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Slaveholders In The Narrative Life Of Frederick Douglass

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In “The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass” Frederick Douglass talks about his life as a slave ,and the challenges that he went through ,but he also tells how slaveholders were affected during slavery. Frederick Douglass talks about how slaveholders have great powers over their slaves. Being the slaveholder can enforce that you are above the slave ,and that you are allowed to do what you please to you “property” ,and that could corrupt your humanity. One example of this is Sophie Auld. Sophie Auld was a kind and generous slaveholder ”I was utterly astonished at her goodness”(Douglass 45); she even helped teach Frederick Douglass to write, but after she had been the master of Douglass for a while she started to become inhumane, cruel, and malice. “That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage.” (Douglass 45) Another slave owner that Douglass talks about is Thomas Auld. Thomas auld was a slaveowner that did not grow up with slaves; Thomas got his slaves threw marriage which made a heart- rending slaveholder. …show more content…

This slaveholder was an African American known as Anthony Johnson and he was the first legal slave owner in America. Anthony Johnson owned 250 acres and he had one indentured servant. This servant's name was John Casor and he was also an African American. John Casor told Johnson to “release him after his seven years of indenture.” (Jim Hoft) ,but after the seven years Johnson said he knew of no indenturement and that Casor was to be his servant for life ,and the court declared Casor his property. This shows how slavery can not only take away the humanity of a white slaveholder ,but it can take away the humanity of a black slaveholder. In conclusion slavery was a horrid time ,and i can only imagine what owning someone as property and whipping and beating them would to do my humanity. Slavery was truly terrible ,and not only for slaves but for everyone taking part in

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