Frederick Douglass
English
Frederick Douglass's autobiography details his early life as a slave in Maryland. Born into bondage, he experienced the brutal separation from his mother and the harsh realities of plantation life, including witnessing and enduring violent punishments. He recounts his time in Baltimore, where his mistress initially taught him to read, an act forbidden by his master, Hugh Auld. Douglass learned that literacy was a pathway to freedom and strategically used various means, including trading favors with white boys, to educate himself. He describes the dehumanizing conditions of slavery, the arbitrary cruelty of slaveholders, and the hypocrisy of religious slaveholders. Douglass recounts his experiences with several masters, including Captain Anthony, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Austin Gore, and Mr. Edward Covey. His time with Covey was particularly brutal, characterized by constant beatings, but it culminated in a pivotal act of resistance where Douglass fought back, transforming his slave status into a sense of self-ownership and resolve for freedom. Following this, Douglass was sent to live with his master's brother in Baltimore again, where he learned the trade of a ship-calker. Despite earning wages, he was forced to surrender all his earnings to his master. This injustice fueled his determination to escape. In 1838, Douglass successfully fled to New York City, a perilous journey he undertook alone, relying on his wits and a strong will to survive. He later married Anna Murray, changed his name to Douglass, and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He became a prominent abolitionist orator, sharing his powerful firsthand account of slavery to expose its horrors and advocate for emancipation.
