...Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass! ! In the Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, Douglass highlights how barbaric and dehumanizing the act of slavery, and how difficult it is to understand how such hurtful practices could have happened in the past. He also stresses the evils of slavery and how to oppose it. ! ! Best example of the dehumanization of slaves is when Douglass explains the preceedings following his foiled plotted escape from jail. He writes: “We had been in jail scarcely twenty minutes, when a swarm of slave traders, and agents for slave traders, flocked into jail to look at us, and to ascertain if we were for sale… And after taunting us in various ways, they one by one went into an examination of us, with intent to ascertain our value” (Douglass 38). Douglass portrays the slave traders and agents for slave traders as men auctioning farm stock instead of human. The slave traders and agents for slave traders do not consider the implications of their actions, rather this is business as usual and they are more than eager to acquire misbehaved slaves for a fraction of the cost. This is important because it furthers the idea that slaves were seen as a commodity and property rather and equals who can also feel and think. ! ! Douglass later has his first encounter with Mrs. Auld, and her kindnes was proof to the dehumanization of slavery. She had not experienced or known of the horrors of slavery before her encounter with Frederick Douglass and as such, she...
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...Sarah Moore Grimke and Fredrick Douglass: A Fight for Rights America is the land of the free, but without abolitionists fighting for such freedom, there is no America. This essay is a comparison between Fredrick Douglass and Sarah Moore Grimke and how they fought for African American and women’s rights respectively. Fredrick Douglass was born into a life of slavery, but he learned to read and after a few attempts, escaped. He started out as an agent of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and from then, wrote books and newspapers promoting the cause. He later became a consultant of Abraham Lincoln. Sarah Grimke, on the other hand, grew up in as a daughter of a plantation owner. She had high goals and expectations but her family shot them down. Sarah and her sister fought for slavery and sexism and were expelled from the plantation. They were among the first to fight for women’s rights. Back in the 1800s, African Americans were slaves and treated like property. They were whipped, overworked, starved, and had no freedom. They were denied education and shot if trying to escape. On the other hand, women had very little rights. They were simply housewives who looked after the children. They were not allowed to aspire to anything and forced to simply support the husband. Back then, the worst person to be was an African American female. Some females were chosen as breeding moms and raped repeatedly to bear children to sell. If not, the master would call some women in...
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...Fredrick Douglass was a man that changed the way many viewed and saw slavery in the 19th century. Frederick Douglass, who is seen in source A, was born in February 1817 although his exact date of birth remains unknown. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland to his mother, Harriet Bailey was already a slave when she gave birth to Fredrick Douglass, making him be born into slavery. He was separated from her at the early age of 7 years old. As a slave, Douglass was not allowed to have much of a as he became a slave so young. He was separated from his parents, and forced to work hard and suffered harsh treatment while working for Captain Aaron Anthony. Although he was then shipped off to work for a man named Hugh Auld and his family. Mrs. Auld was a northerner, and in that time slaveholders were generally known to not treat their slaves badly unlike the South. This lead her to give Douglass somewhat of an education as she taught her the basics of reading and writing, until her husband stopped her....
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...Analysis of Fredrick Douglass’s Narrative David W. Blight is a professor, who teaches as of November 2, 2015 American History at Yale University. Blight obtained his PhD from the University of Wisconsin in 1985 with a thesis titled “Keeping Faith in Jubilee : Fredrick Douglass and the Meaning of the Civil War.”Before Yale University, he taught at Amherst College for thirteen years. He has wrote many annotated editions on slavery and as of late, he is working on another biography of Fredrick Douglass.He has received a handful of awards, these include: Lincoln Prize,Bancroft Prize,Fredrick Douglass Prize, Merle Curti award and James A. Rawley prize. Anyhow The introduction by David Blight was very well constructed and It would’ve helped if...
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...The Men of the Abolitionist Movement: What Did They Contribute? 1. “The Liberator” Garrison, William Lloyd. "The Liberator." Http://fair-use.org/the-liberator/. June 18, 1836. Accessed October 7, 2015. • “It appears to us too clear to admit of either denial or doubt, that the scriptures do sanction slaveholding’ that under the old dispensation it was expressly permitted by divine command.” • “Perhaps the most appalling proof of the ignorant state of the apprentice is the fact, that when British and Foreign Bible Society asked for returns of the number of slaves who could read, and who would thereby be entitled to its gift of the Testaments and Psalter.” i. This is a primary resource ii. “An Appeal to The Colored Citizens of the World” Walker, David. Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World. Boston, Massachusetts: DocSouth Books Ed. Chapel Hill : The University of North Carolina Press, 2011. 79. • “That we, (coloured people of these United States of America) are the most wretched, degraded and abject set of beings that ever lived since the world began, and that the white Americans having reduced us to the wretched state of slavery, treat us in that condition more cruel (they being an enlighted and Christian people), than any heathen nation did any people whom it had reduced to our condition.” • “The whites have always been an unjust, jealous, unmerciful, avaricious and blood-thirsty set of beings, always seeking after power and authority.--We view them all...
