How Does Frederick Douglass Argue That Education Makes It Difficult To Be A Slave? Is Your Education Freeing You? Frederick Douglass was born a slave on colonel Lloyd’s plantation and later became the nineteenth century most famous black leader, author, orator and an African-American social reformer, after escaping from slavery in Maryland (Warnick 3). He wrote a narrative portraying his life in slavery and how education brought him to freedom.
Douglass' life took place in a time where the white man ruled over the black folk, and made the whole race slaves. The lacks were not given any sort of education, on the other hand whites were given an opportunity to learn. "... It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but offered no ladder upon which to get out." (Douglass 36)
Frederick Douglass in his narrative “Why I learned to Read and Write” demonstrates how he surpassed many obstacles along the way towards getting an education. These obstacles not only shaped Frederick’s outlook on life but also influenced him in his learning to read and write. Frederick’s main challenge was that of not being an owner of his person but rather a slave and a property to someone else. Frederick Douglass lived in the time when slavery was still taking place and slaveholders viewed slavery and education as incompatible. The slave system didn’t allow mental or physical freedom for slaves; slaveholders were to keep the apt appearance and slaves were to remain ignorant.
Education played a big role in Frederick’s life. Douglass had this great idea where he believed that having an education would help him survive the slave world. As he begins his narrative he introduces himself as a former slave and the son of a white master. He sees how even though he is son to a white male, he is still seen as a slave, uneducated and ignorant. Douglass mentions his narrative that at this point of life he really has no accurate account of his real age.
The acquisition of literacy was so important to Frederick douglass because it was something he couldn’t have. Douglass first realized he craved education when his mistress stopped teaching him. Douglass thought of reading as a curse, “It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out” (24). He could see the potential an education gave a person, but because he was a slave, there lies a large obstacle that allowed him to maximize his potential. Douglass asked the white boys who were being handed an education to carry their books so he could read and learn from them.
In Frederick Douglass’s biography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, he writes about his belief that all people are created equal. He also writes that none of us were born free in the first place: we have to make ourselves into who we are and earn our own freedom. Education and self-improvement are incredibly important to Douglas, perhaps because he was denied an education. As a slave, Frederick Douglass was not allowed to learn to read or write. This motivated him with the desire to learn above all else.
One of Douglass’ first plans involved befriending all the little white boys in his neighborhood with the reward of bread in exchange for some knowledge on how to read. As well as learning to write by copying the letters ship carpenters would write on pieces of timber and then tricking a neighborhood boy into a writing game to see who was the better writer. He concocted these strategies knowing that a punishment awaited if caught by his master. Actually, this was one of the main reasons why many enslaved African Americans did not venture to pursue literacy. For most the cost of learning to read and maybe achieving freedom greatly faltered in comparison to the cruel treatment slave masters would
The mid- to late-nineteenth century was a dark time for slaves in the United States of America. There was a constant struggle for power and social standing in the South, and slaves, were caught in the middle. In order for Frederick Douglass to free himself from the educational and spiritual darkness of slavery, it was essential for him to learn to read and write. Throughout his childhood Douglass was passionate about his need for education.
Douglass in “Learning to Read and Write” identified that there is no end to learning; there was always more to find out about or hear a different opinion on. Because of learning, he heard the word abolition for the first time. Just the thought of becoming free was enough for Douglass to continue striving to acquire information. The ability to read allowed him to learn more about current events than his fellow slaves which in turn gave him ideas about freedom. Education ultimately brought him to freedom which dramatically increased his quality of
Douglass’ educational advantages drive his desire for freedom. Douglass’ ability to read, to write, and to understand literature inspires his desire for freedom.
That being said, when Douglass was taught how to read by his mistress, his master grew angry. “If you give a n-- an inch, he will take an ell. A n-- should know nothing but to obey his master-- to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best n-- in the world.” (Douglass 29) Douglass’ master was aware that learning how to read and write could expand his desire for more in life and ultimately trigger a rebellion.
Furthermore, Education opened Douglass’s eyes to the reality of his injustice as a slave; thus, compelling him to action as he recalls, “In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity. ”(Douglass, 2014, p.133) Education caused Douglass heartache. While attaining his education benefited Douglass, he could not relate to his fellow slaves. The fellow slaves had the ability to remain content with their current state of being since it was all they had ever known. Douglass knew otherwise and longed for the forbidden life as a free man, as it changed from an unattainable idea into an achievable
With all the knowledge he was gaining, he began to comprehend everything around him. The things he was learning fascinated him, but the “more [he] read, the more [he] was led to abhor and detest [his] enslavers”(Douglass 35); however, that should not be viewed as a negative affect but a positive one. No one should want to be deceived for their entire life. This hatred that he built up motivated him to continue to further educate himself. As a result, he later motivated other slaves to earn an education by having “[availed] themselves to [an] opportunity to learn to read” (Douglass 69) by Douglass teaching them every Sunday.
In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, education is a means to escape the conditions of slavery. Douglass's transition from illiteracy to scholarly freedom from mental
Douglass is always curious and he never gives up even when he finds several obstacles in his way, because he perfectly knows what his goal is: he needs an education to get his freedom. He is determined to get it even though it requires a lot of hard work. Douglass is sure of the potential of education. As a matter of fact he knows well that knowlegde can change his life while leading him to freedom. Douglass has both the motivation and the determination because he is aware that owing to education he can get to great places in his life, and that education makes the world a better place
