The power of education featured in the “Narrative of the...

The power of education featured in the â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass† was one, if not, the most important theme that took part in his narrative. Frederick Douglass understood that the only path to become free for himself and other slaves was through learning to read and write and by having a solid education background to build on. However, Douglass was disgusted because by having an understanding of knowing how to read and write, he finally knew the extent of the horrors of slavery. Therefore, slaveholders used different tactics to keep this from happening, decreasing the confidence of slaves to act freely in a mannerly way. Freedom and equality were extremely limited in South, where rules and regulations were strictly†¦show more content†¦Auld. Frederick still had to escape physically, but his education gave him the strength to perform this task and make it happen. By keeping slaves uneducated, plantation owners were able to have full control of them. By slaves having no education, they never understood nor questioned slave owners and why they owned people and used them to their advantages by putting them out in the fields. If a slave was given any type of knowledge, plantations would be corrupted. Even if a slave was given little information about slavery, they would become curious and look for more information to be passed along in order to have full knowledge on slavery until slaves were satisfied and knew what was happening. Slaves would then question the master and despise him. Unfortunately, slave owners maintained power of slaves by keeping them ignorant and uneducated. In addition with freedom, the narrative Douglass reveals exemplifies how slaves were denied simple concepts of their identities about who they truthfully were. For instance, Douglass mentions at the beginning of his narrative that slaves barely knew when they were born, as â€Å"it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant† (Douglass 47). Owners purposely did this to keep slaves away from freedom because owners felt it was a tool to help slaves gain their freedom. With this, owners treated their slaves very cruel and punishment was harsh becauseShow MoreRelatedThe Emergence Of The United States As An Independent Country, And African American Literature Essay1769 Words   |  8 Pagesemergence of the United States as an independent country, and African – American literature was similarly in deep roots. Jupiter Hammon who was considered as the first published Black writer in America. In 1761, he published his first poem named â₠¬Å"An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries†. Through his poem, he implemented the idea of a gradual emancipation as a way to end slavery. His idea was later reprinted in some works such as â€Å"Le Mulatre† a short story published in 1837 by VictorRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesPerspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian