Fredrick Douglass, Essay Example

Before the civil war, many African Americans were slaves. Fredrick Douglass was born a slave. Though a slave, he had the spirit of a freeman. Frederick was brave and the courage to lead other slaves to freedom. He escaped from his master and worked towards ending slavery. He wrote many letters and articles and gave out speeches. His words were so powerful and had the power to change the way people thought. He was a hero to many people especially the African Americans and became one of United States greatest leaders. This paper depicts the life of Fredrick Douglass, the challenges he faced as a slave, how he escaped slavery and his contribution to the abolishment of slavery.

Early Life

Born Fredrick Washington Augustus Bailey, Douglass was the child of Harriet bailey, a well-read slave. Fredrick did not know his father. Fredrick’s mother worked in the field many miles away and was not permitted to stay with his son. Fredrick did not see much of mother while growing up. He was raised initially by his grandparents and later on by Antony who owned many farms and had a couple of slaves himself. He remembers meeting his mother only a few times. The slave masters did not allow the slaves to live as a family. During his stay in Captain Antony’s farm Fredrick was treated inhumanely. He was forced to live in dogs, pigs, and breeding pens.

Learning To Read

At about eight years old, he was sent to work for Hugh in Baltimore. Hugh was Antony’s relative. At first he was treated well by Sophia Auld; Hugh’s wife. Hugh however disapproved his wife’s attempt to teach Douglass how to read and write. He was of the opinion that such skills would make him so unfit to be a slave. Douglass was so determined to acquire an education and eventually convinced the neighbors’ children to help him in his quest. Fredrick worked at the shipyard. At work, he copied scribbles of his workmates. He used the scribbles during his writing practice sessions. He also bought newspapers to help him in his quest. From the newspapers, he improved his reading ability and also became aware of the anti-slavery movement up in the North.

Upon the passing away of Captain Antony, Douglass was taken back to Maryland where he became Thomas Auld’s property. His new owner considered him to be too independent hence placed him under the care of Covey. Covey had a reputation of being a brutal slave- breaker. Without justification, Covey beat him heartlessly. Even with all the beatings, Covey could not break his spirit. This drove him to stage a resistance and eventually Covey backed down and for the first time in his entire life, a white man retreated.

How He Became Autonomous and the Role of the Civic Text in the Process

Autonomous is the status of being independent. After Covey, William Freeland acquired Douglass. He and other slaves tried to escape but were unsuccessful. He was eventually taken back to Baltimore and Hugh who in turn hired him out to work in the shipyards. Later on in 1838, in the month of September, Fredrick escaped with help of Anna Murray to New York City. Anna was a freed woman. She later became his wife. Fredrick escaped to the city masquerading as a free sailor. While in New York, Fredrick soon realized that living, as a refuge was a difficult task as he kept hiding from the slave hunters. The abolitionists provided him with shelter and a way out to Massachusetts. It was in Massachusetts that he changed his surname to Douglass. He changed his name to take charge of his own life and destiny. On arrival, he and his wife lived with Nathan Johnson. Nathan suggested that he changes his name.

Fredrick found himself many jobs. He worked as a laborer in a brass company and unloaded ships. While in an anti slavery meeting, he befriended two famous abolitionists. This was another turning point in the life Fredrick’s life. One of the Abolitionists invited him to be a paid lecturer. He agreed to the arrangement for a couple of months. He became such a popular speaker and decided to extend his contract. In 1845, he made the decision to put his speeches about his early life as a slave in writing. The speeches became a base for his book. His work became an instant bestseller in America and in Europe. His narratives were translated into German and French. Despite its popularity, Pro-slavery individuals in America met his work with cynicism. Those skeptical could not believe that a slave who had no formal education could create such a dazzling account. Some were of the opinion that the texts were a clever imitation of document written by abolitionists and given to Fredrick to pass them off as his work. Douglass faced such skeptics several times in the North that he finally showed off his oratory skills to demonstrate his intellectual abilities.

Fredrick’s narratives created so much fame and as a result, many slave hunters sought out to capture him. He sailed out to England where he lived for nearly two years. While in England, he lectured about the ills of slavery. Through his British friends, Fredrick found out that Thomas

Auld was more than willing to sell his freedom for about seven hundred dollars. Two of friends paid the full amount thus buying his freedom. In 1847, he returned to America a free man.

Ways he embraced and advocated ideas of American nationalism regarding “consent of the governed” as it related to slaves and freedom.

Fredrick began to break away from his previous abolitionist protectors. Although still an ardent anti-slavery activist, he did not want to be the spokesperson of white abolitionists who at times instructed him to tone down his speeches to sound more like a genuine slave. He felt barred from key political decisions made by the abolition societies. Furthermore, he felt that the Garrison branch of the movement was not aggressive enough. He updated his autobiography and named it My Bondage and My Freedom. In the autobiography, he put forward more views and included his thoughts about the anti-slavery campaign. Fredrick believed that slave uprising and physical uprising were options that are more viable. Accordingly, he was an ardent supporter of John Brown, who took part in a raid on an arsenal as part of a bigger plan to spur a common revolt in the South. Brown and his accomplices were defeated by troops. Brown was later on executed. Although he did not take part directly in the raid, Douglass nonetheless fled the country to Canada.

Upon learning about the death of his daughter, Douglass returned to America where he worked for Abraham Lincoln’s campaign team. When the civil war broke, Fredrick fought hard to convince the union to allow the blacks in the army. Fredrick pushed for global suffrage for the common black American. He also worked to elect republican candidates who worked for this cause following the civil wars.

In 1985, Fredrick died due to heart failure at the age of seventy-seven. He had lived a long life by any standards especially for a black man during the nineteenth century. More importantly, he lived an amazing life, overcoming all challenges to be one the greatest personalities in the history of America.