As an African American born during slavery, Douglass recounts his family life or lack thereof. Slaves are immediately separated from their mothers at birth. His father is unknown and he knows nothing of the details of his birth. He overheard that his master could possibly be his father but had no means to find out. Slaveholders usually get women slaves pregnant because a law states that children of mixed-race will also become slaves thus earning the slaveholder more slaves in time without purchasing one. Douglass knows his mother but has only met her a few times; so they were not able to establish a real relationship. The few times that they met, his mother had to sneak out at night and walk from the plantation she was on just to see him but
