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Frederick Douglas

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Frederick Douglas

Frederick Douglas, a man of strong pursuit, was devoted not only to becoming a man of liberty but also becoming an American abolitionist. “The goal of the abolitionist movement was the immediate emancipation of all slaves and the end of racial discrimination and segregation” (Abolitionist Movement). In reading the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglas himself, one can see the passion the former slave had to abolish slavery completely from the United States. Douglas’ narrative included most of the situations he lived through to give proof of the horrid acts that came upon slaves in the 1800’s. The inhumane acts and inequalities between blacks and whites were evident of the unfair justice and alleged independence that America stood for. The mistreatment and specific derogative tales of the slaved blacks in Douglas’ narrative consisted of gory beatings, murders, sexual assaults and much more. He speaks of the faithful Christians who in his case were some of the worst and cruelest slaveholders he has come across. Frederick clearly demonstrates the church’s agreement with slavery in his infamous narrative revealing the truth of Christian slave owners. With the eminent amount of evidence in this publicized narrative, the truth to America came out and proved very helpful in the abolishment of slavery in a country solely known for its freedom.

In this detailed narrative of Frederick’s life, he entails about the inhumane treatment among the slaves. He goes on to explain, “In hottest summer and coldest winter, I was kept almost naked—no shoes, no stockings, no jacket, no trousers, nothing on but a coarse tow linen shirt, reaching only to my knees” (Ch5 p23). Sadly, this treatment was even done at a young age when Frederick was less than seven years old at the time. It is only unimaginable to think what slave owners with lower

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