Frederick Douglass Misconceptions

This final paragraph is dedicated to the misconceptions and discrimination regarding slaves. As discussed in previous chapter, slaves were seen as property, a property to do with as a master saw fit. This paper also discussed how having the mindset of being superior over another person can warp the mind and nature of a person. This paragraph will expand on the misconceptions of slaves, which did not fit into the previous two chapters. One aspect that is critically important is the understandings that people had regarding the nature of slaves. It becomes apparent within Douglass’s book that people believed that their own nature was different from the nature of the slave. Two examples of the misconception regarding the nature of slaves can be …show more content…
Maybe if the masters would have allowed for a greater amount of rest, the slaves would be more satisfied and productive, resulting in a greater profit for the master. Although this idea may have benefited both parties, in reality, the slaves were forced to work long hours without sleep, only being motivated by the fear of abuse. Another misconception mentioned within Douglass’s book regarding the singing of slaves. Douglass commented that people believed that the singing of slaves demonstrated that they were happy and content with their labour, when in reality, they were far from happiness. According to Douglass, the singing of slaves was not an act of happiness, but a method to help ease one’s sorrow. Within Douglass’s book, he describes the effects of singing perfectly by stating “the songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears”. It is difficult to determine either or not the people who believed slaves sang in their happiness was a result of a general lack of understanding or simply a justification to feel good regarding their treatment of