When pondering the idea of liberty in the modern American context, people tend to seem slightly annoyed by the fact that this notion has been nothing but a part of their daily life for centuries. However, when taking a closer look at American history, it becomes evident that the notion of liberty is frequently tackled due to the fact that there would always be a discrepancy in understanding of the idea. It is vivid between the freedom perceived by the government and the freedom people are craving. A prime example of such a drastic misunderstanding is expressed in Frederick Douglass’s 1865 speech. Standing in front of the president, Douglass says: “for in fact, if he is not the slave of the individual master, he is the slave of society, and holds his liberty as a privilege, not as a right” (“What the Black Man Wants – Teaching American History,” para. 3). Speaking of the position of the Black men in society, the man’s words still resonate in the 21st century.
Today’s perception of liberty and equality has been distorted by the laws and regulations outlined in the American law and their perception in the context of daily life. Showing no explicit despise, people tend to undermine the human abilities of Black people due to their prejudice formed genetically for generations. In the words of Douglass, “the Germans are superior to us; the Irish are superior to us; the Yankees are superior to us … But while I make this admission, I utterly deny, that we are originally, or naturally, or practically, or in any way, or in any important sense, inferior to anybody on this globe” (“What the Black Man Wants – Teaching American History,” para. 7). Hence, the following speech is nothing but a manifestation of basic human rights that were never a privilege for White people.
As early as 1865, F. Douglass realized the problem with the social perception of Black people. He emphasized the issue by saying that “policy is our chief danger at the present moment; that it practically enslaves the Negro, and makes the Proclamation of 1863 a mockery and delusion” (“What the Black Man Wants – Teaching American History,” para. 2). Considering this speech, it becomes evident that there is a huge problem with today’s society if we tend to find common truth in the words said almost two centuries ago.
Douglass may be regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the history of the United States. Being an outstanding intellectual, author, public speaker, and activist of his time, he substantially contributed to the development of the abolitionist movement as its leader (“Frederick Douglass Biography,” 2020). Douglass was born in slavery, however, he had an opportunity to escape and subsequently join abolitionists in Massachusetts (“Frederick Douglass Biography,” 2020). Later, he became a lecturer of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and participated in its long-lasting tour across the country to spread the ideas concerning the necessity of slavery abolition (“Frederick Douglass Biography,” 2020). In addition, Douglass supported women’s right and their right to vote in particular. Abolitionist newspapers created and published by him promoted human rights equality regardless of gender and race.
Being a respectful and talented spokesman and one of the most well-known Black people in the United States, Frederick Douglass used his influence to improve the positions of African Americans. He conferred with Abraham Lincoln on multiple subjects related to slavery and Black people. As a result, in 1863, Emancipation Proclamation that declared slaves’ freedom in Confederate territory was passed (“Frederick Douglass Biography,” 2020). Due to the passion and hard work of this person, slavery was subsequently abolished in the whole territory of the United States (“Frederick Douglass Biography,” 2020). Free slaves were granted citizenship and protected under the law from racial and gender discrimination. After the Civil War, Douglass held several political positions in the government and worked as an ambassador to the Dominican Republic (“Frederick Douglass Biography,” 2020). Later, Frederick Douglass was nominated for the country’s vice president, however, he had never campaigned and continued to fight for human rights and equality until his death.
Reference
Frederick Douglass Biography. (2020). Biography. Web.
In the history of America as a nation, there lies the dark truth about slavery that has left scars in those that suffered its effects. To the then perpetrators of slavery, the whites, it has left a shameful mark that America will ever live to regret of.
This essay focuses on a narrative by Frederick Douglass who was formerly a slave. The narrative shows the negativity of slavery and its consequential effects, and champions for its abolishment. The book, ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass’ is both an indictment of slavery and a call to action for its abolition (Lecture Notes 1).
Frederick Douglass’ main arguments against slavery
Douglass writes the narrative out of experience in slavery. He states that slavery is the worst thing that ever happened to America and has its effects even in this present age. His narration is with a deep sigh of regret as to why he had to pass through that especially when he was very young.
The death and separation from his mother at a very tender age saddens him very much. He is believed to have had a white father, a fact that acts as a proof of some negative things that the slaves had to experience. This in itself explains that the slaves, especially the women suffered rape from the slave holders who took them in by force (Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” 1).
