Language is key to the path of freedom and succession. Both Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X were at a disadvantage at one time because of language. The mastery of the English language served as a double-edged sword towards Douglass but became a stepping stool for Malcolm X. Frederick Douglass was born in the 1800s and was separated from his family at a young age due to slavery. Around the age of twelve, Douglass came to an understanding that learning how to read and write was his pathway to attain freedom and escape slavery. The relations between education and slaves were illegal due to the laws, resulting in Douglass using various strategies to learn. Malcolm X was born in the 1900s and had a background of education up until high school.
