Essay On Frederick Douglass Education

Douglass’s education began in Baltimore at the age of seven or eight. At this time in Douglass’s life, he was living Hugh Auld and his wife. Upon first meeting Mr. and Mrs. Auld, for the first time in Douglass’s life saw “a white face beaming with the most kindly emotion”. Hugh Auld’s wife Sophia Auld, showed to Douglass that not all white people look down and discriminate against slaves. Sophia Auld did not dehumanize Douglass because of his title of slave, but instead gave him a sense of humanity. It was Mrs. Auld that introduce Douglass to the education of language, which would ultimately lead him on his quest for knowledge. The care and education given to Douglass by Mrs. Auld was short lived though. Upon learning that Mrs. Auld was teaching Douglass, Mr. Auld demanded her to stop. Mr. Auld’s reasoning
Douglass knowing that he could no longer be educated by Mrs. Auld, he would look for other methods to teach himself. Douglass’s determination to be educated guided him well. In chapter seven, Douglass shares how he gained an education without a formal teacher. Douglass became friends with local poor white boy’s, who he traded bread with in return of knowledge. Douglass also made use of the child of Mr. Auld, by using his educational books. Mr. Auld was right to fear the education of slaves, it was Douglass’s education which led him to seek freedom from slavery. It was education which caused Douglass the passion to better his mind. It was education which helped Douglass establish a legacy, which presented the harsh reality of being a slave. By taking a slave’s education away, a master can maintain their power other their slave, continuing their suppression. Douglass was born into a world that did not want him to be educated, but his persistence to learn resulted in him gaining both an identity and his own freedom. Education is something that many of us nowadays take for granted, but Douglass demonstrates the true power and importance of knowledge within his