Douglass had to witness the whipping of his aunt, a thing that he looks back with great pity. The slaves were brutally treated, being beaten day in day out with no good reason. They had to do donkeys work with an accompaniment of strokes.
The description given by Douglass to the torturous treatment of the slaves clearly shows his hatred and condemnation of slavery together with those who practiced it. A description of how the slaves operated especially when they interacted with their masters is also given. They had a lot of inferiority complex due to the ill treatment they received from the white people.
They therefore walked in a lot of fear to the brutal masters. They literally feared the whites since they had no say before them (Murrin 98). For instance, the slaves were seen to be liars even if they told the truth. This worsened the situation of the slaves since they felt segregated. The fear therefore acted as a tool that protected the slaves from brutality and even death (Douglass “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” 1).
Douglass critically outlines the several events of extreme brutality to the slaves. They were being treated as beasts yet they were human beings just like the whites. This is very inhuman since every human being has a right which they should freely enjoy. Everybody should have the right to learn freely but this opportunity is denied to the slaves. The slave holders argued that the slaves should not at all know how to read or write.
They ought not to even know how to read the Bible which is God’s Word. It is so ironical since God intends that all should read and know his Word but the slaves are denied that chance. They give the reason that their knowledge from reading or writing will disqualify them as slaves. Slavery is therefore portrayed by Douglass as a crime and its perpetrators ought to face justice. For instance, Douglass narrates his story when he moved to Baltimore.
He was happy of this because he knew that it was an end to the life of slavery. It marked a new beginning in his life but on the contrary, his efforts to learn even the simple alphabets are watered down by a White man who believed that the slaves would lose their positions by reading, and especially the Bible.
The slaves were also treated among the property that a slave holder owned alongside things like livestock. This is a thing that makes Douglass to once more completely hate slavery. This is because when his master died, Douglass together with the other slaves was left and they were all to be divided between the late master’s son and daughter as assets left for inheritance. Douglass’ hatred towards this kind of treatment reveals that the act is bad and not fit for human beings.
The slaves were also denied food on some occasion by their masters. Douglass reveals this when he narrates showing his happiness when he was lent out to another white man since he was sure of being fed. It implies that he received no food from his initial master despite the fact that he worked so hard throughout (Douglass, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” 1).
At the new master’s home, his expectations are thwarted. He works under tough conditions and does heavy tasks with little appreciation. As if that is not enough, he receives whips almost every day just because he is a slave. The suffering he undergoes day in day out makes him even collapse in the fields while working. This makes him to reach the point of no return.
He therefore chooses to heat back by engaging his master in a fight. All this that transpires is a clear indication that Douglass completely hated slavery and was a campaigner of its abolition. After such a long time of perseverance, the heating back at his master shows that he seeks revenge against the perpetrators of slavery. It shows that he is willing and very ready to do anything to abolish and totally terminate the reign of this inhuman practice.
This is further supported by the efforts of Douglass together with other friends to escape from the plantation where they were all slaves. Unfortunately, they are seized and for this reason, Douglass is jailed.
This is a sign of self sacrifice in order to see to it that slavery has been totally abolished. He risks his life to the point of even going to jail (Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” 1).
Douglass’ efforts to resist slavery simply showed that the abolition of this dehumanizing character is possible. This is evidenced by the response of the slave master who was torturing Douglass until he fought back. The slave master stopped whipping Douglass after the fight. The slavery can end if there will be people who are bold enough to resist it. This is the message that is seemingly being passed across.
Douglass was proving the fact that the slave masters will give in to pressure against slavery if the activists against slavery do not give up in their struggle for freedom. This is further supported by Douglass’ final success to freedom. He at last managed to escape from the slave rule with the help of some of his friends. With a combined effort, it is very possible to terminate slave rule or such like types of torture in any given society (Murrin 103).
Conclusion: The basis of the argument
Douglass brings out his arguments in the narrative very clearly proving that slave practice is a crime which should be abolished. He bases his argument on the platforms of both religion and morality. In his speech dubbed the ‘The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro’, Douglass says it is acknowledged that the slave is a being who can be trusted with responsibility, he is moral and intellectual.
