Introduction
Frederick Douglass is one of the key names associated with the historic abolitionist movement and the fight to end slavery. He is known for being highly intellectual and a strong orator and writer, driving his efforts at achieving social reform through public messaging and policy. He lived an extraordinary life, being born into slavery and achieving freedom, becoming a preacher and an author, leading the fight for emancipation and suffrage for all social groups, and associated with some of the vital figures of the abolitionist and Civil War era. This monograph closely analyzes Douglass’ most notable publication, an autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and seeks to apply lessons learned to modern understanding.
Significance to American History
The autobiography written by Douglass was a revolutionary piece for American society at the time of its publication in 1845. Although many were familiar with slavery, people often underestimated or were delusional about its horrors. Douglass sought to overturn this, highlighting and emphasizing the horrendous nature of the slave practice, where the slave’s dignity was violated, they were physically abused, and the immorality of destroying families and essentially breeding people for exploitative labor. He writes “I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes, – a justifier of the most appalling barbarity, – a sanctifier of the most hateful frauds, – and a dark shelter under, which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds of the slaveholders find the strongest protection” (Douglass 1845, 67). Douglass’ purpose was to shock the conscience of the nation’s society, exposing hypocrisy of the political system and how slavery that was so widely accepted, greatly contradicted the fundamental American principles and the US Constitution.
Importance of Recording Personal History
The Narrative served as a critical recording of personal history by Douglass because it is his experiences that ultimately served as a national example of the horrors of slavery and went on to inform his political and ideological tenants within the abolitionist movement. Notably, upon publication, the autobiography faced criticism as being overly sophisticated for a black man, or whether the imagery of slavery was over-exaggerated. Potentially, that defines the critical importance of recording of personal history by Douglass, as his experiences served as an insight to the life of slavery that many were unaware of. While the narrative meant to advance the abolition cause, it was also a reflection for Douglass and demonstrated the tremendous challenges of his life and the undisputed fact that slaves are people as well, with strong intellectual and personal capacity. Unfortunately, due to the realities of the system, slaves received little to no formal education. Douglass was fortunate enough to be taught the basics of reading, and then pursued self-learning. Most slaves, even after achieving freedom, due to discrimination, failed to achieve high levels of education or eloquence in writing that Douglass possessed. Therefore, Douglass believed it was his responsibility to tell the world about his experience as a slave to represent just some of the aspects of that horrendous institution. Furthermore, he wanted to promote his ideology on the underlying social concepts as well as potential solutions.
Personal Views
My personal views on the topic have not changed significantly, but I have grown to appreciate Douglass himself and the bravery of abolitionists who fought against the systemic prevalence of slavery during his time. Slavery is beyond reprehensible, and Douglass’ Narrative reminds of some of the deepest cruelty that people had towards others just because of their social status and the color of their skin. When studying history, slavery is often ‘glossed over’ by being described negatively, but never truly emphasizing the real human, or rather inhumane, conditions in which the slaves were forced to exist – all for the economic and social gratification of their masters. Meanwhile, abolition was a movement that was for a long time fighting against the current of society. Even in the North, former slaves were not fully welcome, even as the Civil War had started. Douglass who personally knew Abraham Lincoln, was able to achieve policy wins through the Emancipation Proclamation and the Fourteenth Amendment. However, to reach that point took tremendous sacrifices and many lives lost.
Preserving History and Teaching on Experiences
It is important to preserve this history and learn from the experiences of the slavery, abolitionist, and Civil War eras because it ultimately defines and reflects on modern-day society. It is well-known that slavery, and by extension race relations, is an issue that the US cannot overcome more than 150 years later. Even with slavery and eventually, public discrimination being banned by policy, the divide and tensions remain with covert racism and other various means of discrimination. He understood the deep-rooted divides and hate based in American institutions, religion being one of them. As Douglass notes, “The slave auctioneer’s bell and the church-going bell chime in with each other, and the bitter cries of the heart-broken slave are drowned in the religious shouts of his pious master” (Douglass 1845, 102). This deep insight comes from understanding how society develops, and while the institutions that perpetuate racism remain in their forms, it will continue. When faced with a reckoning in modern-day about institutions such as the police, it is wise to reflect back on Douglass’ mindset and proposed solutions through policy, education, and social change. After all, “experience is a keen teacher” (Douglass 1845, xvi).
Responding to Circumstances
Douglass faced extreme and harsh circumstances as a former slave, the events which he describes in the Narrative. These early years of his life are wrought with abuse, separation from family, unfair treatment, and discrimination, not only from his masters but from other white people who either commanded him or worked with him. Douglass was also lucky in many ways, as he himself notes, to be sent to work in the city several times, which was generally more liberal and less cruel towards slaves. Similarly, he had masters that showed compassion such as Mrs. Auld who taught him to read and Master Hugh who spares him from beatings at the dock. Based on the autobiography, throughout his life, Douglass took his fate stoically. Although he experienced the horrors in their reality, he realized early on, largely due to his education, that he must strive to achieve his freedom. Eventually, he was able to make small steps towards doing so. On this path, Douglass demonstrated patience, commitment, and even compassion. He only lashed out at his masters once, during the tussle with Covey, but even then it was justified and calculated, allowing Douglass to spare his life from abuse and physical deprivation. In the aftermath of achieving freedom, he judged his former masters on the path of slavery that they chose and reflected that the supposedly religious ones were often crueler than the secular slave owners, but he never harbored any personal hate or retribution towards them, which was highly honorable.
Conclusion
It is evident that Frederick Douglass was a man of great conviction and determination, dedicating his whole life to the pursuit of freedom and suffrage for slaves. Having personally experienced the horrors of slavery and witnessing its negatively defining characteristics on the nation, he fought to eliminate it by any means possible. The writings of Douglass are critically important to history and understanding of the complexities of social relations and political realities surrounding slavery. Many of the issues touched by Douglass remain relevant to modern-day politics in regards to race relations and social justice. By drawing lessons from such historic readings, the people of this nation can seek to understand the errors of the past and ways to make meaningful change in current realities.
Work Cited
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Anti-Slavery Office No. 25 Cornhill, 2012.