Freddie D Essay

The topic that I chose is number six; Using The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, create a reasoned argument that demonstrates why slavery is a dehumanizing experience for the slave. My central argument will be that because the slaves weren't thought of as people, they could not think of themsleves as people. Being sold, auctioned, whipped, starved, raped, and worked to death is what they had to endure. My essay will show examples, citing the text, and showing how one articulate slave, could tell just his story and how he survived the mortifying trials of slavery.

Freddie D; The Ending

The ending of this novel is very satifying. I really enjoyed reading
it because usually when you read about slaves you spend so much time just to find that they didn't make it. It's very
depressing seeing how oppressed and abused they are. But Frederick Douglass stuck it through. He believed in
himself and knew his way to freedom. He got married which is so incredibly exciting, aswell as being a free man! I really did enjoy reading this book because it shows that if you perservere,
you can really overcome many obsticles. Frederick Douglass was such an incredible man and this novel truly testifies that.
This novel makes me want to learn more not only about slaves, but black history. I enjoyed this reading immensley!

Discussion Questions & Comments:

Why would they not set his grandmother free, but provide a place for her to live in isolation?

If I were being ranked and divided to go to a new place, I would be extremely scared, just as Douglass was.

Was it signifact that after one memer of the family died, another immediately followed? (The Master's family)

I can't imagine what it would be like to starve.

Although they did think of slaves as property, why would you treat property so terrible. You would take care of it so you could get as much use out of it as possible. Did the masters do this because of fear?

I'm scared for Douglass as he has a new master.

Fredrick Douglass:::

     After reading, I feel very depressed. The life of Frederick Douglass is just terrible, and I don't know what I would do if I was him. The thing thats sad to me is that because he experienced the kindness of white people, he now is suffereing in some ways the most, because he knows what its like to be treated a little bit as a human. This reading really helped me realize how dehumanizing slavery was. They ranked the slaves along with the pigs, horses, and sheep. And when the division took place, it really saddened my heart to see how anxious Frederick was. I feel this way because I know that if I were in his postition, I would be frightened as well. Change is scary, especially when it comes to viscious masters, and new unknown places.
     The reading also told about Frederick's grandmother, and how they sent her to be isolated in the forest, to die of lonliness. She had been a slave for life, she out lived her master, and she did everything in her power to obey her master. I really can't fathom how cruel people were, but when I think about the excuses people give them today, they say it's because they didn't think of slaves as people but as property. But why would anyone treat their property so bad? I don't trash my house, just because it's property. I take care of it so I can get signifcant use out of it. When it comes down to it, I really think half of the reason masters were so violent towards their slaves was because of fear. Fear of them revolting and taking over. There were more slaves than there were white people and what would have happened if they all revolted as one? This reading has brought me to this quetsion.

Discussion Questions & Comments; Chapters 5, 6, &7

My Dearest Class,  

My partner is Bre Lozoya.

Chapter 5

Questions: Why would Colonel Lloyd send Douglass to Baltimore if he knew it was such a great place full of opportunities for him?

Why did the colonel not give Douglass so much work, if he was able to work?

Comments: I enjoyed how hopeful this chapter was.

I thought it was sad how he was joyful to leave the plantation.

Chapter 6

Questions: If Douglass' Mistress seemed to be such a genuinely kind woman, why do you think she changed in to such a mean person, instead of just discontinuing her teaching.

Comments: I find it interesting that Alas started teaching Douglass although he did not ask for it. In a way, she sparked a very important interest in his life that was very useful to him.

Chapter 7



Questions: If the mistress was suspicious of Douglass reading, why do you think she still left him alone at times? Do you think its possible that she knew and didn't stop it?

Comments: Frederick Douglass was a very clever man.

