Discuss two different examples of the abuses of female slaves in Douglass's Narrative.
~Jazmin Kittleson
One type of abuse inflicted upon female slaves quite often would have to be the whip. Women are hung up on a hook by a rope entangled around there hands while standing tip toe on top of a stool. While in this position they are whipped by their masters, the louder the female slave scream and holler, the harder their masters whip them. These female slaves who are whipped are those who do not show up for their duties on time, and those who leave their sleeping accommodations at night and these are only two of the acts which the masters take as disobedience and lash out their whips. The masters whip the female slaves until their bodies are drenched in blood; they whip where the open wounds are the most and up by the head. Another form of abuse inflicted upon the women slaves is lack of food. Each month the slaves are only given a certain amount of food and clothing to last them until the next month, and if a slave is caught doing and of the above actions she can also be sentenced to starvation and have no food for long periods of time. These two types of abuse are inflicted upon both male and female slaves, but males are more likely to be starved and women are more likely to be whipped.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Anna L., Matt L., Maria
What does Douglass read and what does he learn from his reading?
Our group decided that when Douglas read “The Columbian Orator” it was a meaningful and important message that ultimately changed and saved his life. First, the book was a way to help Douglas read and write. Then, from reading this book he learned exactly what slavery was, and how wrong it was. Douglas learned exactly what he was used for and why. Douglas was able to relate to someone else who experienced the same things he went through, and had a connection through this reading. As he read the story about how one slave was able to stand up for himself against his master and eventually free himself, Douglas was able to see this is something he should be able to do as well. In the story, the slave had been caught running away for the third time and after talking to his master and proving that what he believes about slavery is right, he is eventually set free. The slave in the story gave advice to Douglas without even knowing it. The story gave more credit to the slave than the master which is important for Douglas to learn because it makes him feel more relevant. From reading this book Douglas was able to apply what he learned and read to his own life. For example, in Douglas’s real life he was able to learn what others were saying, what they talked about and how it applied to him. He started to understand words such as abolitionist, which means slavery, and pertain it to his own life. When Douglas reads this story it made him realize how important his life is and how he should take a stand for what he believes in and try to fight and free himself. In a way it gives him hope and gives him the chance and opportunity to set himself free just from reading and relating to another person’s story.
Our group decided that when Douglas read “The Columbian Orator” it was a meaningful and important message that ultimately changed and saved his life. First, the book was a way to help Douglas read and write. Then, from reading this book he learned exactly what slavery was, and how wrong it was. Douglas learned exactly what he was used for and why. Douglas was able to relate to someone else who experienced the same things he went through, and had a connection through this reading. As he read the story about how one slave was able to stand up for himself against his master and eventually free himself, Douglas was able to see this is something he should be able to do as well. In the story, the slave had been caught running away for the third time and after talking to his master and proving that what he believes about slavery is right, he is eventually set free. The slave in the story gave advice to Douglas without even knowing it. The story gave more credit to the slave than the master which is important for Douglas to learn because it makes him feel more relevant. From reading this book Douglas was able to apply what he learned and read to his own life. For example, in Douglas’s real life he was able to learn what others were saying, what they talked about and how it applied to him. He started to understand words such as abolitionist, which means slavery, and pertain it to his own life. When Douglas reads this story it made him realize how important his life is and how he should take a stand for what he believes in and try to fight and free himself. In a way it gives him hope and gives him the chance and opportunity to set himself free just from reading and relating to another person’s story.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Assignment 13.5 - Jonathan & Jennifer
What does Douglass learn from Sophia Auld and Her Husband?
