Frederick Douglas's Perspective On Slavery

I had some spare time this summer and decided to read Frederick Douglas autobiography. It changed my perspective on slavery. I know what you are thinking, that slavery is a “positive good”. You think that the slaves are less intelligent than whites and are childlike and they need to be taken care of. You believe they live comfortably, that they are not over worked and exchange for the work they do are well fed and well clothed. Also, you think they are content being slaves. That is what I used to believe too. Everyone who lives in a free state does not understand slavery. I’m writing this letter to tell you none of those things are true. You may not believe me right now, but you will after I tell you what Frederick Douglas went though to become

They receive “eight pounds of pork, or its equivalent in fish, and one bushel of corn meal (Douglas 6). That was all they received, I could not live on that and I don’t even work the tremendous hours that they do. Clearly, they are not fed well. Next, they would get yearly clothing that consisted of “two coarse line shirts, one pair of linen trousers, like the shirts, one jacket, one pair of trousers for winter, made of negro cloth, one pair of stockings, and one pair of shoes; the whole of which could not have cost more than seven dollars” (Douglas 6). They had to wear these clothes for a year, and once they started ripping they could not go get new clothes. Also, they were not given a bed, only one coarse blanket (Douglas 6). These slaves were worked all day, wearing the same clothes, came home to little food and then had to sleep on the floor with one blanket. That is not a comfortable life. When Douglas stated at Colonel Lloyd’s, he saw many and hear many horrible things that happened to slaves (Douglas 7-15). While living there he spent time with Master Daniel Lloyd, where they created a connection that would further lead to his runaway (Douglas 16). This would be one of the most “interesting events of his life” (Douglas 17). When he went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Auld, Mrs.

He says, “I have said Master Thomas was a mean man—he was so—not to give a slave enough to eat” (Douglas 32). This is another example how the slaves are not well fed. Frederick says that all the slaves were worked to the point of endurance (Douglas 36). Before the sunrise they had to feed the horses and went off to the fields till the last ray of light has shown (Douglas 36). Then, they were given five minutes to eat, then by midnight they were in the field binding blades (Douglas 36). His is not a content way of life, nor are the slaves not overworked. The worst part of his slavery was when he lived with Mr. Covey (Douglas 37). He would make them work in all kinds of weather, he says he was broken in “body, soul, and spirt” (Douglas 38). Living under Mr. Convey was when Fredrick decided to become a man. He had enough, and his body could not take it anymore. He broke down and fell while working. Mr. Covey asked him what the matter was, instead of helping him he kicked him in the head numerous times and yelled at him to get up (Douglas 40). He decided to walk away from Mr. Covey and head to his master’s hour seven miles away, during this walk he though he was going to