Fredrick Douglass

Fredrick Douglass Essay The great civil rights activist Frederick Douglass was born into slavery on a Maryland Eastern Shore plantation in February 1818. His given name, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, seemed to portend an unusual life for this son of a field hand and a white man, most likely Douglass’s first master, Captain Aaron Anthony. Perhaps Harriet Bailey gave her son such a distinguished name in the hope that his life would be better than hers.

She could scarcely imagine that her son’s life would continue to be a source of interest and inspiration nearly 190 years fter his birth. Indeed, it would be hard to find anyone who more closely embodies this year’s Black History Month theme, “From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas. ” Like many in the nineteenth-century United States, Frederick Douglass escaped the horrors of slavery to enjoy a life of freedom, but his unique personal drive to achieve Justice for his race led him to devote his life to the abolition of slavery and the movement for black civil rights.

His fiery oratory and extraordinary achievements produced a legacy that stretches his influence across the centuries, aking Frederick Douglass a role model for the twenty-first century. One reason Douglass’s story continues to resonate is that his life embodies the American dream of overcoming obstacles and reaching one’s goals. Young Frederick Bailey spent his first twenty years in slavery, first on a Talbot County, Maryland plantation, then in the ship-building city of Baltimore.

In the first of three autobiographies, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, published in 1845, he recounts the adversity of his early life. He rarely saw his mother who worked as a ield hand, had barely enough clothes to cover his body, and had to eat from a trough like a farmyard animal. As he grew old enough to work he passed through a series of masters, some kind and some cruel. The influence of Frederick Douglass reaches beyond his symbolic role as America’s most famous former slave, although in his lifetime moving from slavery to freedom proved a tremendous accomplishment.

He continues to be relevant to both history and modern American culture because he moved beyond enjoying freedom to edicate his life to the principle that struggle is necessary to achieve progress. His desire to make his world a more Just place led him to fght for the abolition of slavery and to support social Justice and civil rights for African Americans and women. We would do well to follow his example, and to take inspiration from his famous words that “It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. ” Fredrick Douglass By Ishman2941

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Frederick Douglass’s Slave Narrative Authenticity Essay

ROUGH DRAFT Storytelling has always been prominent among the human race ever since the oral tradition was established and the first written language came to be. It is not uncommon for a person to share their experiences, feelings, and thoughts through literature. The validity of these accounts often are not questioned. In 1845, published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.

Through writing and word of mouth, Douglass achieved international fame. Despite all of this, the validity of the slave narrative genre has come into question. Skeptics and naysayers claim that this genre of writing is fantasized, and use Olaudah Equiano’s narrative as a prime example. Although The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano has questionable history validity; Douglass’ writings have been affirmed by William Lloyd Garrison, a prominent American abolitionist, in the preface.

It has also been published and categorized as an autobiography. Accordingly, it is established that Douglass’ writing is non-fiction, therefore, it must be authentic. Being that the narrative was prefaced by William Lloyd Garrison, an exceptionally outspoken anti-slavery advocate, and author of William Lloyd Garrison and the Fight against Slavery, it would be almost impossible to claim that Frederick Douglass’ claims were falsified.

Garrison indited, “I am confident that is it essentially true in all its statements; that nothing has been set down in malice, nothing exaggerated, nothing drawn from imagination; that it comes short of the reality, rather than overstates a single fact in regard to SLAVERY AS IT IS” which conveys that he had complete and total trust towards Douglass (Which is a good display of character on Douglass’ behalf). Therefore, William Lloyd Garrison’s regard for Frederick Douglass does nothing but further prove the believability of Douglass’ auto-biography.

The authenticity of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave is also substantiated by the writing being categorized as an autobiography. As things go, auto-biographies are considered to be non-fiction. If Douglass’ writings were untrue, it would be relatively easy to disprove his written accounts because of all of the factual information required in order to produce an autobiography. Frederick Douglass is also credited with the writing of his second autobiography, My Bondage and My

Freedom(1855), and his third, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass(1881). The print is comprised of detailed experiences, places, people, and events that are historically accurate. Because of this, Douglass’ experiences are considered to be factual information. By the same token, Frederick Douglass’ first autobiography was also a published work. Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave went through the process of publication in 1845, and was ultimately published by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

In order to publish a non-fictional piece of literature, the piece must be—non-fictional. In the best interest of authors and publishers alike; it would be nonsensical to compose and publish a fictional text and write it off as a work of non-fiction. Considering that the memoir received publication status, it is established that the publisher did not see it as a risk to their good name, and that Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave is authentic. In essence, Frederick Douglass’ piece is undoubtedly unbiased, authentic, and legitimate.

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave was not only published & categorized as an autobiography, but it was also endorsed by a high-principled source, William Lloyd Garrison. Many Caucasian autobiographies of the 17th-18th century are not besieged with criticism, such as Daniel Defoe’s Mother Ross: The Life and Adventures of Mrs. Christian Davies, Commonly Called Mother Ross, on Campaign with the Duke of Marlborough(1740). It could be possible that the criticism of the slave narrative genre is truly a form of discrimination, rather than genuine mistrust.

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Fredrick Douglas Paper

Fredrick Douglass The analysis By Justin Ruano 11/14/11 Hist Am Civ 1607-1877 [pic] Have you ever wondered to yourself if you firmly belief in something that you could understand the opposite side of it? Well if you just so happened to believe in slavery and I were to tell you a story about an American […]

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Frederick Douglass Rhetoric Analysis

Whenever injustice exists in society, it becomes the responsibility of others to step forward in defense of the oppressed. If this action does not occur, then the injustice will remain and innocent people will suffer. In order to preserve equality, sometimes people must take a risk in order to reveal the truth and uphold justice. […]

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Analysis of Frederick Douglass and Their Poetry

Frederick Douglass once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning” (Think Exist). Frederick Douglass, a man born into slavery overcame numerous obstacles to eventually become a […]

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Comparing Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth

Question 3 Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass two inspirational black figures in black history were very atypical from their fellow slaves. Both figures were disrespected then and even more respected today. There were plenty of trial and tribulations throughout their lives but they preserved to become the icons they are today. For many reasons we […]

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