Frederick Douglass: The Importance Of Education

Besides the similarities in understanding the importance of freedom, Frederick Douglass and Nat Turner has a lot of differences in using education to escape from slavery and gain freedom. In fact, Frederick Douglass used education as a mental resistance. To him, freedom means freedom in his mind. Resisting the ignorance of his master Hugh Auld is a great illustrated for this point. Unlike other slaves in the Hugh’s plantation, Douglass enjoyed a limit freedom in the Hugh’s house. His mistress Sophia Auld, Hugh’s wife, was very kind with Douglass and even taught him to read and write because she has never had any slave before. However, Mr. Hugh then discovered this and ordered his wife to stop teaching Douglass. Not only Mr. Hugh but also other

Thus, despite the fact that Mr. Hugh did not allow him to access education, he continued to study by himself with the assistance of other local boys in the neighborhood. Douglass, consequently, was able to use self-education as a great method to fight against the ignorance of his white master. In addition, he taught other slaves in the Sabbath school, explained them the ignorance of their white masters, and told them about the importance of education. These slaves were greatly influenced by Douglass, so although they had to face whipping and beating, they tried to come to school and met Douglass. Since Douglass understood the power of education, he was able to help not only himself but also his fellow slaves to mentally resist the ignorance of their master and find freedom in the mind. Furthermore, Douglass used education as a mental resistance when he realized the necessity of escaping to freedom. This can be illustrated by the time he worked in the Baltimore’s industry. Douglass was well educated about the trade of caulking; therefore, Mr. Hugh allowed him to work for other masters in the