Neither would be easy, but both necessary to ensure his future prosperity. When he grew old enough, Frederick took two major chances to shape his future: he changed his name and fled the plantation on which he had been working. He tried his hand at odd jobs less out of desire than necessity, but was also prone to getting beaten for the colour of his skin and the apparent lack of speed when working. This education would be met with some downsides, as Frederick began seeing the harsher side of some people, receiving the lash for speaking out for simply being Black. Pulling on passages of the Bible and other tomes of the great thinkers, Frederick began to see that there was hope, albeit bleak, out of the slavery that surrounded him, using numerous verses to explain kindness and equality, even though neither seemed possible at this time.
When Frederick grew into adulthood, he discovered more complicated set of writings that would help shape his moral being. Frederick learned the basics of reading and writing, which would be cornerstones to his future livelihood. While he was not permitted to attend school, Frederick paid some of the white children to teach him, usually presenting fresh baked goods to earn his keep. Still, young Frederick tried always to see the best in people and sought to better understand what was going on and his place in the larger picture. His being born in the middle of America’s love affair with the slave trade is not lost on the reader who pays attention to the early portion of Blight’s book. While he was a curious child, Frederick was also subjected to deplorable abuse towards those around him.
Blight, I tried my best to understand how the man, his writings and outward sentiments shaped America, with views that still resonate today.įrederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born in a small shed on a plantation in Maryland, around 1817, the mulatto son of a slave and slaveholder.
It also being Black History Month, I thought to educate myself a little more about the man and the impact he made on US history.
At a time when race relations are strained, the name of Frederick Douglass is tossed around with great regularity.
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