Essay - Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass: abolitionist leader

Frederick Douglass (~1818-1895) was one of the most famous African American of the 19th century. He was a slave, a writer, orator, editor, activist and social reformer, and an abolitionist leader. In 1845, he published – at the Anti-Slavery Office in Boston – his well-known work, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, written by himself. It is considered one of the most important slave narratives released before the Civil War. Through his autobiography, it is possible think about what is the true Christianity [topic 1], love of neighbour [topic 2] and how far reading, write, culture and the books were paramount so Frederick Douglass became a leader who marked the history, inspiring through generations and reaching out various nations [topic 3].

Been born as a slave, Frederick Douglass never knew exactly his birthday, not met his father and didn’t saw his mother since the age of seven years. The slave owners made separation of families with the purpose of increase the slave’s dependency on their masters. Has been inserted early in that horrible context, Frederick Douglass became an great head against the slavery some years later. Reading Frederick Douglass‘ My Bondage and My Freedom, a book based on the first hand experience of a slave, has been educational in many ways. It has been informing about the lives of slaves from birth till death, containing historical facts about the African American people who were forcibly brought to the United States. Frederick Douglass understood slavery very well, and he delivers that understanding to the reader. His descriptions of the life he led in captivity and his interpretations of the various aspects of slavery, both in his autobiography and in his speeches are so vivid and provocative that it stirs the reader‘s emotions.

Moreover, in his autobiography, Douglass mentions many atrocities he witnessed during the time he was enslaved. He describes his trajectory of life and says there was a period where he moved into a home in which the slaves owners were more “cordial and kind", that is, allowed him to have a place confortable to sleep and didn’t let him starve to death, basic necessities that are human rights and should never be synonymous of cordiality in that context, however, it was. The author mentions a very provocative aspect about this subject, he says that even though he had contac with more friendly slaves owners, people were still deeply bad and didn’t see what was happening, they didn’t even want to see. Hence, he quoted the slavery was prejudicial both for black and white people, that is, it has harmed humanity. It should be noted, Christianity and slavery don’t go hand in hand, but at that time it did. The churches in the parts where Douglass lived as a young boy often took part in the slaveholding community. This fact was quite interesting because it demonstrates how corrupt the church was at the time.

In addition, it is possible observe that even been born as a slave, he develops distrust and desire to see that the life was not only made for that reality when he faces the world of reading. This shows the importance and transformative power that reading has in a person’s life. And, he didn’t want the freedom only for him, however, realese as many as people he could, been a humanist and fought hard to ensure his people a better quality of life. Once he was free, Douglass became a dedicated spokesman for the abolition of slavery and in support of women‘s rights. He went across the country, and all over the world, to give speeches about his experience as a slave. He was unique in a way; he was well spoken and had a tremendous effect on people who listened to him and he had a felicitous manner of speaking that made his ideas seem agreeable. Douglass published many, if not all, of his speeches and persuaded many people to support the cause of the abolicionists.