Essays on Frederick Douglass

My journey into attaining my Bachelor of Arts in political science has been a tedious process. I had to overcome several obstacles to finally achieve this level of education. However when I take a look at my journey and compare it with the Frederick Douglass story several similarities can be drawn. We cannot deny that Frederick Douglass lived at a time when life was harsh for Blacks as they were not allowed to learn how to read and write. This might not be the case now but I draw my determination from him and how he tried everything he Continue reading...

The evolution of Frederick Douglass from a slave to a man is evident in “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.” As a documentation of slavery in Antebellum America, mainly in the south, thoughts of freedom appear as the redeeming feature for the blacks. Born into slavery, Douglass gives his readers insight into how slaves lived under the rule of the whites as his owners send him from one farm to another courtesy of his masters’ whims. However, unlike most of the slaves, Douglass portrays his need to be free throughout the book by questioning the perceptions of the Continue reading...

Writing as a process is often fraught with uncertainty and struggle; even the best writers have to start from somewhere. It is often an arduous climb for a writer to create a great work of literature, or even a passable one. Every author, whether successful or not, must endure a roughly similar process of learning how to write, and how to write well. In Ann Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts,” Frederick Douglass’ “Learning to Read and Write,” and Kurt Vonnegut’s “How to Write with Style,” the various trials and tribulations of getting a piece of writing from the Continue reading...

The classic American myth of rags-to-riches can be seen in the lives of Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass. These self-made aspects of their lives can be seen in the narratives of the stories of their lives. Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass became very successful in achieving their goals. Their lives paint a clear picture of self-made individuals who fought odds in their lives and struggled to become famous and highly revered individuals in America. Even though they were separated, by time, place and circumstances, the two writers had a similar chronology of life events in their narratives. Benjamin Franklin Continue reading...

Month Day, Year

When reflecting upon the events leading up to the abolition of slavery, the civil rights movement of the later 20th century and other such cultural milestones of equality in America, most of these events and turning points can be traced back to key figures in American history who stood their ground against adversity and overcame tremendous hardship, not just for their own survival, but for the sake of future generations to come. In terms of race relations in the 19th century, in this particular case, concerning the interaction between African Americans white Europeans in the U.S., one name that Continue reading...

Frederick Douglass

- Describe Frederick Douglass' early childhood. What kind of relationship did he have with his mother? Who was his father? Why did Douglass believe that slaves of mixed parentage suffer[ed] greater hardships than other slaves? Provide specific details that support your response.
According to Frederick Douglass’ own account, he had no authentic record of his age. For him, it was his source of dissatisfaction not to have learned how old he really was (that is, just like most of the slaves his age or older). According to him, it is improper and impertinent for a slave like him Continue reading...

Contrary to popular belief, the issue of African-American racism and slavery in the United States did not begin in the early 1970s. Slavery has already begun in the early 1700s with most of these slaves transported from Africa and other far-flung regions, while some African slaves married Hispanic Americans who were also treated like slaves. Many slaves had resigned to their faith and considered themselves lucky if they would have gained their freedom in those days. However, like the recent slavery and racism movement in the 1970s, there were those who dreamed to remove the boundaries raised by slavery. Continue reading...

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave was published In 1845, and was immediately successful in the U.S. and abroad. At the time, it was seen as both a powerful autobiography, an effective political polemic condemning slaver, and great art (Sisco 195). The Narrative has become the most famous slave narrative, a genre of literature that was extremely popular throughout the 1850’s and 60’s, and has “received tremendous scholarly and pedagogical attention in recent decades” (Blight). Douglass would go on to become the preeminent abolitionist in the country, the most famous black American Continue reading...

Barker, Deborah. “The Awakening of Female Artistry.” Kate Chopin Reconsidered. Ed. Lynda S. Boren and Sara deSaussure Davis. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1992, 61-79

In this book, the author attempts to analyze the paintings that are done by Edna and how the paintings affects the sensuality of Edna based on the social issues such as religious restrictions women bear in the society. The essay puts more emphasis on Edna; however, Barker also brings to the reader the way Edna is consciously aware of the struggles that embodies her gender. The central outcome of barkers work in the Continue reading...

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, which was written by Frederick Douglass himself, sheds valuable insight into the man who is today known so well for his participation in the Anti-Slavery movement during the 19th century. Years after escaping slavery in Maryland, he got it published in 1845 by the Anti-Slavery office in Boston, Massachusetts. Douglass was born into slavery, suffered its hopeless cruelties, and eventually escaped to the north to live out his days with his wife, Anna. This is a brief description of his life up to the time he became influential in the Anti-Slavery Continue reading...

