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Lack of education for slaves
Impact of literacy on my life
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Lack of education for slaves
Impact of literacy on my life
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In chapter 4 from the book “Nightjohn” by Gary Paulsen we are introduced to characters that depict the conditions slaves had to endure during the 19th century. The chapter begins with a slave name Alice that is made into a “breeder” against her will by the plantation owner, Waller due to her unsatisfactory work on the plantation. Afterwards, Sarny got a flashback about Jim and Paulwe, the slaves at the plantation where Sarny, the narrator works. Jim was a old man that was tired of his life as a slave--at the plantation. Therefore, he attempted to escape, but he got caught and the dog gnawed Jim’s legs off--leaving him hanging on a trees that he climbed to escape.
In the novel NightJohn by Gary Paulsen, chapter four is mainly about Sarny’s memory of how bad it is to try to run away from the Plantation. Sarny first has a flashback to when Jim a field hand tried to run away from the plantation; In response, Clel Waller the slave master set the dogs at him while Jim tried to hide in a tree. He was unsuccessful and whipped while the dogs ate at his skin. Furthermore, Pawley was a slave on the Plantation when he tried to visit a girl on another nearby plantation.
In chapter 4 of the book Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen the chapter focuses on why the slaves don’t run away and why Nightjohn is teaching slaves how to read and write. Chapter four starts off with a girl named Alice who is mentioned to be weird. But when she goes to the breeding shed she freaks out and becomes even more crazy. She is so crazy she runs away but eventually gets caught and has to be sewn back together. Then Jim is mentioned, another slave who ran away.
The book Night by Elie Wiesel is about his experience as a young Jewish teenager, forced to survive the atrocities inflicted on Jews under HItler's rule during World War II. The story begins in Elie's hometown of Sighet, in Hungarian Transylvania. Night by Elie Wiesel is his recollection of life in concentration camps during the holocaust. The story begins in year is 1941. Elie's family is deeply religious and devout
In chapter six and seven of Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen, there is a great deal of significant and recently developed information. To start, John still continues to teach Sarny letters, unaffected by the fact that if he is caught the punishment will be even higher; John teaches Sarny “H”. Furthermore, John tells Sarny she is planning to leave the plantation, however he promises to return. Before he leaves, Mammy expresses to John that she wishes she could have met him sooner or at a different location because she enjoyed his company. Adding to John’s absence, Sarny doesn’t believe he will return, but she is wrong.
Gary Paulsen shows in his novel that the whites and Sarny’s master absolutely restricts any form of education from the slaves. It was forbidden, and if they were caught leaning, he/she would suffer dire consequences. Because so many children could not stop their ambition to learn, some just like Sarny went to “pit schools” way out in the woods at night. Another abolitionist named Sojourner Truth also wrote her own autobiography about her enslaved life. She writes, “You have teachers for your children but who will teach the poor slave children?”
He hit her with his fist. Then he unhooked her from the chains and ripped her clothes from her body” (70). Sarny likes reading and writing; she is able to write down her thoughts and feelings. If Waller so any slave obeyed his rules, he would punish them: whipping, chiseling toes off, and hanging people onto the spring house. Nightjohn is punished for teaching other slaves to read and write; his middle toes are chiseled
Douglass for example emphasized the importance of education for slaves. Douglass is a first had observer of the strategy of slave owners to keep their slaves ignorant. By keeping slave uneducated they are unable to express the horrible things that happen to them to the world. Hugh Auld forces his wife to stop teaching Douglass to read (auld stopping teaching quote) , so Douglass teaches himself. For him learning to read was a major turning point in his quest for freedom and it enabled him to put out his book, which would inspire many to turn against slavery.
Imagine What Would Happen if Everyone Had Passion Nightjohn, written by Gary Paulsen, is the story of a man named Nightjohn, an American slave living in the Southern States. Brought to the Waller plantation with whip slashes and a rope tied to his neck—he was here for one reason and one reason only. He was here with the determination to teach slaves how to read. No matter the risk, he was going to spread his gift that most didn’t have. Through his work, Nightjohn realizes that dedication can help you finish what you start—never give up on your goals.
Imagine being trapped, trapped in a never-ending field of cloud-like cotton. Trapped and forced to work all day for your enemies wealth. Trapped and beaten to the bone when trying to escape. Trapped in the cage that you will live in the rest of your life. Trapped…
Many of us take education for granted and don’t learn to our fullest potential, but Fredrick Douglass soaked in every piece of information up because he knew it was his way out. “Learning to Read and Write” is a famous article based on what Fredrick Douglass went through to earn a valuable education while being enslaved. Author Fredrick Douglass, wrote “Learning to Read and Write”, published in 1845. Throughout the article, he takes us through different events he goes through while being enslaved. Douglass begins building his credibility with personal facts and successfully demonstrating logic and pathos appeal.
African-American slaves were forbidden to obtain the knowledge of being able to read or write, stemming from the fear of white masters that educated slaves will overpower them. Douglass managed to learn to read by bribing poor and hungry white boys into teaching him in exchange for bits of bread. Douglass illustrates his thirst for literacy through “[The] bread [he] used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give [him] that more valuable bread of knowledge” (pg 23). This reveals how much Douglass valued education and took advantage of all the knowledge he had access to. Today’s youth, especially the ones belonging to a minority
This demonstrates that education empowers individuals and threatens oppressive systems, as it equips them with the knowledge and tools to assert their autonomy and pursue freedom. Another way education proves its seniority over other tools is by shining a light on the lies and false narratives that affect certain groups and their freedoms. As shown in Nikole Hanna-Jones “the 1619 project” when she states, “ I have been taught, in school, through cultural osmosis, that the flag wasn't really ours, that our history as a people began with enslavement and that we had contributed very little to this great nation”(Hanna-Jones). Jones emphasizes the importance of education in promoting freedom and addressing historical narratives that marginalize people's contributions to the nation. By understanding their history, the people can advocate for their rights and freedoms, leading to true liberation and equality.
Human slavery requires ignorance, just as an individual’s freedom, from oppression, requires knowledge attained by education. To maintain order and control over slaves, slavery demands ignorant slaves; thus, keeping slaves ignorant prevents slaves from recognizing the empowering value of education and education’s ability to liberate slaves from the effects of ignorance. Frederick Douglass’s pursuit of education helped him discover the dark, hidden truths of slavery in his article, “How I Learned to Read and Write.” Thus, the pursuit of education inspires a desire for freedom. The desire to learn generates determination and motivation.
However, literacy turns out to be not only bliss, but also painful. Indeed, while learning to read Frederick becomes more and more aware of the injustices of slavery, and this leads him to regret this knowledge “Learning how to read had become a curse rather than a blessing” ( Douglass ) . Douglass believes in the importance of education. He thinks that education is a key part to our life; it is the only way to get freedom. Literacy is very powerful because it can set anyone free to pursue dreams.