Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Frederick Douglass
“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe”, stated Frederick Douglass at a speech. Frederick Douglass, known by many as the most important African American leader of the nineteenth century, endured many of the struggles stated in this quote and was robbed of the most basic human freedoms during his twenty years as a slave. He saw unimaginable acts of cruelty and was overworked both physically and mentally. At the age of twelve, Douglass learned to read and write from Master Auld's wife Sophia and then later from white children in their

On September 3, 1838, Douglass finally freed himself of the cruel chains of slavery at the age of twenty. After attending several abolitionist meetings, Douglass himself was asked to share his slave story. William Lloyd Garrison, leader of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, was very impressed with Douglass's strength in public speaking and rhetorical skills, and wrote about him in his newspaper. Douglass went on to give many more speeches and at the urgency of Garrison released an autobiography of his life in 1845. His book became a best seller in the United States and provided a voice of hope for others in the same condition. Douglass continued to fight slavery and was a part of some of the greatest events in history. Frederick Douglass' first hand experience in slavery, outstanding oral and rhetorical skills, and faithful friends fighting for the same cause all helped him influence people and become the historical figure he is

At just ten months old he was separated from his mom so no strong bond could form between them, causing him to feel indifferent when he heard of her passing when he was ten years old. He was only an innocent child when he saw his aunt Hester being brutality whipped upon her back by their Master till she was all covered in blood. He quickly came upon the realization that slavery was his entrance to Hell. He heard stories of slaves getting shot for disobeying their master and even witnessed it firsthand. Douglass did not understand why he could not be free, why the blacks could not get retribution for the deaths of their loved ones, he felt hopeless as if he was in chains and felt as if no one was trying to help. Douglass got a new viewpoint on slavery when he moved to Baltimore and lived with his new master Hugh Auld and his wife Sophia, who taught Douglass the alphabet for a while until her husband reprimanded her. Douglass learned the rest of the alphabet and how to read from his white friends in town and practiced everyday by himself. He had a fascination with abolitionist newspapers and continually read The Columbian Orator. This was a major turning point in Douglass’s life, reading about abolitionists and free slaves gave him the strength and hope he needed to one day escape and become the man he is. He now had a greater