Rhetorical Analysis: Douglass Frederick. “What the Black Man Wants.

Introduction

Frederick Douglas was an extraordinary person, who “escaped slavery, and was a leading abolitionist, orator and newspaper publisher, diplomat and advisor to presidents.” That made him not only one of the greatest voices against oppression, but also relentless advocate of human right, be it women, black, immigrants or Native Americans.
In April 1865, to express his support for black people’s efforts to seek same privileges as others, he gave a remarkable speech at the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society in Boston. This speech was against the background Continue reading...

Frederick Douglass or Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland in February 1818, the time when African slaves were prominent in America. Frederick’s mother, Harriet Bailey, was a slave working for Captain Aaron Anthony. There are a few details which are uncertain in Frederick Douglass’ childhood, but he knew that his father was a white man, and he is uncertain as to his exact birthday. Frederick has no idea as to the name of his father, however, when he was young, he heard rumours that his father is his mother’s current master. Captain Aaron Anthony Continue reading...

Frederick Douglass was one of the most important orators of the 19th century, and a well-regarded abolitionist leader. He is also well known for his autobiographies, which provide a detailed account of his childhood as a slave, his unofficial education, and his eventual escape from slavery. In this essay, Douglass' life and writing will be detailed, in terms of its importance to the overall canon of American literature and the emancipation movement at the time.

Growing up as a slave in Maryland, he was separated from his biological mother and endured many trials and tribulations. Learning how to read Continue reading...

Frederick Douglass is an illustrious author in the history of African American literature. His memoirs, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave is one of most read book among African Americans. This autobiography was first published in the year, 1845 and was revised several times. Frederick in his autobiography gives accounts of his life and shares his own experience as a slave. This paper intends to discuss Frederick Douglass, his life and experiences, slavery and several other related aspects.
Douglass starts his narrative by saying that he has very less memory of his birth. He says Continue reading...

The word ‘Philosophy’ originated from the words ‘Philo’ and ‘Sophia’ meaning love and wisdom. Philosophy is concerned with all inquiries, pursuit and practices of wisdom. It specifically entails a systematic human study of their perceptions, thinking and reasoning. One might say that a man/woman without a philosophy is a man/woman without a direction. This is because people live in accordance to the digestion of what they perceive their environments. This paper will take an analytic view of the effects of philosophical beliefs to human life. Discussion will base on the character analysis in the ‘narrative of the life of Continue reading...

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass wrote an article titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass’. This narrative aimed at the abolishment of slavery in the US (Douglass, 1845). The publication is primarily a work of political agitations. This is because his goal was to abolish slavery and convince his readers to fight for abolition. According to many individuals, his work was regarded as sentimental fiction. Furthermore, the book was more inclined towards racial stereotypes.

Sentimental literature can be defined as literature which was aimed at training and educating the sensibilities of the reader. This meant that the readers were able to Continue reading...

African-Americans have lived a miserable destiny under the harsh institution of slavery. They have long endured the cruelty of racial discrimination and social segregation within a country where liberty, democracy and freedom are considered as national ideals. The name “Negros” is not just a simple term, but it is a humiliating adjective that are applied to black Americans to ridicule their race. The blacks have to bear the cruelty of a nation whose economy depended on their labor, yet refuses to recognize their potential as a person. The society upholds to their principle that color of the African-Americans defines Continue reading...

There are two ways that knowledge is gained by an individual; one is through outside knowledge which is acquired by education, and by self-knowledge which is gained through experience. In all instances, complete understanding is achieved when the two aspects of outside and self-knowledge interact in a person’s intellectual and emotional levels, whereby these aspects either complement one another or cause tensions that enhance deeper thought processes. Hence, a set knowledge that may be interpreted or gained in two ways unite to form the bigger picture, so to speak, and allow an individual to form his or her Continue reading...

Over the last thirty years of slavery in the U.S.; from 1830 to 1865, African American writers have perfected the first truly indigenous genres of literature in the nation: the North American slave narrative. This genre attains it eloquent expression in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave by Frederick Douglass; and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. Similar to other slave narratives, the works of Douglass and Jacobs embody the tautness between the disagreeing motives which generated memoirs of the life of slavery. The need to realize the most important Continue reading...

Introduction

The story, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, is an autobiography by Frederick Douglas in which he narrates his experiences as a slave in the US. Frederick Douglass narrates how he served as a slave under Captain Anthony, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Gore among others. He later manages to flee to New Bedford, Massachusetts where he is hired as a lecturer for the American Anti-Slavery Society. To tell his story, Fredrick Douglass uses several methods of development. Methods of development include narratives, process, classification, comparison and contrast, description among others (Jacobus, 908). The three methods Continue reading...