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...The essence of this paper requires a contrast and comparison view on two important historical articles; Fredrick Douglass “What to the slave is the fourth of July” and David Walker’s “Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World”. The essay will attempt to discuss the very famous speech Fredrick Douglas made in 1952 as well as David’s Walker’s appeal while comparing and contrasting both the appeal and the speech. Afterward, a summary will be given and a conclusion will be drawn. As we look throughout history, one would argue that we couldn’t find a more appalling and unjust act as that of slavery. Slavery played a major role of not only history but of an innumerable amount of American people. In David Walker’s appeal and Fredrick Douglass what to the slave is the fourth of July, men and women of African American descent struggle with the reality of slavery and the cruel results and affect it had on people like themselves. Fredrick Douglas was one of the most influential African Americans of his day, in spite of his inauspicious beginning, he was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland where he was called Fredrick Augustus Washington Bailey. Douglas always suspected that his father was his mother’s white owner, Captain Aaron Anthony. He spent his early childhood in privation on the plantation then he was sent to work as a house slave for the auld family in Baltimore. There, he came in contact with printed literature and quickly realized the relationship between literacy...
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...Crystal Ochoa HST 17A Frederick Douglass Paper 12/4/2014 No one could truly understand what it means to be a slave unless they have witnessed it first hand. Frederick Douglass did a marvelous job of opening a window for his readers to peek their heads into the life of a slave. By my understanding, Frederick Douglass made slavery to be this complex organism that has many layers and working parts to it that make it function. It was a complex system created by white men, and each component of that system is created with a specific purpose. When Fredrick Douglass learns to read, that is when he begins to see the complexity of the system. The slaves were kept unaware and dumb so they would be easier to manipulate. There are the plantations that keep the slaves sheltered and hidden from the outside world. The Head masters that run everything and have complete power over every slave and everything on the plantation. The overseers that work like watch dogs with a bite as means as their bark. The slaves had their headquarters where they would form a type of community that helped them live in such cruel conditions. Most of the time, the slaves living in these communities would become almost like family. However, this was not true for Frederick Douglass, he did not have family and never really fit in among the other slave children. He was constantly picked on by the cook. It was in these early years that Douglass realized that if he wanted to survive, he would have to rely...
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...She would be required to wait until it was dark to reach her son. Douglass states, “She was a field hand, and a whipping is the penalty of not being in the field at sunrise, unless a slave has special permission from his or her master to the contrary--a permission which they seldom get, and one that gives to him that gives it the proud name of being a kind master” (Douglass 3). Every mile on those journeys to visit little Fredrick his mother was in danger of being caught and would be considered a runaway slave; the punishment of which would always be a whipping and usually would also constitute being sent down the river into the deep south. The further...
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...Mitchell, who was the specialist mentioned by name in the story, prescribed a “rest cure”, which consisted of little to no physical activity, and only two hours of mental activity each day. The “rest cure” was typically prescribed to women, perhaps as a means to keep them in their proper place in society. Gilman, who may have been considered to be a feminist in the late 1800s, used the patterned wallpaper as a symbol of the entrapment and repression of women in society. Fredrick Douglass, former slave and famous advocate for human rights in the late 1800s, said of women: [A] woman should have every honorable motive to exertion which is enjoyed by man, to the full extent of her capacities and endowments. The case is too plain for argument. Nature has given woman the same powers, and subjected her to the same earth, breathes the same air, subsists on the same food, physical, moral, mental and spiritual. She has, therefore, an equal right with man, in all efforts to obtain and maintain a perfect existence (Douglass) Women’s rights in society have grown by leaps and bounds throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty first century, however, the traditional attitude of male superiority and the mold of the woman’s role still lingers in society; and within the confines of their homes, many women are not considered equal by their male counterparts and are verbally and mentally abused, controlled, and manipulated. The Yellow Wallpaper is narrated by an unnamed woman, who has...
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...autobiographical Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass does not only carry important historical implications, but it is also a tale that evokes philosophical and social implications. Douglass in his narrative provides a roadmap of the excursion from the brutal hold of slavery to freedom; freedom of different kinds. The South at the time of Douglass’ birth was a land that thrived economically depending on slave labor for the plantations. The slaves were treated cruelly from birth and lived a life full of drudgery. Freedom was vague idea that for some seemed an impossible thing while others like Douglass took action to attain it. Despite running away from the clutches of slave owners to the North where slavery was not the norm, Douglass did not truly feel free until he assisted the people he left in slavery to gain freedom. The freedom that Douglass envisioned for his people was not only physical freedom of the body free from the control of a master, but also mental freedom having the power to choose one’s destiny in life. This is what Douglass considered true freedom. Douglass’ quest for freedom for himself and other slaves was a journey to attain physical and mental freedom, which he considered true freedom. Slavery in the United States was an economically driven activity. The present-day United States was based on the economic upsurge that followed the American Industrial Revolution that was focused more to the northeast (Douglass and Michael 4). The economic innovation was mainly...
