Dedication is the Key to Success

Frederick Douglass gives an overview of his struggle for literacy in his narrative,
“Learning to Read and Write.” He lived with Master Hugh Auld’s family for
approximately seven years. During that time Mistress Auld taught him the fundamentals
of reading and writing. However, the instruction Douglass received eventually came to
an end. She became cold-hearted, as slavery had corrupted her. At a young age Douglass
began receiving reading lessons from poor Caucasian children, in which he would bribe
them with bread. As he grew older he would take the letters recognized from the
shipyard and compete with Caucasian men, in which he would also receive valuable
reading lessons. “The Colombian Orator” was the first book he was able to read, that was
about a slave and his master. The slave was portrayed as intelligent, which later gained
him his freedom. This was no doubt an inspiration to Douglass. Sheriden (the author)
discussed the denunciation of slavery and ...