How Does Frederick Douglass Use Irony In The Church And Prejudice

Segregation, a lingering byproduct of slavery, affected even free individuals, especially with the prejudicial beliefs of church officials sustaining this discrimination. People used a variety of methods to resist injustices and advance the abolitionist movement. Frederick Douglass, who personally experienced slavery, used his literature to advocate for the end of slavery. In order to gain attention and gather a following for the abolitionist movement, Douglass had to effectively convey his struggles in his literature to earn sympathy and support. Through “The Church and Prejudice,” Douglass uses irony, contrasts, and word choice to effectively influence public opinion on slavery by bringing to light the hypocrisy of the church. Douglass

. . were sorted out and packed by themselves.” To condemn the racial prejudices within the church, Douglass uses irony to emphasize the segregation he and others face. Through describing the black people as “received . . . into the kingdom of heaven”, it is implied that heaven and church are places of refuge and safety for all believers. However, the irony lies in the fact that the fish with “black scales” are separated and excluded. This is particularly ironic, because sorting is typically done to remove inferior things, which implies that these ‘welcoming’ church members believe that these black people are somehow inferior or unwanted. Douglass’s use of irony serves to highlight the blatant segregation that existed in the church during his time, and inspires feelings of sympathy, helping the audience reflect on how they can prevent these injustices from prolonging. Following this, when “the deacon handed round the cup . . . he could not pass [the black girl],” because the “[abolitionist favoring] minister was looking right at him.” The deacon discriminates against the black girl even though she is a member of the church, betraying the very values he is supposed to uphold. The Deacon’s behavior also reveals his lack of moral integrity,

In one instance, “[a black girl] tasted [the wine]” and when “the cup . . . came to the [white girl], she rose in disdain and walked out.” The black girl eagerly accepts the offering, meanwhile the white girl sees the sharing as an outrageous act. Douglass’s word choice of “disdain” emphasizes the contempt shown by the white girl. This helps to illustrate the distinct contrast between the attitudes of the white and the black girl, which emphasizes the prejudicial beliefs the white girl holds. By giving this example, Douglass stresses the moral failings of the white girl, which appeals to the audiences’ sense of morality and incites feelings of resentment towards the hypocritical members of the church. Returning back to his experience as a slave, Douglass shares how he used to “attend a Methodist church, in which [his] master was a class leader;” and how “[his master] would talk most sanctimoniously about the dear Redeemer, pray at morning . . . noon . . . and night,” but could still “lash up [Douglass’s] cousin by [his master’s] two thumbs” to the point where “[his brother’s] blood streamed to the ground.” The use of the phrase “lash up” and “blood streamed to the ground” in describing the violence inflicted on Douglass’s cousin creates a vivid