This proves the moral grounds that Douglass takes a stand on to argue out his facts. He says that the manhood of one who is a slave is agreed upon meaning that it is a global agreement that slaves are human beings like any other despite the race (Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” 1).
On religious grounds, Douglass brings out his arguments using the story of the Bible where the children of Israel had been taken into exile by the Babylonians. The Israelites lament when they remember their home city Zion and refuse to sing a song in this foreign land contrary to what those who had taken them captive expected.
This marks their grief about their captivity. Douglass thus compares this with the situation that faced them as slaves in the land that was not their own too, as he tries to explain to his audience what encompassed them as slaves. He sides with God and other slaves are wounded to condemn the slavery perpetuators, something that is both sinful and shameful. This clearly points out the religious ground that Douglass bases some of his argument (Douglass, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” 1).
Works Cited
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. 2011. Web.
Douglass’s book, Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass- An American Slave, provides the best evidence about American slavery. In the book, Douglass gives vivid evidence that he was once a slave; a fact that was doubted by many critics due to his oration skills and impeccable language (Douglass 11).He also gives solid evidence of the inhumanity that was characteristic of this institution.
Douglss begins the book by giving a detailed description of his childhood life and the effects that slavery had on him as a child. He then goes on to give a detailed description of the brutality that was perpetrated against American slaves during his time as a slave. The book is filled with names, scenes and events which evidence its truthfulness. This paper is a description of the brutality that Douglas witnessed as a slave (Douglass 4).
Aspects of American slavery
American slavery was characterized with many acts of inhumanity. Slaves were denied their rights to literacy, severely beaten, overworked in farms, provided with poor living conditions, abused sexually, separated from their families, killed, tortured psychologically and emotionally, dehumanized, etc. Let us have a look at the evidence of these acts of inhumanity portrayed in Douglass’s book.
Whippings
The most portrayed act of inhumanity is the frequent beatings that were perpetrated on slaves. After Aunt Hester had gone out, she was severely beaten and caused to bleed profusely. All this was done because she was not there when the master “desired her presence” (Douglass 14).
This is an act of inhumanity because it appears that the slaves were “tethered” like livestock and were not free to attend their needs. Before the beating, she was stripped from her neck to the waist and then whipped severely. This can be seen as an indication that her master, Captain Anthony, was abusing her sexually. This claim is substantiated by the fact that Aunt Hester had gone out to see a male neighbor named Ned Roberts.
Captain Anthony was calling her a “b – – – – -b b – – – -h” (Douglass 14) as he whipped her. Captain Anthony got his name, presumably, from having sailed at Chesapeake Bay. Another evidence of beatings perpetrated on slaves is seen when Douglass is taken to the custody of Mr. Covey. He says that he was whipped every week until one day he collapsed while working in the farm. However, one day as Covey wanted to tie him for his weekly routine, Douglass protested and put up a fight. They fought for two hours until Douglass won the fight.
This can be seen as one of the things that encouraged Douglass to relentlessly fight against the institution of slavery. It is also the beginning of Douglass’s confidence in his manhood. This is because after the fight, he was never beaten again. Douglass also explains how his mother received frequent whippings for not being in the farm at sunrise since she travelled at night to see him (Douglass 12).
If a slave committed major misdemeanors, tried to escape or opposed the authority of the overseers in the farms, he/she was exposed to severe beatings before being sold. There is also a woman who was whipped in the presence of her children, who were crying begging the overseer to stop whipping their mother. The woman is said to have been whipped by Mr. Severe in front of her children until her blood ran for almost thirty minutes (Douglas 17).
Psychological and emotional torture
There is substantial evidence of psychological and emotional torture perpetrated on slaves by their masters. First of all, the separating of infants from their mothers before they were one year old amounts to emotional torture on both the mothers and their children. Douglass explains how his mother walked a distance of about twelve miles night after night to see him. This was after she was separated from him during his infancy (Douglass 12).
When his mother was sick and during her death, Douglass was not allowed to go and see her. Even when she died, he was not allowed to attend her burial. He says that his separation from his mother made him have no emotions for her such that her death hit him like the death of a stranger (Douglass 12). This is emotional torture perpetrated on Douglass. There is also the stated incidence in which a woman was whipped in front of her children (Douglass 17). This is emotional torture on the children.
