose their life. His first impediment came when his Mistress decided to no longer teach him how to read; every time Douglass was caught with a newspaper or presumed to have a book he was scolded. With the

Often he would give them bread, as some children were poor, in-exchange for their guidance in the matter. During his errand runs he would meet with these young men for his lessons, he also used this time to read books which developed his reading skills further. As Douglass' capacity to read became fluent, he introduced the concept of learning to write. Douglass would study the timber, in the Durgin and Bailey's ship-yard, that was written on based upon its location on the ship. Here, he learned the four letters: A, F, L, and S. After mastering these four letters he took to the streets; telling young boys he could write then persuaded them to bet him. Indubitably, the young boys knew more letters than him, supplying Douglass with unintended knowledge. To further his writing abilities, he copied the Italics within the Webster's Spelling Book and used his young Master Thomas's copy-book, strengthening his written knowledge of the