The Narrative Of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave

The Narrative of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave is an autobiography for Frederick Douglass. The book talks of his life and his experiences as a slave, and then of his life as an abolitionist. The book begins with a white abolitionist talking of his own experiences meeting the honorable former slave and the intense way he was able to hold a crowd during the first of his many historical speeches that would change many views on slavery. Douglass begins his story by talking of how he doesn't know very much about himself, much like other slaves. He doesn't know his own age, or who his father is, though there is much speculation that is indeed his master. He doesn't know his mother very well, he is only able to see her a few times, and she …show more content…
He obviously loses the argument and eventually Douglass moves to another shipyard where he learns the skill of caulking, while he has the freedom to live away from his master and find his own work, he still has to send a portion of his money back to his master and he is still technically not free. Douglass quickly becomes tired of being a slave and decides to escape to New York where he lives in fear he will be found out everyday. Douglass is told by abolitionist friends that is not safe in New York and he should run to New Bedford where they will be taken in by abolitionist. He meets Anna Murray, they get married and run off together New Bedford to attempt to not get recaptured. It is there where he changes his name from Frederick Johnson to Frederick Douglass. Eventually his friends pull together and buy his freedom so he is free to not live in hiding anymore. He begins to look more into abolitionism by reading ¨The Liberator¨ and starts attending anti-slavery meetings. He begins to make speeches about his experiences as a slave and soon becomes a widely recognized figure and