MALCOLM X,

By COLBY CURTIS

February 22, 2008



I think that the book expresses segregation in most of the chapters but especially in the second chapter when Malcolm was separated from his family. He explained that his mother had a good education but couldn’t put it to good use because she was black. I think it was sad that Malcolm’s family got torn apart. When he was 13 his dad got hit by a car and a little later in the book his mom was thought to be an unfit mother for their family. Malcolm got sent to a type of foster family that he got along with. He then got sent to a school that he worked hard at and tried to be like the white kids so he could fit in. After a while he found that he was actually pretty popular.
Malcolm was doing well at his new school and had many friends. One day he was encountered by one of his teachers who he thought was his friend asked him what he wanted to be and Malcolm replied that he wanted to be a lawyer. But instead of his teacher supporting the decision he disapproved of it and told Malcolm he was a Negro and that he should just be a carpenter. Malcolm got discouraged and decided not to do to high school.
I think life was hard from than on fore Malcolm because when he was 18 he was in and out of jobs and did jobs for the Mafia. Eventually he was gifted with a watch that was actually stolen. He tried to get it fixed at a store and got arrested because the police thought he was the one who stole it and when he was arrested they found that he was caring a gun to.
I think it was good for Malcolm’s brothers to write to him because it exposed him to religion and the out side world like how the rest of his family was doing and other things like that. I think if he had a religious belief for longer, his life wouldn’t have bin as bad for him. I also think if his family had bin together he would have had a different effect on his life and he would probably be able to find a steady job and not half to work or associate with bad people.

Malcolm X Post by any means necessary

Malcolm made this book about him so he can share what he did to help people. Malcolm is an African-American citizen. Malcolm is trying to become a preach just like his father Earl Little. Earl Little is a tall black person from Georgia. Earl helps out the Marcus Garvey’s UNIA. The UNIA stands for Universal Negro Improvement Association.
Malcolm X is mainly about a person named Malcolm that lives in Lansing. In the first part of the book, the author describes Malcolm’s childhood. Malcolm was a well behaved child when he was young. When he got older he started to act up and clown around in class. Malcolm was a good football and basketball player. Malcolm played in a team for basketball for his school. He was good in school and other sports and was popular but not a lot. In school Malcolm was able to finish his assignments easily. Malcolm’s teacher’s didn’t think he could work as hard as he should.
As he became older he started to cause mischief. Malcolm tried to steal something from a stall but then he was busted then taken to his mother. The welfare investigators started to question his mother and in the book it says that Malcolm’s mom was a strong women but then she began to cry. Malcolm does everything he can do to keep people away from her. Malcolm is only trying to keep her mother safe. The welfare investigators wanted to take her children away from her. Malcolm’s mom said that she can take care of her own children. Malcolm also wanted the welfare investigators to stop asking his mother so many questions.
Malcolm also worked at bar for shoeshine’s and he cleaned up the urinals in the bathrooms and helped the men wash and dry their hands. He was also given tips for helping these people. Also when Malcolm was around eighteen years old, he started to drug deal gamble and hustle. He dealed illegal drugs, such as marijuana, in the area where he lived. He also hustled other people and worked for a mob gang. When Malcolm was working in the bar they started to give him nicknames. Other black men started to call him homedog before he started to deal drugs. When he was dealing drugs Malcolm was known as "Detroit Red". During Malcolm’s crime sprees Ella figures out about Sophia. Since people are really picky about black men talking to white women some white men actually come up and tell the black men to stay away from the white women. All of this that is happening is before Martin Luther King Jr’s. speech. Malcolm is now job hopping which means he takes a job then he goes directly to a new one. When Malcolm starts to head off to his new job on a train the passengers give him a hard time on the train for four hours going from Boston to New York. Malcolm has a hard time in New York because he has a bad behavior and the manager hears complaints about him so he gets fired from that job. Since Malcolm has jobs he goes around looking for these "Zoot" suits. The zoot suits I think are pimp suits for pimps. Just like when Malcolm was doing when he was working at the bar he spent all his money from the tips on the zoot suit. The zoot suits make Malcolm look like a famous person by the way he dresses, his slang language, and the way he dances that other people might ask for his autograph. Malcolm heads back to New York and he gets a job at a train called the "Silver Meteor". Even though this could have been a good job for him he was also fired because of the way he behaved around the passengers. Malcolm is still in touch with Sophia. Sophia is a girl that Malcolm met in Boston. She would come to see Malcolm but she is a bit too worried about the prostitutes near Malcolm’s apartment building.
Malcolm’s old friend name Shorty in Roxbury is now a traveling musician. Just like Shorty, Malcolm travels around the world preaching to people until the day he was assassinated. On February 1965 there was a rumor that Malcolm was going to be assassinated. Ever since that attempt that the criminal tried to do, Malcolm keeps a gun for self-defense if anyone tries to attack or kill him. During that same year that is when Malcolm X died in a crowd when people tried to save him.

-By: Daniel Miller

chance daly
frederick douglass
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERO



Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland. Douglass served as a slave on farms on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in Baltimore throughout his childhood. In Baltimore Douglas ejoyed more freedom than slaves usually did in the South. In the city, Douglass first learned how to read and began networking with educated free blacks.Douglass eventually escaped north to New York at around the age of twenty. Here he married a free black woman from Baltimore named Anna Murray. Douglass’s and his wife finally settled further north in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Frederick changed his last name from Bailey to Douglass. Douglass worked for the next three years as a laborer and continued his self‑education.

