SLAVERY ESSAY

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Slavery for the Minority
Hayden Ray Souza
(797 words)

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Hayden Ray Souza
Professor Swiontek
History 101
November 12, 2014
Fredrick Douglas Frederick Douglass was born an African American slave on February 14, 1818. During his life as a fugitive, Douglass grew aware of the abolition movements. Seeing the world for what it should be not what it was, Douglass became a strong advocate for human rights and was an enormous spokesperson in what eventually led to the abolishment of slavery in the United States. On July 5th, 1855 Frederick Douglas delivered a speech in regards to the treatment of slaves and questioned slaveries true ethics. Within ten years of his speech, Douglas along with countless other slavery abolitionists’ representatives had completely changed the perspective of slavery in the United States and shed the true light of injustice upon it.

On that day Douglass spoke in disgust to the American people, in regards to the treatment of slaves by saying, “Am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters? Must I argue that a system thus marked with blood, and stained with pollution is wrong?” (F) (“The meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” Frederick Douglass, 1855).” Although his prominence wasn’t what it is

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Today as a historic hero his words that day greatly influenced people of all colors and backgrounds. Because he spoke from his heart, he gave a very good inside perspective of what slavery is honestly like, by tying in his life experiences as well as the experiences of other slaves, and referencing all the torture slaves had been dealt or saw on a regular basis, Douglass and other supporters of the abolition of slavery were able to expose slavery’s true inhuman qualities. (F) Like Douglass there was other anti slavery supporters. White abolitionists were preaching “Revivalism of the second Great Awakening.” (In the shadow of slavery African Americans in New York City, 1626-1863 ch.6 pg.171) Two white abolitionist brothers by the names of Arthur and Lewis Tappan said that there “intense religious experiences motivated them to work to expunge the sins of slavery and racism from the nation.” (F) (In the shadow of slavery ch.6 pg.171) this occurred sometime well before Douglass’s speech in the 1830’s. Yet goes to show abolition of slavery wasn’t segregated, White people like the Tappan brothers were well aware of the inhuman and unmoral practices of slavery and like Frederick Douglass wanted to see it vanish. Within Frederick Douglass’s speech I don’t believe there to be a main argument. However there is a direct point. His speech was specifically directed at any person who would consider themselves to be pro slavery. Within his speech Douglass accepted the fact that he might not be heard on that day, but he demanded that the nation deal with slavery in an immediate and effective way. “At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! Had I the ability, and could reach the nations ear, I would, to-day, pour out a fiery

Souza 4 stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” (Frederick Douglas speech 1855.) Within his harsh yet truthful words he expresses to the American people that action against slavery needed to be taken and immediately, although his message was not directly received. Over the ten year span following his speech, the United States finally saw slavery as an institution erode and rot into ash and dust.

Reading and analyzing such a amazing historic speech brought my attention to how much tension and hatred these abolitionists faced. When they spoke publicly or informed others that they were indeed anti slavery it put their careers and lives as a whole into jeopardy. Thousands if not hundreds of thousands of slaves fought and died in hopes for their freedom, and in the end, the final battle of slavery was won thanks to Fredrick Douglass, David Walker and many others. Following the end of slavery, Frederick Douglass became the first free black slave to gain a significant U.S. Government rank. He lived continuing to serve as an advocate for human rights until he passed in February of 1985.