Introduction

United States of America gained their independence from Great Britain in June 4 1776. This was a great accomplishment for the people of United States because now they could rule themselves. For most people they were happy but for the black people who were still slaves did not see this independence. This was still being experienced 75 years later after they had gained independence. Fredrick Douglass who was an abolitionist movement leader claimed this injustice on a speech he made at Rochester, New York in 1852 a day, which was after the Independence Day (Asante). In the speech, he Continue reading...

A clear depiction of the nature of slavery in the south of Antebellum America is present in Douglass’ “A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.”As an African American Born into slavery and raised as such, Douglass’ narration gives his readers insight into his life and his struggle with the slavery institution. The book revolves around Frederick Douglass’ experiences at the hands of different slave masters before finally escaping to the northern states and joining the abolitionists’ movement. As the book commences, Frederick Douglass shows his confusion over the basis of slavery and in turn, makes his conclusions Continue reading...

Harriet Tubman and Fredrick Douglass are renowned African America civil rights figures who escaped from slavery. The civil rights activists spent a momentous time of their life fighting against slavery and advocating for social justice thus holding prominent ranks in the American history. In addition, Douglass and Harriet were African Americans abolitionists whose births are not recorded but estimated. Fredrick Douglass was the son of a black woman Harriet Bailey and a white man, making him an African American. Harriet Tubman was born to slave parents Benjamin Ross and Harriet Green Ross. Both Harriet and Douglass were abused by Continue reading...

Frederick Douglass was one of the most important orators of the 19th century, and a well-regarded abolitionist leader. He is also well known for his autobiographies, which provide a detailed account of his childhood as a slave, his unofficial education, and his eventual escape from slavery. Frederick Douglass' writing style is incredibly detailed and personable. His most famous work is A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, his first of three autobiographies in which he narrates his life as a slave from childhood to his escape. His use of eloquent language and detail help to Continue reading...

We have concluded our units on Education and Ethics (Values). Our next unit is entitled “American Cultural Myths” (where we came from?) Who was Frederick Douglass and where did he come from?
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), was a former slave, whom after escaping slavery became a very famous reformer, writer and statesman (Willard Gatewood 1846).He was born a slave in Talbot, Maryland in the United States of America. He was very famous for being fluent in English and most people were amazed by his intelligence. This was because at the time there was the notion that slaves were not Continue reading...

Frederick Douglass’s “Fourth of July” Speech

This is one of the most popular speeches delivered by Frederick Douglass during his time. He was a civil rights advocate and an abolitionist to the African Americans during times of slavery. His famous speech that took place in the Rochester’s Corinthian Hall attracted vast numbers of people and left many speechless (Barnes). The speech was later reported as eloquent, heart touching and admirable as it drew massive applause at the end. For this reason, the speech was published and made accessible to every interested American. Several people got a copy of speech and until today, Americans still Continue reading...

Rhetorical Analysis of the Fourth of July Speech of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a great man and truly brilliant public speaker, who spent his life working to abolish slavery and guarantee equal citizenship rights for blacks. He did not make a moral argument for nonviolence although he strongly denounced the United States for betraying its own principles of liberty and democracy for all. In his rhetorical situation, he was addressing white audiences that he hoped would be sympathetic to their cause, and had strong criticism for white Christians who had often been indifferent to the situation of blacks Continue reading...

As a modern day audience, for the most part, our reaction to a slave narrative is often one which fills us with remorse and regret. Frederick Douglass’ narrative concerning his quest for education and specifically, how to read and write, is an example of such an instance. As a white, middle-class person of the twenty-first century, it unsettles me and fills me with a deep-seated feeling of remorse for the actions of our ancestors.
Upon settling with the Auld family, Douglass began to learn how to read and write with the assistance of his Mistress. Continue reading...

“Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave” is a memoir of Frederick Douglas. Douglas was an African American who born as a slave and spent his early life in slavery. Douglas, in his memoir, describes his own life, experiences, sufferings and life of other slaves in a very realistic manner. This narrative was published in 1845 and has been revised several times due to its popularity. This paper proposes to discuss Frederick Douglass and analyses his memoir and several other related aspects.
Frederick Douglas talks about his date of birth and about his parents in First Continue reading...

Afro-American History to 1877

“The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery Politics” is a well written book by James Oakes. James Oakes in his book suggests that both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas fought slavery and stood up for the causes of slaves but they had different ways of fighting against slavery. The author presents thorough details of their working and ideas in his book. Oakes recognizes both of these leaders as reformers but portrays both of these leaders in different perspectives. This paper intends to discuss contributions of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas and how Continue reading...

