After reading the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, written by ex-slave Frederick Douglass, the oppression that slaves faced during the antebellum error was magnified to me. I always knew about the horrors of slavery, but Douglass was able to illustrate in depth the struggles he overcame on his path to becoming educated. According to Douglas, his education ultimately led to his freedom. Douglas created a positive cultural identity for blacks through the writing of his narrative, by showing that a black man is capable of not only writing his own story but having the will to survive and escape slavery. In the end, he employed that will and intelligence for the betterment of his fellow man during a time when people of his color and
…show more content…
He had never struggled the way he did under the cruel torture of Covey. In this moment, Douglass felt that his pursuit of knowledge and freedom might be in vain. Covey is known as the “nigger-breaker” and came very close to breaking one of the most resolute slaves in history. Covey beat Douglass almost daily until one day when he finally decided he had had enough and stood up to Covey. After this altercation Douglass was not beaten for the remainder of the year. Most normal slaves would not have acted back against masters the way Douglass did, but he was empowered by his knowledge of freedom and the basis of a just and honest society. The perseverance he showed would continue on. He began to read and write again and even held school for others to learn on Sundays. Shortly after Douglass 's year with Covey was complete, Mr. Auld sent him back to Baltimore where he begins to plan his escape from the oppression of …show more content…
As stated in Peter Ripley’s, The Autobiographical Writings of Frederick Douglass, Douglass’s story was “an achievement for either human nature, for Douglass personally, for black people or for all three”. That confluence of success was the uncommon strength of Douglass’ identity. He was able to transform his narrow story of an escaped slave into a triumph for a free society that has rung throughout oppressed communities nearly 250 years after his death. His addition to the history books is the first affirmation that black rights and human rights and, conversely, that human rights are black
He had never struggled the way he did under the cruel torture of Covey. In this moment, Douglass felt that his pursuit of knowledge and freedom might be in vain. Covey is known as the “nigger-breaker” and came very close to breaking one of the most resolute slaves in history. Covey beat Douglass almost daily until one day when he finally decided he had had enough and stood up to Covey. After this altercation Douglass was not beaten for the remainder of the year. Most normal slaves would not have acted back against masters the way Douglass did, but he was empowered by his knowledge of freedom and the basis of a just and honest society. The perseverance he showed would continue on. He began to read and write again and even held school for others to learn on Sundays. Shortly after Douglass 's year with Covey was complete, Mr. Auld sent him back to Baltimore where he begins to plan his escape from the oppression of …show more content…
As stated in Peter Ripley’s, The Autobiographical Writings of Frederick Douglass, Douglass’s story was “an achievement for either human nature, for Douglass personally, for black people or for all three”. That confluence of success was the uncommon strength of Douglass’ identity. He was able to transform his narrow story of an escaped slave into a triumph for a free society that has rung throughout oppressed communities nearly 250 years after his death. His addition to the history books is the first affirmation that black rights and human rights and, conversely, that human rights are black