An example of how slave-holders psychologically tortured their slaves is seen when Colonel Lloyd meets one of his slaves who speaks ill of him. After the incident, Colonel Lloyd postpones the punishment for this act until two weeks later. The delay of punishment can be seen as psychological torture on the slave (Douglass 34).
Sexual abuse
Although Douglass does not give much evidence about sexual abuse, the reader is left to make his/her conclusions about this issue. First of all, Douglass’s father is said to be an unknown white man who is suspected to be his master. The fact that his father is unknown is a clear indication that his mother was sexually abused during his conception.
This is also evidenced by the fact that his master was the chief suspect. Since masters were never good to their slaves. It is apparent that Douglass’s mother was forced into having sex with the man who bore Douglass. Another evidence of sexual abuse perpetrated on slaves is seen when Aunt Hester is whipped. There was also the rule that children who were born by black women belonging to white fathers were to be regarded as slaves (Douglass 13).
This is enough evidence that the whites (masters) were sexually abusing slaves since for them to develop such a rule, there must have been several cases of children born by white men and black women. The rule is an indication that they had, kind of, legalized this behavior. It was also an evidence of the inhumanity that the masters had if they could send their own children to experience the woes of slavery.
Poor living conditions
The slaves were provided with very poor living conditions. After a very busy day with whippings, slaves had limited time for household chores and thus they lacked enough time to sleep. They all slept on cold floors covered with very poor blankets. Slaves were provided with clothes annually. This meant that when a slave missed clothes, he/she could stay with tatters for two years.
The clothes provided include two linen shirts, two linen trousers, one jacket, and another trouser for winter, a pair of shoes and stockings. Food was given on a monthly basis. Children of both sexes between the ages seven years and ten years were always naked. These were the characteristics of the “Great House Farm” (Douglass 17) which was the prestigious “workplace” of the slaves (Douglass 17). One wonders what the conditions of other lesser farms were.
Dehumanization
There are many cases of dehumanization in Douglass’s book. First of all, the slaves were overworked in the field and they received severe beatings while working. The effect of this can be seen when Douglass was taken to Mr. Covey. He was overworked and whipped routinely until he lost consciousness while carrying out his duties in the field. Another evidence of dehumanization of slaves is seen when Douglass’s master dies. His death is followed by the inheritance of slaves along with livestock and other property (Douglass 16).
Other acts of inhumanity
Other acts of inhumanity in the book include the jailing of Douglass and his friends after an attempted escape. Additionally, while Douglass was working as a Caulker in Baltimore, all his wages were given to his master, Auld. The slaves were also denied their rights to literacy.
However, Douglass beat the system and found his ways of attaining literacy. His literacy contributed greatly to his fight against slavery (Douglass 15). There is evidence that some slaves were killed for no apparent reason. This is evidenced in the description of the character of one of the overseers of Douglass’s master named Mr. Plummer. He is said to have been beheading women slaves (Douglass 13).
Conclusion
Many people doubted that Douglass was a slave due to his language skills but his book gave the proof that he was actually a slave. His description of the events and the environments of American slavery is filled with a lot of evidence of truthfulness inform of names.
Among the names of places that are repeatedly mentioned in this book are the “Great House Farm” (Douglass 17), the Chesapeake Bay, the Baltimore, etc. On the other hand, events that are highlighted in this book are all meant to show the suffering of the slaves. These events include the singing of the slaves, who worked in the “Great House Farm” (Douglass 17) and events during which slaves were tortured or mistreated.
The latter include the whipping of Aunt Hester, the whipping of a woman in front of her kids, the collapsing of Douglass while working on the field and his subsequent fight with Mr. Covey, the whipping of Douglass’s mother in the morning after failing to make it to the farm by sunrise etc (Douglass 12-17). All these events are meant to show the brutality that was perpetrated against American slaves.
Works Cited
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass-An American Slave. U.S: Yale University, 2001. Print.
Leaders have some outstanding characteristics and attributes that can be seen in their actions, decisions and the influence they have on their followers. Frederick Douglass (February 1818– February 20, was an American orator, writer, social reformer, and political leader, who portrayed strong leadership characters and attributes; with his leadership, he was able to fight against slavery in the United States.
