Frederick Douglass ~ a Black Slave

Chapter 1
Frederick Douglass begins his narrative by placing his birth in Tuckahoe, Talbot county, Maryland. He does not know how old he is because his masters have deliberately kept it from him. Growing up, this is a great source of unhappiness for young Douglass. At the time of his writing, he estimates that he is between twenty-seven and twenty-eight years of age from having heard his master say in 1835 that he is almost seventeen years old. His mother's name is Harriet Bailey, daughter of Isaac and Betsy Bailey. Although they are all quite dark, it is generally acknowledged that his father is a white man, even rumored to be his master, Captain Anthony. Douglass does not know if this is true or not. As is the general custom, he is separated from his mother early in infancy and put under the care of his grandmother. Douglass recalls having met his mother several times, but only during the night. She would make the trip from her farm twelve miles away just to spend a little time with...