Frederick Douglass Escape From Slavery

The Frederick Douglass’ narrative starts off with him explaining his frustration of not knowing his exact birthday. He overhears his father, Captain Anthony, a white man, discussing his possible birth year and estimates he was born around 1818. Captain Anthony was not only his father, but his first slave master. His mother was a slave by the name of Harriet Bailey, who died when he was seven years old. In the first chapter he also recalls the violent abuse his Aunt Hester endured, and what he experienced himself sometimes. He even goes as far as to mention a particular incident when Aunt Hester is abused badly as a consequence to going out with a slave against the captain’s orders. In the chapter that follows Douglass describes the family …show more content…
He doesn’t go into detail, however. He does, indeed describe the overwhelming sense of anxiety he felt when his escape date drew closer. Before escaping, he writes to his fiancée, Anna Murray, who is a free black woman from Baltimore. She soon joins him in New York once he escapes, where they officially got married. In the years following Douglass worked various jobs at the docks in New Bedford. And in August of 1841 Douglass attended an antislavery convention where he spoke at. After this event he went on to speak at many other one and he continued to plead the case against slavery.
Slavery in Africa and slavery in the New World (America) most certainly have differences but their also was some for sure commonalties. In Africa slavery was used as a way to overpower people. Whereas, slavery in the New World was seen as a commodity. Slaves were merely in asset in upping the economy. Slavery is slavery nonetheless, and owning a human being whether willingly or against their will is wrong. In both forms of slavery people were abused and …show more content…
As an African American living in this particular society, this is something that is extremely prevalent today. Just as Douglass was confused as to why no one wanted him to have an education, many African American face the same dilemma. The same way Douglass was confused as to someone can be so nice to him at one point and then turn cruel on him with no hesitation is the same hurt many people feel to this day when they are betrayed. These are just subtle challenges that Douglass endured but they indeed carry a great deal of anguish to this very