The main character traits that can be observed in Frederick are self-confidence, emotional stability and selflessness; this paper discusses three leadership personality traits portrayed by the leader.
Frederick Douglass Character Traits: Self-confidence
Fredrick was a slave himself in America but managed to escape from a slavery camp via boarding a train to Havre de Grace, Maryland ; this was after three attempts to escape, after the successful one, his leadership traits started to become more open to the public domains. His efforts to deliver the slaves from the oppressions they were facing from their masters portray a person with self confidence and believe in himself.
As a leader, he formed the abolitionist movement and started writing materials that counterattacked advocators of slave trade and slavery. From this first move, his character to question and demand for his followers’ rights is seen; he stood strong against those people who were of the view that slaves had no intellectual capacity to function. When presenting his augments using human rights meetings and his antislavery writings, he used his eloquence to defend the rights of slaves.
During the time, slave trade was seen as legitimate and any slave who dared to rebel or argue against the trade was seen as an enemy of the states; however using his self-confidences, charisma and boldness, he stood against the allegations to fight for the rights of staffs.
The leader’s self-confidence was seen in his strong believe that blacks, Native Americans, Female and the Asians have equality; this was in the times that the Americans have special rights and they could override other people. When he was addressing people either slaves or the Northerners, he was never being arrogant but ensured that he drove the point that he wanted; he was described by the many as a man of humility (McFeely 31-78). The leader did not discriminate on either race, but he was advocating for equality and respect for humanity.
In his first book called, “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave”, its one of the interesting materials in history where he describes how he attempted to escape in vain; it portrayed a leader who was driven by self confidence and the need to try again and again.
Frederick Douglass Character Traits: Decisiveness
The success that Fredrick got was based on these strategic and timely decisions that he had to make at different times; when making decisions, he was making decisions that were sound and applicable in the environment that he is operating in at a certain period. When presenting his decisions, it portrayed a person of high moral standing and one who clearly understood the decision that he wanted to make at a particular time.
The book was so humorous that he feared that he would be enslaved again for the weaknesses that he portrayed in the American lifestyle and how he was able to trick them with the attire he wore when he was boarding a train to escape.
In the most remarkable speech that he gave on July 4, 1852 in an American national independence day, the leader stood composed and using selected words that portrayed high intelligence and high degree of quality decisions as well stability, he condemned the lords for using the system to oppress slaves. He was confident enough to address in a like “negative” speech or a speech that differed from what had been expected by the inviters (political leaders).
When he was presenting a speech he was able to move the crowds and able to command respect and follower ship; he could talk of a serious thing with much humor and emotional intelligence that even the people that the speech was targeted to attacking feel appreciated (Gates 23-67).
Frederick Douglass Character Traits: Selflessness
When Fredrick was escaping from his masters, he was using plans that involved getting people’s confidence to running away: he lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts and in New York of which all were new places that he needed to adopt and develop friends who would stand by his side when he stood against oppression that was evident in the economy.
To be a leader that he was, he needed large support from the people that he represented or whom he fought for their rights; with this he ought to be a person who was sociable and had good people skills; the success of Fredrick can be interpolated in that line. The drive that kept him moving was in his selflessness and desire to serve others.
To get his education that seemed then to be limited to African-Americans more so if one was a slave, he was driven by his enthusiasm to learn to read and inform himself on the oppressions they were going through as well as how he would liberate his people.
The leader made sure that he attended Abolitionists’ meeting and subscribed to William Lloyd Garrison’s weekly journal, the Liberator, this was a show of determination, and hunger for knowledge, self-improvement and working for the good of the general population. His selflessness can be seen in his books and speeches where he talked of matters and issues that were endangering his life but did the same for the good of the people. He was willing and ready to lose his life for the liberty and freedom of the majority (Warkeoczeski 12-89).
Works Cited
Gates, Henry. Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. New York: Forgotten Books, 1999. Print.
McFeely, Williams. Frederick Douglass. New York: Norton, 1998. Print.
Warkeoczeski, Hornsby. New roles for leaders: A step-by-step guide to competitive advantage. Franklin: Hillsboro Press, 2000.