The Path to freedom

The Path to Freedom

Learning to read and write was the first step in Frederick Douglass’ struggle for freedom. He was an African American slave who worked and lived on a plantation. Douglass’ literacy event occurred when he was young and ignorant to the way the world worked and his place in it as a slave.
Douglass’ Master’s wife, Mrs. Auld, took it upon herself to educate young Frederick on how to write and read. She began by teaching him the alphabet and then, as he was moving on to spelling and reading four letter words when Mr. Auld, his master discovered what his wife was attempting to do. Mr. Auld was furious that his wife would try to educate a young African American slave and explained to her, in front of Frederick, the way the real world worked.
Auld described the owning of slaves and how it was a very delicate proposition. He spoke in a very harsh tone, saying that “it is unlawful, as well as unsafe to teac...