Grace Lee's Douglass Post

Frederick Douglas’ autobiography documents a critical era in the United States, exposing his miseries as a slave and ultimately his state of freedom. Personally, while I was reading his Narrative, I almost got the sense that Frederick Douglass did not realize his complete hatred towards slavery until soon before his liberation. For example, Frederick recounts stories of watching as his family members were punished and his own experiences under the whip but does not reflect deeply on these issues. Although he mentions the inhumaneness of these events, he does not show much initiative to escape from the wretchedness. Rather, it was the idea of education that really allowed Frederick to realize the severity of slavery. He used education as a means of motivation and encouragement to outsmart and deceive his masters. In a time when he was limited to strictly harsh labor, he used his ability to read and write to keep his dream alive. He dreamt of proving to himself that he was not inferior to the white slave holders. Education, he believed, was the safest and most efficient way to display that he was capable of more than the constant humiliation he faced everyday. He was constantly demeaned by the masters through his punishments, demands to give up all his wages, and refusal of receiving education.

Upon receiving education, Frederick began to view his seriousness about escape differently. He had been practicing his reading and writing to eventually become a freeman and never return to slavery. He therefore convinced himself that if he did not at least make the attempt to escape, he should forever remain a slave. His dedication to education allowed him to believe that he did not deserve to be free if he did not attempt to escape because a hesitation proved he was accepting his status of inferiority.