bradsaptblog

Reading Douglass is obviously a stark contrast from the words of Lincoln. Putting history into perspective is always important so that one can really feel how things were, and the story of Frederick Douglass does that with excellence. For me, the most interesting and sad part was his description of himself as a slave-boy. One particular part that really got to me was when he compared a slave-boy from a white-boy. He says that the white-boy cannot really be a child, because he is under the constant microscope of high society. But a slave-boy, could roll around in the dirt, and just do the things that young boys should be doing. That part of the book almost glorified his enslavement, which I felt was unfortunate. After reading the way these children had to grow up, and the sadness they had to feel, like when Douglass was betrayed by his grandmammy, it is unbelievable that an institution like slavery was even able to exist. The way Douglass wrote these chapters allows the reader to feel his pain, not to be too cliche, but I believe that aspect of this reading is powerful, and probably his intention.

-Brad