Mr. and Mrs. Auld Gave Frederick Douglas more than they would ever know, they gave him his, “pathway from slavery to freedom.”(Douglas, Ch. 6 pg. 945) Mrs. Auld began to teach Frederick Douglas his ABC’s and by doing so she opened a door in his brain that resulted in his endless search for knowledge. Frederick Douglas was naturally a genius because despite his terrible upbringing, his desire for knowledge seems to have been nothing short of unquenchable. What Mr. Auld gave Frederick Douglas may have been even more precious; he taught him about the power of knowledge. When Mr. Auld caught Mrs. Auld teaching Frederick Douglas how to read he instantly put a stop to it because as he said, “if you teach that n----r 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.” (Douglas Ch. 6 pg. 945) When Mr. Auld said this statement it was an important moment in Frederick Douglas’ life, he now understood that if he could learn to read and write he could find a way to gain his freedom from his masters. Frederick Douglas acted on this revelation by taking every opportunity he could to improve his reading and writing. There is even an instance where Frederick Douglas would give bread to unfortunate white children in exchange for them teaching him letters or as he called it, “the bread of knowledge.” He would also commonly borrow his master’s son’s copy-book to practice writing in the extra spaces. Frederick Douglas was a very gifted person who was given an extraordinary opportunity to expand his knowledge at a time when the people of his race were forbidden by law to have any.
Frederick Douglass learned some important things from Hugh and Sophia Auld. He learned that not all white people were cruel to African Americans. He was warmly welcomed into the Auld’s home and right away formed a bond with his new mistress. She had been removed from the “blighting and dehumanizing” effects of slavery and Douglass was “truly astonished” by her goodness. “She was entirely unlike any other white woman I had ever seen.” pp. 945
Out of Sophia’s kindness, she started teaching Douglass to read. Hugh forbid his wife to continue the teaching. He explained that teaching a slave to read “could do him no good”. “It would make him discontented and unhappy.” After hearing this conversation, Douglass states, “These words sank deep into my heart, stirred up sentiments within that lay slumbering and called into existence an entirely new train of thought.” “Whilst I was saddened by the thought of losing the aid of my kind mistress, I was gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I had gained from my master.” pp. 945 “In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of my master as to the kindly aid of my mistress. I acknowledge the benefit of both.” pp. 946 Douglass discovered that learning to read was the path out of slavery.
Mr. and Mrs. Auld Gave Frederick Douglas more than they would ever know, they gave him his, “pathway from slavery to freedom.”(Douglas, Ch. 6 pg. 945) Mrs. Auld began to teach Frederick Douglas his ABC’s and by doing so she opened a door in his brain that resulted in his endless search for knowledge. Frederick Douglas was naturally a genius because despite his terrible upbringing, his desire for knowledge seems to have been nothing short of unquenchable. What Mr. Auld gave Frederick Douglas may have been even more precious; he taught him about the power of knowledge. When Mr. Auld caught Mrs. Auld teaching Frederick Douglas how to read he instantly put a stop to it because as he said, “if you teach that n----r 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.” (Douglas Ch. 6 pg. 945) When Mr. Auld said this statement it was an important moment in Frederick Douglas’ life, he now understood that if he could learn to read and write he could find a way to gain his freedom from his masters. Frederick Douglas acted on this revelation by taking every opportunity he could to improve his reading and writing. There is even an instance where Frederick Douglas would give bread to unfortunate white children in exchange for them teaching him letters or as he called it, “the bread of knowledge.” He would also commonly borrow his master’s son’s copy-book to practice writing in the extra spaces. Frederick Douglas was a very gifted person who was given an extraordinary opportunity to expand his knowledge at a time when the people of his race were forbidden by law to have any.
Frederick Douglass learned some important things from Hugh and Sophia Auld. He learned that not all white people were cruel to African Americans. He was warmly welcomed into the Auld’s home and right away formed a bond with his new mistress. She had been removed from the “blighting and dehumanizing” effects of slavery and Douglass was “truly astonished” by her goodness. “She was entirely unlike any other white woman I had ever seen.” pp. 945
Out of Sophia’s kindness, she started teaching Douglass to read. Hugh forbid his wife to continue the teaching. He explained that teaching a slave to read “could do him no good”. “It would make him discontented and unhappy.” After hearing this conversation, Douglass states, “These words sank deep into my heart, stirred up sentiments within that lay slumbering and called into existence an entirely new train of thought.” “Whilst I was saddened by the thought of losing the aid of my kind mistress, I was gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I had gained from my master.” pp. 945 “In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of my master as to the kindly aid of my mistress. I acknowledge the benefit of both.” pp. 946 Douglass discovered that learning to read was the path out of slavery.
Assignment 13.5 Connor and Hiroe
Explain why the incident with Aunt Hester so impacted young Douglass.
