subject: Frederick Douglass [print this page] "It [education] opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but offered no ladder upon which to get out" (47). Frederick Douglass was introduced to the world of reading and writing and was later on left on his own. To begin with, Douglass and other slaves were intentionally kept ignorant by slave holders. Also, slaves such as Douglass had their own view on education. Last but not least, reading and writing were tools that gave Douglass the ability and courage to escape from slavery. To this day, he is still known as one of the foremost leaders of the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery in the United States.
Slaveholders intentionally kept Douglass and other slaves ignorant. "By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs, and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant. I do not remember to have ever met a slave who could tell of his birthday," (Douglass, Frederick, and William Lloyd Garrison. Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave. Massachusettes, 1846.1). Slaveholders would not allow their slaves to read, write, know anything about their history or background, or know their date of birth. They would do this because if they knew who they were and have an identity, then the slave might gain the confidence to rise up against slaveholders. "Just at this point of my progress, Mr. Auld found out what was going on, and at once forbade Mrs. Auld to instruct me further, telling her, among other things, that it was unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read," (Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave. Massachusettes, 1846. 50). "'Now," said he, "if you teach that nigger (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master. As to himself, it could do him no good, but a great deal of harm. It would make him discontented and unhappy.'" Douglass later on says, "These words sank deep into my heart, stirred up sentiments within that lay slumbering, and called into existence an entirely new train of thought. It was a new and special revelation, explaining dark and mysterious things, with which my youthful understanding had struggled, but struggled in vain," (Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave. Massachusettes, 1846. 50). Slaveholders such as Mr.Auld didn't care about slaves feelings. Mr.Auld calls Frederick Douglass a nigger. He also says that if Douglass knew how to read that it will unfit him in being a slave. Mr.Auld doesn't care that Douglass is hearing him and that it will hurt his feelings in knowing what he is saying about Douglass.