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...Diana L. Arias November 4, 2012 U.S. History to 1877 The Role of John Brown in the Civil War You know how they say for every action there is an equal reaction, well that holds very true in John Brown’s case. For every action he took against slavery there was an equal reaction, or a far worse reaction from his opponents (pro-slavery supporters). What led John Brown to his actions in trying to end slavery? What was the equal or far worse reaction from his pro-slavery opponents? This first action was not taken by John Brown but by Congress and the action was not anti-slavery but pro-slavery the action was The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, was passed by the United States Congress on September 18th 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850 between Southern slave-holding interests and Northern free soils. This was one of the most controversial acts of the 1850 compromise and heightened Northern fears of a slave rebellion. It declared that all runaway slaves were, upon capture, to be returned to their owners/masters. Abolitionists nicknamed it the "Bloodhound Law" for the dogs that were used to track down runaway slaves. After this was passed by Congress, there was an equal reaction on part of John Brown, he founded a militant group to prevent the capture of runaway slaves, and he called it The League of Gileadites. In the Bible the Mount Gilead was the place where only the bravest of Israelites would gather together to face an invading enemy. Brown on leaving Springfield in...
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...Naturalism and realism are responses to romanticism. This paper will explore the background of each and analyze the tension between the individual and the environment for chosen works by authors of each writing style. From 1860-1890 realism was prominent, developed as a reaction to romanticism as folks believed life was no longer seen through rose colored glasses. This was the civil war, the urbanization and industrializing of America and the emerging middle class as well as the upheaval and social change in the latter half of the 19th century with increasing rates of democracy and literacy. The characteristics of realism are reaction against romanticism and neoclassicism, factual is more important than intellectual or emotional, life is driven by fate. An example of realist writers includes Mark Twain, William Dean Howells, and Edgar Lee Masters. From 1865 -1895 regionalism was prominent and was also referred to as local color. It focuses on characters, dialect, and customs specific to a certain region. Regionalism is coincided with realism and sharing many of the same traits. Regionalism was developed due to the civil war and the building of a national identity, and the dual influence of romanticism and realism. An example of regionalist writers includes Kate Chopin, Mark Twain, and Willa Cather. From 1880-1920 naturalism was prominent and is the view that nature is all there is and the basic truths are truths of nature. Naturalism applies scientific principles of objectivity...
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...Personal Narratives Photography – Prof. Boddie Spring 1 2015 / April 2, 2015 Essay Response to Deborah Willis – Picturing Us Deborah Willis’ essay, Picturing Us, tackles the issues of self-representation of African-Americans in pictures. In 1955 when Debra Willis first saw the photographs in the book, The Sweetfly Paper of Life, it left an “indelible mark” on her youthful mind. (Pg. 3). It was her first time seeing “colored” people that she could relate to. Through the narratives of the photos Willis was reminded of her family and the universal pride of other African-American families. From that point onward her sense of self was positively awaken, which promoted her to pursued books and photographs that honestly depicted stories of Black people through the eyes of other Black people. Year prior to Willis’ revelation, in 1882, Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm wanted to tell stories of Black people through Black people’s eyes and decided to start the First African-American newspaper, the Freedom's Journal. Russworm said “We were truly invisible unless we committed a crime.” Thus, in its inaugural issue, the paper clearly stated “We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.” With the start of this newspaper, and many newspapers following, Black people developed a sense of self. Their images were positive and commonplace, a far cry from being displayed in the major newspapers as criminals and thieves of chickens. I choose the following...
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...opportunities. For instance, taking a look on imperialism days, the whites were using education as a tool to acquire more opportunities than the black. They believed that it was through education that the blacks would be in opposition to oppose them. This is because they would be enlightened and hence demand for equality (Douglas, 1845). Precisely, the purpose of this essay is to discuss how access to education is significant in enhancing equality of opportunity in the current Australia. The discussion begins by describing the role that education and training has in our society today. Furthermore, the discussion will outline different social groups and the way different factors influence the way they get access to education in different forms. This paper also explores the current education and training policies and the author’s comments are given. The ways the Australian community can support those who are disadvantaged is also discussed to see how these people can be exalted and have equal access to educational opportunities. In the society, education can be seen to have different roles. Despite the numerous roles of education in the society, one can...
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...PUBLIC SPEAKING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT A research paper of Gamaliel Eve Relampago MInggong as partial fulfillment of the requirements in English 202 Submitted to: Nora L. Sisneros, M.D TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I- Dynamics of the Study I.a- Rationale of the Study I.b- Significance of the Study I.c- Narrative Approach of the Study I.d- Qualitative Paradigm of the Study CHAPTER II- Research Plans and Methodology II.a- Content Analysis of the Study II.b- Framework and Analysis II.c- Theoretical Foundations of the Study II.d- Interpretative Analysis of the Study REFERENCES CHAPTER I- Dynamics of the Study Public speaking has always been an essential part of our life. We might find ourselves being stuck in a situation to speak in front of people like funerals, weddings, graduations and school activities. It was never erased in our existence. Civic activities are one of these situations. Civic engagement or civic participation is the encouragement of the general public to become involved in the political process and the issues that affect them. It is the community coming together to be a collective source of change, political and non-political. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_engagement) Public speaking and Civic engagement goes hand in hand. Without speaking in public, like the definition above, you will never be able to speak your mind out to the general public for the sake of your purpose. Civic engagement doesn’t happen with just watching...
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