Importance Of Learning To Read And Write By Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass is a well-known African-American abolitionist. He often wrote about his experiences growing up as a slave. In one of his works, “Learning to Read and Write,” Douglass discusses the obstacles he had to overcome in order to gain an education while enslaved. Many modern citizens can relate to his story; today, many Americans have to work many hours in order to get the basic necessities for their families. In order to escape economic slavery, Americans need an education to provide for their families. Douglass encounters many struggles that inhibit him from learning to read. Growing up a slave for Master Hugh was difficult for Douglass. In the beginning, Mrs. Hugh was teaching Douglass to read until Mr. Hugh instructed her to …show more content…
Economic slavery is wide-spread in today’s society, especially for American citizens without education beyond high school. Many Americans have fallen into economic slavery, working fifty plus hours while not making enough to support themselves or their families. Education is needed in order to get out of economic slavery or to avoid it altogether. Many citizens have a dream of attending college in their lives, but some have failed to make it a reality. To avoid economic slavery, I have chosen to attend Wake Tech’s Early College Program. Being fifteen years old in a college has not been easy. There are many obstacles I have to overcome to further my education. For the past few years, I had severe social anxiety. My anxiety often got in the way of my education and learning; during school, I would have at least one panic attack a day and would have to step out of class for long periods of time to calm down. My anxiety was worse on the days I had presentations; my presentation grades often suffered because I was too anxious to speak clearly in front of large groups. When I was fourteen, I was not sure I wanted to exist anymore because my anxiety got really bad and I felt like I had nobody there for me. I did not like crying and having panic attacks every day because I often felt people were watching and judging me. As Douglass says, “I often found myself regretting my existence, and wishing myself dead” (63). Douglass has a goal to become educated and makes his goal a reality by going through many obstacles. Douglass overcomes the obstacle of not being able to learn from Mrs. Hugh. I have a goal of one day becoming a physician, so education plays an important role in that journey. Some of the highest paid careers are in the medical field, so becoming a physician means I would avoid economic slavery. I have overcome many struggles to get to where I am today. With the help