Young Douglass was not aware of his status as a slave until he witnessed the cruel beating of his aunt Hester; “It was all new to me.” (934). He gives a detailed description of the incident; “Before he commenced whipping Aunt Hester, he took her into the kitchen, and stripped her from neck to waist, leaving her neck, shoulders, and back, entirely naked,” and, “he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the warm, red blood (amid heart-rending shrieks from her, and horrid oaths from him) came dripping to the floor.” (934). It means the horrific scene was vividly retained in his memory. Then Douglass might have identified himself with his aunt and despaired of his future; “I expected it would be my turn next.” (934). Young children are easily traumatized by events that are out of their control; they are much more vulnerable than adults. Therefore, the bloody violence must have been a tremendous shock to young Douglass, who went on to hide in a closet in fear. The effect of the whipping on Douglass is further shown when he goes on to write that after he hid in the closet he, “dared not venture out till long after the bloody transaction was over.” (934). Throughout this ordeal he often mentions the word blood. The graphic nature of the incident hits him hard, this probably being the first time he’s seen so much blood. The gut-wrenching sight of his aunt being whipped was his first experience with the violent side of slavery. Douglass writes that, “I had always lived with my grandmother on the outskirts of the plantation, where she was put to raise the children of the younger women.” (934). The reason this had such a major impact on him was because he had never experienced anything like it. It was his personal introduction or initiation to the horrors of slavery.
Young Douglass was not aware of his status as a slave until he witnessed the cruel beating of his aunt Hester; “It was all new to me.” (934). He gives a detailed description of the incident; “Before he commenced whipping Aunt Hester, he took her into the kitchen, and stripped her from neck to waist, leaving her neck, shoulders, and back, entirely naked,” and, “he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the warm, red blood (amid heart-rending shrieks from her, and horrid oaths from him) came dripping to the floor.” (934). It means the horrific scene was vividly retained in his memory. Then Douglass might have identified himself with his aunt and despaired of his future; “I expected it would be my turn next.” (934). Young children are easily traumatized by events that are out of their control; they are much more vulnerable than adults. Therefore, the bloody violence must have been a tremendous shock to young Douglass, who went on to hide in a closet in fear. The effect of the whipping on Douglass is further shown when he goes on to write that after he hid in the closet he, “dared not venture out till long after the bloody transaction was over.” (934). Throughout this ordeal he often mentions the word blood. The graphic nature of the incident hits him hard, this probably being the first time he’s seen so much blood. The gut-wrenching sight of his aunt being whipped was his first experience with the violent side of slavery. Douglass writes that, “I had always lived with my grandmother on the outskirts of the plantation, where she was put to raise the children of the younger women.” (934). The reason this had such a major impact on him was because he had never experienced anything like it. It was his personal introduction or initiation to the horrors of slavery.
Friday, April 16, 2010
13.5 Liesette & Beth
Compare Gore and Severe as overseers.
Gore and Severe were both very cruel overseers. They would beat and kill slaves and not think twice about it. Severe was more vocal than Gore was though. He would use profanities and get pleasure out of beating the slaves. Gore was a man of few words, which is probably why he was feared more than Severe because they never knew what he was feeling or what he was going to do next. Severe came off as being more of a loudmouth. A "look at me" type man where Gore was very stern and more of a "military" man. I say this because in Chapter Two, the book says, "I have seen him whip a woman, causing the blood to run half an hour at a time; and this,too, in the midst of her crying children, pleading for their mother's release. he seemed to take pleasure in manifesting his fiendish barbarity."(P.935) Severe likes to make a scene. In Chapter Four, the book talks about Gore and a slave named Demby. Demby ran into the creek to cool himself after a whipping. The book says the following about Gore's response to Demby being in the water, "Mr. Gore told him (Demby) that he would give him three calls, and that, if he did not come out at the third call, he would shoot him. The fist call was given. Demby made no response. The second and third calls were given with the same result. Mr. Gore then, without consultation or deliberation with anyone, not even giving Demby as additional call, raised his musket to his face, taking deadly aim at his standing victim, and in an instant poor Demby was no more."(P.941) Mr. Gore told Demby what he was going to do and he did it without any sign of emotion. Both Gore and Severe were considered good overseers because of this type of cruel behavior. Both had the ability to torture and kill another person and not have any feelings of regret.
