Most of My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass focused heavily on Frederick’s early life. Douglass uses his own experience to depict the injustice of slavery. He tends to focus on slavery and how it abolishes humanity itself. Slavery has a long history. It is not a humane choice. He writes in gory detail about the cruelties slaves withhold and how slavery is dehumanizing. Many arguments have risen regarding the definition of slavery. What is slavery? Is there one solid definition? Douglass came to terms with one definition of slavery. He stated, “The slave is a human being, divested of all rights, reduced to the level of a brute a mere “chattel” in the eye of the law—placed beyond the circle of human brotherhood—cut off from his kind…
…show more content…
It relates to another primary source called, “The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial by Samuel Sewall. He wrote this primary source to disprove claims of proponents of slavery. Just like Douglass said, slaves were ill equipped to handle freedom. The American Dream centers around the phrase, “Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness.” Sewall constructs strong arguments and shares his concerns effectively through powerful words. He does not sugarcoat anything. As Douglass did, he told it how it was. Both writers, Douglass and Sewall, describe the true inhumaneness of slavery. Sewall stated, “So that originally, and Naturally, there is no such thing as Slavery. Joseph was rightfully no more a Slave to his brethren, then they were to him: and they no more Authority to Sell him, than they had to Slay him” (Genesis 37). Sewall criticized slavery and disapproved of the counterarguments for slavery. Sewall uses true and racist arguments to support his case. Douglass used his own life experience to support his case against slavery. Both primary sources look back at vivid experiences that took nulling effects on many slaves, including Douglass. Quoted from Douglass, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” You must get through the bad to get to the good. Frederick dedicated his own life for equality and the abolition of slavery. There is still room for progress, and we must continue to stand together and fight for what we
It relates to another primary source called, “The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial by Samuel Sewall. He wrote this primary source to disprove claims of proponents of slavery. Just like Douglass said, slaves were ill equipped to handle freedom. The American Dream centers around the phrase, “Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness.” Sewall constructs strong arguments and shares his concerns effectively through powerful words. He does not sugarcoat anything. As Douglass did, he told it how it was. Both writers, Douglass and Sewall, describe the true inhumaneness of slavery. Sewall stated, “So that originally, and Naturally, there is no such thing as Slavery. Joseph was rightfully no more a Slave to his brethren, then they were to him: and they no more Authority to Sell him, than they had to Slay him” (Genesis 37). Sewall criticized slavery and disapproved of the counterarguments for slavery. Sewall uses true and racist arguments to support his case. Douglass used his own life experience to support his case against slavery. Both primary sources look back at vivid experiences that took nulling effects on many slaves, including Douglass. Quoted from Douglass, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” You must get through the bad to get to the good. Frederick dedicated his own life for equality and the abolition of slavery. There is still room for progress, and we must continue to stand together and fight for what we