Freddie D; Chapter 5, 6, & 7

     Chapter five makes me feel very hopeful for Douglass. He's so excited to leave Colonel Lloyd and he's suffered so much at this plantation. The novel states that he only had one linen shirt that went down to his knees. He had no pants, coats, no shoes, nor stockings. He was practically starved, and recieved his first pair of trousers in chapter five! This suprised me so much. I can't fathom what it would be like to be owned by such rich people, yet be deprived of so many things. Douglass is very excited for what the future hold for him this chapter and it's nice to read about him being greatful that he gets to leave the Great House Farm. Baltimore is such an amazing place according to his description and he is so thankful that it changed and saved his life. I find it sad that he's so excited to be a slave somewhere, just the mere fact that he gets to leave makes him so ecstatic. I would be too if I recieved such a kind, white mistress.
    Chapter six explains how Douglass's mistress began to teach him how to read, but the she gets repremended for it by her husband. This shows Douglass that knowledge is power, and also illegal for slaves, which makes him want to do it so much more. It really inspires me how much he wants to learn. So many people today take learning for granted and he strived for it so much. He knew that knowledge was the key and it would free him. This chapter also showed me that slavery changes people for the worst. Douglass's mistress was such a kind hearted woman, but after she realized how slaves were supposed to be treated, she turned to a stone cold woman. 
    Chapter seven tells how Frederick would take poor white boys bread and ask them to teach him how to read. It made me happy to see how very and geniunly greatfull he still was, and he thanked them, and didn't want to embarrass them by acknowledging them by their names. I really appreciate how much he wanted to learn, I wish that kids today appreciated knowledge as much as Douglass does. This chapter also explains how Douglass would even trick boys into teaching him to read. I found this very clever, and he obviously was not a stupid slave. He was inredibly intelligent, not to mention he was only 11 or 12 at the time.     

Amistad Reaction

After watching this, it really makes me feel depressed, sad, and frightened at how cruel people were. I would hope that people would choose to be kind but they only can is when theres a law saying they have to be. I am so shocked at how they treated the slaves. They treated them worse than animals, and I always knew this, but seeing it really makes things seem real. I would jump off of the ship if I had a chance to. I would because i wouldn't be able to starve, and get beat, and sold, and beat, and worked to death. The sad thing is that slaves didn't know what lay ahead of them in their miserable lives. If I was on board with my baby, I have no idea what i would do. If I recieved rations of food I would give it to my baby. That would be such a mortifying situation to be in I can't imagine myself in those women's places. This movie is so disturbing and that sad thing is that this all actually happened. It sickening, disturbing, and depressing.

Chapters 2, 3, & 4

After reading these three chapters, I am suprised yet not suprised at how cruel their masters were. Reading this makes slavery seem much more real to me. When I have previously learned about slavery, I never imagined what the men and women actually went through, I just heard the words and chose not to visualize them in my mind. Reading something that was written by a slave, makes me understand the graveness of what so many people went through. I am suprised at how well constructed his writing is. Although this text is tragic and depressing, it's very interesting to read. It's important, and not boring. I think that this is such an important peice of writing because many slaves went through the same thing but were unable to write about it because they did not know how. Slaves could have gone through worse things for all we know. It's frusterating to read how inhumane the owners treated their slaves. I don't know how any person could bve so cruel. I don't like what I'm reading, I like the way its written, I think it's a very important text, and I feel terrible for not only Frederick Douglass, but for all the slaves who had to go through this.

Reaction to Chapter 1; Frederick Douglass

After reading pages one through twelve, I have been introuduced to the very inspiring man of Frederick Douglass. I feel that this introduction has really caught my attention by giving me facts about Douglass' life, and how he never really knew who is parents were. I like how the introduction started off with the two letters giving me information on slaves and how cruel and wrong it was. It set the mood that the reader requires when reading about a man who was descriminated against most of his life for the color of his skin. While reading, I had trouble visualizing the stroy. I think this may be because it's very difficult for me to imagine myself not knowing my birthday, age, or who my parents were. If I were Frederick Douglass I beleive I would have no sense of belonging, and it's very inspiring to me that he grew up so broken, yet he knew he wanted to make a change for everyone. Reading this reminds me of the saying, "You don't need to know where you come, to know where you're going." I'm excited to read more about Frederick Douglass's life, although I'm a bit frightened to see the many situations he had to encounter.
What really stood out to me, was the reaction that Frederick Douglass recieved after giving a speech, mentioned in one of the letters. Growing up as a slave, he lacked the proper teaching of English. Keeping that in mind, he stood in front of many white people, delivered a speech, and by the end had everyone one screaming and shouting. He inspired so many people and got them so fired up. I am excited to read about such an exceptional man.