Frederick Douglass: What Makes A Hero?

50 years later, a man who narrowly escaped his slavery would face the same challenge of establishing his free life in New York. He had endured cruel masters during his slave life, and traveled far to begin his free life without a job nor an education, his name was Frederick Douglass. Both of these men had weathered different slave conditions, Frederick experiencing

By examining Douglass’ narrative his resilience to educate white audiences about the horror of slavery can be seen through his own story. Douglass’ narrative is set up in order for him to give an example of someone who has suffered through slavery and has witnessed first hand the harsh lives of slaves. Although the narrative feels like a success story, Douglass understood that his freedom wouldn't truly feel like freedom until slavery was abolished. By writing, “Sincerely and earnestly hoping that this little book may do something toward throwing light on the American slave system, and hastening the glad day of deliverance to the millions of my brethren in bonds … relying upon the power of truth, love, and justice, for success in my … efforts and solemnly pledging myself anew to the sacred cause, I subscribe myself” (Douglass 76). Sheds light on the idea that slavery was good for the slave.

Frederick Douglass “was an extraordinary man. He was cut out for a hero.” - N. P. Rogers. Frederick experienced a tough life but kept fighting for his rights and standing up for himself. “Facing Frederick The Life Of Frederick Douglass.” was a biography of Frederick Douglass by Tonya Bolden.

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass, An African-American hero, impacted the United States, which successfully detailed by writing books and speeches, the challenges he faced throughout his life, and the results of helping lives today. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. Douglass was soon sent to Baltimore to live with Hugh Auld’s household for seven years. Douglass mother name was Harriet Bailey and he never knew who his father was but people say his father was the slave owner. He then learned to read and write even though Mrs. Auld was hardened and no longer tutors him which made him want to learn more.

The Holocaust was a time of massive suffering for Jewish people. According to The National Holocaust Museum, 6 million Jewish people were killed in gas chambers, being shot, and being straight up murdered.[1] This was a time when Jewish people could have used someone like Frederick Douglass. When put in context, Frederick Douglass exhibited moral courage in a way that got African-Americans out of slavery. Moral courage, “is a good or altruistic action(s) in which the bearer of the action(s) is due to massive consequences if caught.”

Fredrick Douglass, a now-known household name, who is known for his many trials and triumphs, writes the story of his life. In his narrative, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he retells the stories of his poor childhood, the transition into being a slave, and how his determination led him to become a free man. Douglass fits years and so much pain into an eleven-chapter book and does it so profoundly that the reader has no choice but to consider what Douglas encountered and the pain he endured. Throughout the book, Douglass emphasizes how knowledge was what he used to set him free, how slavery and slaveholders used slaves’ unawareness to perpetuate them, and the effect of slavery as a system. Being aware of the fact

Douglass is known for his ability to speak and his inspire a crowed, but he wasn’t always confident talking in front of an audience. In 1841 at the church of Rev. “Thomas James, who asked Douglass to speak about his experiences as a slave. At first, Douglass was nervous and shy, but as he went on, he became more sure of himself and his speaking skills (Frederick Douglass--Abolitionist Leader).” In thousands of speeches and editorials, a powerful indictment against slavery and racism, provided a voice of hope for his people. For sixteen years he edited an achieved international fame as an inspiring and persuasive speaker and writer.

What is courage? Many ask this question, but get various answers. Webster Dictionary states that courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Douglass is one of many people that are a living definition for this word. Douglas showed courage in many ways like by asking Mrs. Auld to teach him how to read, stealing Master Thomas’s notebook to help him learn how to write, and writing in his journal about the hardships of his life.

Douglass argues in the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, although one may had escaped slavery, freedom is yet difficult for one to truly achieve. Freedom is a complex process in which it may be perceived as being comforting, immediately after one reaches the state, but this may not always be the case. Douglass clarifies his position regarding his first hand experience in achieving freedom, as he explains, “In writing to a dear friend, immediately after my arrival at New York, I said I felt like one who had escaped a den of hungry lions. This state of mind, however, very soon subsided; and I was again seized with a feeling of great insecurity and loneliness” (Douglass 92). Douglass finally obtained the long desired freedom and through this, he

A new nation was born, filled with aspirations and dreams to become a force of liberty in the world, as she knew she was destined to be; yet, she had a major blight within her conscience and the very fabric of her society. This nation was the United States of America—a nation founded upon the inhumane act of slavery. However, there was a man, a great man who rose above every obstacle and became the voice of freedom, liberty and emancipation. This man was Frederick Douglass. And as Gabriel Burns Stepto states, “Frederick Douglass was very likely the greatest African American intellectual leader of the nineteenth century and is one of the pivotal personalities of American history” (Slepto 149).

The legendary abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass was one of the most important social reformers of the nineteenth century. Being born into slavery on a Maryland Eastern Shore plantation to his mother, Harriet Bailey, and a white man, most likely Douglass’s first master was the starting point of his rise against the enslavement of African-Americans. Nearly 200 years after Douglass’s birth and 122 years after his death, The social activist’s name and accomplishments continue to inspire the progression of African-American youth in modern society. Through his ability to overcome obstacles, his strive for a better life through education, and his success despite humble beginnings, Frederick Douglass’s aspirations stretched his influence through

Louis was surrounded by sharks and had no food. He often had to punch the sharks so he would stay alive. To gain confidence and allow himself to keep going, he would often think to himself that “I’ve worked so hard to be where I am now, I can not give up…” (Hillenbrand 191). Louis was determined to never give up and to keep fighting.

Abolitionism was a well-known movement around the time of the Civil War and its aim was to put an end to slavery. The people of the early nineteenth century viewed the elimination of slavery in numerous ways. Some fought against the end of slavery, some appeared to mildly support the cause and yet others wholeheartedly supported the ending of slavery until their dying day. Charles Finney was a religious leader who promoted social reforms such as the abolition of slavery. He also fought for equality in education for women as well as for African Americans.

Many slaves fear even the idea of escaping because of the possible consequences that come along with it. Therefore, the escape of Frederick Douglass is relatively substantial. Douglass says he feels “like the one who escaped a den of hungry lions.” He feels fortunate to have accomplished something that not many have been able to. Unfortunately, his happiness is short lived.

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery as the son of a white slave master father and a black slave mother in Maryland in 1818. He escaped from slavery in 1838 because of his literacy. It was only due to his ability to read, write, and think critically that Frederick Douglass was able to find his way form enslavement to freedom. Life before learning how to read and write for Douglass was bad because he wasn’t given enough to eat. “I was seldom whipped by my old master, and suffered little from anything else than hunger and cold” (Douglass 8).