Gore and Severe were both very cruel overseers. They would beat and kill slaves and not think twice about it. Severe was more vocal than Gore was though. He would use profanities and get pleasure out of beating the slaves. Gore was a man of few words, which is probably why he was feared more than Severe because they never knew what he was feeling or what he was going to do next. Severe came off as being more of a loudmouth. A "look at me" type man where Gore was very stern and more of a "military" man. I say this because in Chapter Two, the book says, "I have seen him whip a woman, causing the blood to run half an hour at a time; and this,too, in the midst of her crying children, pleading for their mother's release. he seemed to take pleasure in manifesting his fiendish barbarity."(P.935) Severe likes to make a scene. In Chapter Four, the book talks about Gore and a slave named Demby. Demby ran into the creek to cool himself after a whipping. The book says the following about Gore's response to Demby being in the water, "Mr. Gore told him (Demby) that he would give him three calls, and that, if he did not come out at the third call, he would shoot him. The fist call was given. Demby made no response. The second and third calls were given with the same result. Mr. Gore then, without consultation or deliberation with anyone, not even giving Demby as additional call, raised his musket to his face, taking deadly aim at his standing victim, and in an instant poor Demby was no more."(P.941) Mr. Gore told Demby what he was going to do and he did it without any sign of emotion. Both Gore and Severe were considered good overseers because of this type of cruel behavior. Both had the ability to torture and kill another person and not have any feelings of regret.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What impresses William Lloyd Garrison about Frederick Douglas? By: Jason and Jared
According to the Preface, what impresses William Lloyd Garrison about Frederick Douglas?
Garrison was impressed by Douglas' speech-making qualities against slavery and how he could arouse the crowd.Garrison also thought that Douglas was intelligent."Fortunate for the multitudes in various parts of our republic whose minds he has enlightened on the subject of slavery, and who have melted to tears by his pathos, or roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the enslavers of men." (P. 924) "There stood one, in physical proportion and stature commanding and exact--in intellect richly endowed--in natural eloquence a prodigy." (P. 924) He also thought Douglas was a very moral person. He is "....capable of high attainments as an intellectual and moral being." (P. 925) He considers Douglas a gentle and meek man. "As a public speaker, he excels in pathos, wit, comparison, imitation, strength of reasoning and fluency of language." (P. 926) "He has born himself with a gentleness and meekness, yet with true manliness of character." (P. 926) Garrison is impressed that Douglas writes his own speeches. "Mr Douglas has very properly chosen to write his own narrative, in his own styles and according to the best of his ability, rather than to employ someone else." (P. 926) Garrison admires Douglas because he escaped from his slave-owner, even though Douglas knew he would be severely punished or even killed if he was caught and the fact that Douglas is willing to make speeches in public against slavery even with the threat of getting sent back to his slave-owner. Douglas even gave where he was born, those who owned him, and those who committed crimes against him to show what happened to him was true. "Mr. Douglas has frankly disclosed the place of his birth, the names of those who claimed ownership of his body and soul, and the names of those who committed crimes which he has alleged against them. His statements, therefore, may easily be disproved, if they are untrue." (P. 928) You can tell that Garrison respects Douglas by always referring to him as "Mr. Douglas".
Garrison was impressed by Douglas' speech-making qualities against slavery and how he could arouse the crowd.Garrison also thought that Douglas was intelligent."Fortunate for the multitudes in various parts of our republic whose minds he has enlightened on the subject of slavery, and who have melted to tears by his pathos, or roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the enslavers of men." (P. 924) "There stood one, in physical proportion and stature commanding and exact--in intellect richly endowed--in natural eloquence a prodigy." (P. 924) He also thought Douglas was a very moral person. He is "....capable of high attainments as an intellectual and moral being." (P. 925) He considers Douglas a gentle and meek man. "As a public speaker, he excels in pathos, wit, comparison, imitation, strength of reasoning and fluency of language." (P. 926) "He has born himself with a gentleness and meekness, yet with true manliness of character." (P. 926) Garrison is impressed that Douglas writes his own speeches. "Mr Douglas has very properly chosen to write his own narrative, in his own styles and according to the best of his ability, rather than to employ someone else." (P. 926) Garrison admires Douglas because he escaped from his slave-owner, even though Douglas knew he would be severely punished or even killed if he was caught and the fact that Douglas is willing to make speeches in public against slavery even with the threat of getting sent back to his slave-owner. Douglas even gave where he was born, those who owned him, and those who committed crimes against him to show what happened to him was true. "Mr. Douglas has frankly disclosed the place of his birth, the names of those who claimed ownership of his body and soul, and the names of those who committed crimes which he has alleged against them. His statements, therefore, may easily be disproved, if they are untrue." (P. 928) You can tell that Garrison respects Douglas by always referring to him as "Mr. Douglas".
