Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave in 1845
Slavery was opposed by the observed articles for the most part. Perhaps the most significant article to oppose slavery is Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave in 1845. Frederick Douglass is the perfect person to expose slavery for its evil nature because he himself was a slave. Not only was he a slave since the beginning of his life, he experienced being a slave in many ways. He as lucky to gain his freedom in 1838 and reached out too many through publishing documents with the most important being his autobiography in 1845. Frederick tells his inspiring motivating story of how his journey to emancipation began when he started reading a book called “The Columbian Orator.” This book proved to be important as it told the story a slave becoming emancipated by his master’s choice because of a conversation that they had. The power of intellectual reasoning and respect showed to be powerful here and motivated Frederick on his path to giving black freedom value. This value would be reinforced with “the power of truth over the conscience of even slavery, and a powerful vindication of human rights.” (Foner 208) Through the power of truth, Frederick knew he could reach out to slave masters but at the same time his ability to read made him realize that they were responsible for the dehumanization of black slaves. He expressed how knowing how and why his people were being manipulated into a slave condition was his true suffering. Frederick also spoke of an experience he had with two Irishmen that appeared to feel bad for him being a slave for life and how he could not even trust their advice to run away to the North for freedom because white men were known to do so to catch them in the act for a reward. This was truly a moving story as it shows that even those who appeared to have good intentions with Frederick could be dangerous and proved how cruel of a situation he and all the rest of the black slaves were in. Slavery was opposed by Frederick’s articles by means of exposing the true severity of black lives being stolen by the white men.
Here is the second one:
I found that the articles written in Chapter 11 of Eric Foner, Voices of Freedom support the opposition of slavery in America beginning with #65 “Frederick Douglas on the Desire for Freedom (1845)”, he writes “The more I read the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers. I could regard them in no other light than a band of successful robbers, who had left their homes, and gone to Africa, and stolen us from our homes, and in a strange land reduced us to slavery.” For so many African men, women and children this statement is so very true. How many human lives suffered from family members being snatched and torn away from their loved ones and the life they knew? This would take place without any warning or final good-bye. How could the white man continue to justify such actions?
Found in the diary of “Bennet H. Barrow, #68 Rules of Highland Plantation (1838)” He states “The rules illustrated that even the most well intended owners claimed complete authority over the lives of their slaves. Inadvertently, the rules also revealed planters’ fear about disobedience and resistance among their slave”. Was no one truly free? Slave-owners’ lived in fear of theirs slaves turning against them prohibiting them from speaking with any man and slaves were also living in fear. The fear of not knowing when to expect brutal punishment for at times no apparent reason. To the point that slavery is actually interfering with white people’s liberty.
With abolitionists expanding and people voicing out against slavery, addressing public opinion in the North, publishing newspapers, circulating petitions, speaking out into local communities and meetings in hopes to gather additional members to stimulate people to speak out against slavery. Whites were in fear of retaliation from the slaves; where age or sex would not spare anyone. Some slave owners attempted to provide a “better” life for their slaves in hopes that their slaves would be content and wish to remain the property of the Master. Slave owners who so considered themselves “Christians” would use the Bible to justify their actions. The very same Bible that the slaves used to justify their freedom stating, “God created all men equal”.
Slaves were no longer ignorant and as more Northerners joined into the antislavery realm the more empowered I feel the slaves felt. As they also begun to defend their own liberties even if it meant death. The slaves had had enough.
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The narrative of slavery in the 19the century has been told from one generation to another. The menace of slavery made sure that a lot of people were emancipated in. The story of Frederic Douglass has also been told from generation to another……………………………….
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