Krishani Bradley

Mrs.Carroll, Mr.Crain-Davis, Ms.Mackey, and Mr.Uribe

September 16,2018 (11:59pm)

Frederick Douglass Paideia Reflection #1

Frederick Douglass was a ​Abolitionist leader who was born into slavery. He then became
a writer and statesman who then escaped slavery in 1838. He wrote a book called “The life and
time of Frederick Douglass.” Douglass’ book gave a theme of oppression.​ ​He​ reveals his theme
of oppression by telling how the slaves were mistreated and how slaves didn’t have any rights.
First, Douglass also develops the theme of oppression by explaining how the slaves had
no fundamental rights. Douglass portrayed the fact that slaves freedom of speech, no basic
knowledge, they couldn’t say “No” and they barely had the right to think. Douglass describes
slavery as “founding fault”(23). They couldn’t speak the truth or say anything without being
punished. Slaves had to always say “yes” because if not, it's like they’re disobeying their master.
Also in the text he mentions, “killing a slave, or any colored person in Talbot County, Maryland
is not treated as a crime, either by the courts or by the community.” This evidence goes to show
that slaves didn’t have the humane rights to go against the odds and make it a big deal about a
life being taken away. This evidence goes back to the claim because Douglass killing a slave or
anybody who was black wasn’t considered an issue back then.
Then, Douglass showed his theme of oppression by illustrating how poorly the slaves
were treated. Douglass stated in the text “administer their own lusts...desires profitable as well as
pleasurable” (14). The masters used the slaves for harsh and cruel labor and to reproduce for
their own personal benefit. Instead of buying new slaves and spending their own money, he’d
rather use and abuse a female slave so that she can give him a child so he can also make it his
slave. In the text Douglass states, “He was cruel enough to inflict the severest punishment, awful
enough to descend to the lowest trickery” (25). Douglass was talking about how a former master
named Mr.Gore and how he would treat the slaves worse than ever before and not have any
remorse for them. Mr.Gore’s excitement gave Douglass and the slaves the proof that he didn’t
care about them or how they felt. This shows how slave owners use to treat them like objects
instead of people.
To conclude Frederick Douglass, gave his theme of oppression through chapters 1-4 by
giving imagery on what it was like to be a slave. This then relates to the real world because
nowadays Black people are still going through rough times even though slavery and segregation
have ended. Black people are still getting unfair treatment and getting hurt in the most cruel way
because of a suspicion.