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Who were Douglass's parents? Why is this significant question?
Amy B and Matt T.
Who were Douglass’s parents? Why is this significant question?
Douglas’s mother was a colored slave and his father was a white slave owner. His father was most likely his mother’s master. Douglas’s mother was a field hand and lived twelve miles away. Douglass was separated from his mother when he was an infant.
This is a significant question due to Douglas was half black and half white he was in the middle of two worlds. He was lighter than the other children and was treated somewhat different. “Their backs had been made familiar with the bloody lash, so that they had become callous; mine was yet tender.”(951 ) Douglas having a slave mother and slave owner for a father sets the tone for his thoughts of slavery for his entire life. He also witness some brutal whippings performed by his masters when he was very young. When he witnesses these events like his Aunt Hester being whipped, it seemed to just keep intensify his initial hatred towards the cruelty of slavery. I thought it was interesting when he said “slaveholders have ordained, and by law established, that the children of slave women shall in all cases follow the condition of their mother” (pg 932). Even if his father/master wanted to keep him as a son and not a slave, he couldn’t by law with other owners.
His mother must have been a motivated woman because, after she was hired by another owner, she walked twelve miles to Douglass’s home and twelve miles back one night in order to see him. Douglass seemed to be a motivated young man set forth by example of his mother as well with age may have taught him that you can accomplish goals but you might have to put in the extra effort.
Later on in his childhood, Mrs. Auld started teaching him to read and Mr. Auld said “it was unlawful, as well as unsafe to teach a slave to read…if you give a n—r an inch, he will take an ell.”(pg 947). This being told he wasn’t allowed to learn to read, but this made Douglass want to work even harder and put in the extra effort to learned how to read on his own. I think having a hard working and motivated mother probably contributed to accomplishments like this.
Who were Douglass’s parents? Why is this significant question?
Douglas’s mother was a colored slave and his father was a white slave owner. His father was most likely his mother’s master. Douglas’s mother was a field hand and lived twelve miles away. Douglass was separated from his mother when he was an infant.
This is a significant question due to Douglas was half black and half white he was in the middle of two worlds. He was lighter than the other children and was treated somewhat different. “Their backs had been made familiar with the bloody lash, so that they had become callous; mine was yet tender.”(951 ) Douglas having a slave mother and slave owner for a father sets the tone for his thoughts of slavery for his entire life. He also witness some brutal whippings performed by his masters when he was very young. When he witnesses these events like his Aunt Hester being whipped, it seemed to just keep intensify his initial hatred towards the cruelty of slavery. I thought it was interesting when he said “slaveholders have ordained, and by law established, that the children of slave women shall in all cases follow the condition of their mother” (pg 932). Even if his father/master wanted to keep him as a son and not a slave, he couldn’t by law with other owners.
His mother must have been a motivated woman because, after she was hired by another owner, she walked twelve miles to Douglass’s home and twelve miles back one night in order to see him. Douglass seemed to be a motivated young man set forth by example of his mother as well with age may have taught him that you can accomplish goals but you might have to put in the extra effort.
Later on in his childhood, Mrs. Auld started teaching him to read and Mr. Auld said “it was unlawful, as well as unsafe to teach a slave to read…if you give a n—r an inch, he will take an ell.”(pg 947). This being told he wasn’t allowed to learn to read, but this made Douglass want to work even harder and put in the extra effort to learned how to read on his own. I think having a hard working and motivated mother probably contributed to accomplishments like this.
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