Introduction

Frederick Douglass in ‘Learning to Read and Write’ writes about the dedication with which he learnt to read and write, and the difficulties that he faced because he was a slave for life. He recounts how his Master disliked that his wife was teaching letters and alphabets to Douglass, and forbade her from instructing him. Obeying her husband, she not only stopped teaching him but also ensured that he did not get time or resources to read at all. However, Douglass persisted in his pursuit of learning and used every opportunity to learn to read. He learnt to read Continue reading...

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a story that features the coercion Fredrick Douglass encountered before his escape to freedom. In this autobiography, Douglass offers the readers with first-hand information about the pain, brutality, and humiliation of the slaves. He points out the cruelty of this institution on both the perpetrator and the victims. As a slave, Douglass witnessed the brutalization of the blacks whose only crime was to be born of the wrong color (Cruse 32). This narrative of Douglass is a very personal description of a worrying time in the author’s life, but Continue reading...

Although slavery has been condemned as a crime against humanity, there was once a time when men and women were considered as less than animals and were made to work under the harshest circumstances. While treatment towards both the genders might have differed, the general attitude towards slaves was the same which was exhibited by those who were well off and had enough money to afford servants. The premise of this paper is to compare and contrast the arguments which have been given by Fredrick Douglas in his autobiography. Douglas was the son of a slave and saw very Continue reading...

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Slavery has been a debatable issue for a number of reasons. The major one finds basis in the fact that it is to this day regarded as the major cause of the American Civil War that lasted between 1861 and 1865. To understand the origin of slavery, different Historians have embarked on different researches on the topic in a bid to do the same. One such Historian was Zinn Howard who in the book A People's History of the United States argues that blacks have been ensnared in webs of slavery and “the Continue reading...

Narrative of Frederick Douglass

This narrative offers a unique firsthand account of American slavery as narrated by a victim. Through his many experiences as a slave, Frederick saw the institution of slavery as a cruel and dehumanizing social injustice that people should reject and abolish. He argued that slavery put the oppressed victims at a disadvantage both educationally, socially and religiously. Slaves suffered abuse and deprivation from their masters and Frederick shows how they were treated as property or animals. This was the basis of the oppression and dehumanization of the then slaves who their considered as having no rights at all. This Continue reading...

The African-American slavery history can be traced through different visual and literary artworks made by different artists of the 19th and early 20th century.
As a form of revolt, African-Americans who were victims of prejudice, discrimination, and slavery showcased their talents and created different masterpieces of art that depicted their loud cry for liberty which contributed greatly to the movement towards their freedom. White abolitionists wrote speeches to refute the belief that Black Americans could not learn basic literary and make decisions on their own. African-American abolitionists also started to write and spoke about the freedom and emancipation of Continue reading...

What would you really expect of someone who is to narrate his experiences as a slave ,teaches himself how to read and write , narrates about his passage from childhood full of ignorance to adulthood and self realization, his aborted attempt to escape, and his final successful escape attempt from slavery , followed by a short discussion of his time in the north? It is just such a man who we meet in Frederick Douglass own novel Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave .Through what he says about himself, about people around him ,the society that he Continue reading...

Introduction:

The state Appeals Court of New Jersey found in favour of a gay scout who had been excluded from the state’s boy scout association on the basis of his sexual orientation. This was later overturned by the Supreme Court in a majority opinion written by the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist who stated for the majority that if someone whose sexual orientation destabilizes the operation of an organization then that organization has a right to exclude him/her from the group. Ina minority opinion Justice John Paul Stevens ruled that the decision was a violation of civil rights and Continue reading...

Introduction

“Single stories create stereotypes”, insists Adichie Chimamanda. A single is story is a case where one similar story is retold severally concerning an unfamiliar place or character. The main dangers associated with the single stories are the creation of half-truths, stereotypical perspectives, and biased thoughts about a place, a person, or an issue. Single stories are responsible for the stereotypes created on issues, for instance, single stories about continents such as Australia and Africa make the Americans believe that the places experience backwardness and animals respectively. “The balance of stories” as Chinua Achebe refers to it, is the direct Continue reading...

Same-Sex Marriage and Discrimination

Battles over civil rights have been fought for centuries in the United States. Slavery, the vote for women, and equal rights for blacks are just a few examples of civil rights issues that citizens fought for and won. One of the big battles being fought state by state today is the conflict over same-sex marriage. While some states have made same-sex marriage legal, other states have outlawed it. People for and against it provide many reasons why it should or should not be legal. In addition to listening to the reasoning of both sides on the issue of same-sex Continue reading...