Frederick Douglass believed that through literacy, a slave or black people, could receive their key to freedom. This was shown when Mrs.Auld taught Frederick how to read when he first got to their plantation. It was also shown when Frederick gave bread to white kids to learn how to read and spell. Another place it was shown is when Frederick listened to a conversation and went to the dictionary to find out the meaning of those words.
To gain freedom Frederick had to risk his safety and life by learning to read. This quote was said when Frederick arrived at the Auld’s plantation.”To gain freedom Mrs.Auld taught him how to read and write, however, it was illegal for her to do it.” This quote is relevant because it shows slaves were kept simple minded. It’s also relevant because it shows how important it was for him to learn how to read. It was important to keep slaves shut off from learning so, they can keep the slaves loyal. The next quote will help explain this because it shows how difficult slaves had it to read. This quote was said when Mr.Auld found out that Mrs.Auld was tutoring Frederick. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his
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This quote was said when Frederick was listening to a private conversations. “Everyone little while,I could hear something about the abolitionist.” This quote shows that black people at this time didn’t know anything about literacy. It also showed that people relied on word of mouth to learn. This supports my quote because it shows the reaction to him listening. This quote was said after Frederick listened to the conversation between two white men. “From this time I understood the words abolition and abolitionists, and always drew near when that word was spoken.” This quote shows that knowing was worth something. It shows that listening was the key to Frederick’s literacy. These two quotes shows how people learned and how to get