Our first peek of Douglass is as a small boy born into slavery in Tuckahoe, Maryland in approximately 1817, without a birthday, father, or any sort of identity. “I have no accurate knowledge of my age … A want of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood.” (Douglass, p. 1) Forced to eat his meals of mush out of a trough, wearing nothing but a long, coarsely woven shirt, and being kept in complete mental darkness, Douglass was completely d

Frederick took advantage of his inch he got from Mrs. Auld and made the most of it. Using his knowledge, he gave others the same gift. The Douglass’ narrative gave me explicit and detailed encounters and experiences that will have me looking at slavery in a completely different, but now informed way. I disagree with the slavery issue all together. I am glad that we as a nation can grow from such a tragedy and realize that the way those men were treated was nothing but wrong. I have a better understanding of what exactly happened to the slaves in the 1800’s and believe that it is an important reading in American history, as everyone should be informed about this part of America’s past.

His next step on the road to success was during his seven years living with Master Hugh’s family. Frederick would make friends with as many white boys as he possibly could on the street. His new friends would be transformed into teachers. When he could, Frederick carried bread on him as a means of trade to the famished kids for knowledge. He would also challenge as many boys as possible to writing contests. He would say to the boys that lived on Philpot Street, “I wish I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men (Douglass p. 23).” One day when Frederick was down at the wharf of Mr. Waters, he saw two Irishmen unloading some cargo. “I went, unasked, and helped them. When we had finished, one of them came to me and asked me if I were a slave. I told him I was. He asked, “Are ye a slave for life?” I told him I was (Douglass, p.25).” The men seemed to be deeply affected by this statement, and advised young Frederick that he should run away, and head north, where he could be free.

He was however lucky enough to start getting educated, and this was of utmost importance in his life. He received his first lesson while living with Mr. and Mrs. Auld. Sophia Auld, Frederick’s "mistress", was very humane to him and spent time teaching him the A, B, C’s. After he mastered this, she assisted him in spelling three and four letter words. At this point in his lesson Mr. Auld encountered what his wife was doing for Frederick and forbid her to continue. He believed that "if you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell" and continuing with "learning would spoil the best nigger in the world (Douglass, p. 20)." The masters felt that an ignorant slav

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