In the early 1840s ''anti‑slavery'' movement was gaining momentum, especially in the far Northeast. When Douglass first arrived in Massachusetts, he began reading the Liberator newspaper edited by William Lloyd Garrison. In 1841, Douglass attended an abolitionist meeting in Nantucket, Massachusetts where he met Garrison and was encouraged to tell the crowd about his experiences of slavery. Garrison offered to employ him as an abolitionist speaker for the American Anti‑Slavery Society. From 1841 to 1845 Douglass traveled with Garrison and others through the Northern states, speaking nearly every day on the injustice of slavery. Douglass encountered hostile opposition and the charge that he was lying. Many Americans did not believe that such an intelligent Negro had so recently been a slave.

Douglass was one of only a few black men employed by the mostly white society .Douglass’s use of the true names of people and places further silenced his detractors who questioned the truthfulness of his story and status as a former slave. Additionally, the Narrative undertook to be not only a personal account of Douglass’s experiences as a slave, but also an story of how some american slaves made a diffrence. With the Narrative, Douglass demonstrated his ability to be not only the teller of his story, but its interpreter as well.

Because Douglass did use real names in his Narrative he had to run away from the United States for a time because his Maryland owner was legally entitled to track him down in Massachusetts and reclaim him. Dou-glass spent the next two years traveling in the British Isles where he was happily welcomed. He returned to the United States only after two English friends bout his freedom. His reputation at home had grown during his absence. Douglass started his own abolitionist newspaper in 1847 in New York, under the name North Star.
document.

Douglass continued to write and lecture against slavery and also devoted attention to the women’s rights movement. He became involved in politics, to the disapproval of other abolitionists who avoided politics for ideological reasons. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Douglass campaigned first to make it the aim of the war to abolish slavery and then to allow black men to fight for the Union. He was successful on both ideas. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and Congress authorized the enlistment of black men in 1863.Though they were paid only half what white soldiers made. The Union won the Civil War on April 9, 1865.

During the 1860s and after Douglass continued to campaign. Now for the right of blacks to vote and receive equal treatment in public places. Douglass served in government positions under several administrations . In 1882 Douglass’s wife Anna died. He remarried to Helen Pitts a white advocate of the women’s movement. Douglass died of a heart attack in 1895. Douglass will always be know as a african american hero.

my reaction is that this book was the most exciting thin i read all year!!!

Frederick Douglas Summary: by RYAN PEREZ :)

Frederick Douglass was a son of an African-American women named Harriet Bailey. He was born in about 1818 in Tuckahoe, Maryland. He was seperated from is mother when he was a very young new born child. He never got the chance to really know his mother. Frederick Douglass was a black American slave during the 1800's. The book written by himself talks about how hard it was to be a slave in America in th 1800's because they go for weeks without eating or drinking, all he could do is work in the fields all day long. What is sad about this is that when the Masters wouldnt want the slave they would sell them. Frederick Douglass is not only a slave but a hero because when he was a slave he stood up and didnt let the masters control him. In the first five years of his alvery life Frerderick Douglass had been living under the "ownership" of Captain Anthony. Anthony was a bad man and his associates were just as bad. Living with Anthony gave Douglass horrible experiences living the life of a slave. One of Douglass's worst memory was when he saw his master (Anthony) whip his Aunt Hester. He was really scared watch his aunt be whipped, but he was also scared because he thought he was next. After five years of working for Anthony, Douglass been working on Colonel Lloyds plantation. Colonel was a rich man and owned many slaves. Douglass was to small to work in those fields so some of the other jobs he got to do were easier.Frederick was about seven or eight years of age when he left Colonel Lloyd to go to Baltimore, to live with Mr. Hugh Auld. Douglass was the only slave to from Colonel Lloyd to go to Baltimore. After living there for a while Mrs. Auld started to teach him the letters a, b, c and how to spell a few words. After a while Mr. Auld found out and told Mrs. Auld all the consequences that go along with teaching slave. This made Douglass finally realize the difference between slavery and FREEDOM. In january 1834, Frederick was sent to live with Mr. William Freeland. Mr. Freeland was a good master also. Later on Frederick started to teach a large amount of slaves how to read. A year later Douglass wanted to be free so he decided to escape with some other slaves and be free. Then they all got caught and had to go back to baltimore to master Auld. All the slaves went to Jail. Mr. Auld eventually was able to do his own work but he had to pay three dollars a week. Later Douglass trys to escape on September 3rd. Frederick escaper to New York. He knew he couldn't trust anyone but then he met a guy named Dvid Ruggles. The next three years he worked at a lot of different jobs in massachusettes because thats where David said he should go. He then earned enough money to write about his slavery.


My reaction to the book: I believe Frederick Douglass is a true hero and stood up for his Freedom. I think this book was good and that Frederick wrote this book so that in the future he could show us that we live in such a great life, and that were really lucky to be able to be free. Frederick Douglass is a great hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fredrick Douglass as he was older::; jensen koga

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland as Frederick

Bailey circa 1818. Douglass served as a slave on farms on the Eastern Shore

of Maryland and in Baltimore throughout his youth. In Baltimore, especially,

Douglas enjoyed relatively more freedom than slaves usually did in the

South. In the city, Douglass first learned how to read and began making

contacts with educated free blacks. Then he moved to New York when he

was about twenty years old and at that moment he found his fiancée and her

name was quite a lovely name and it was Anna Murray. They got settled in a

bit northern state Massachusetts and that is where Fredrick Douglass

changed his name from Bailey to Douglass. When he got into Massachusetts

he immediately started to read the newspaper that was edited by William

Lloyd Garrison. In the early 1840s, the abolitionist, or antislavery,

movement was gaining momentum, especially in the far Northeast. When

Douglass first arrived in Massachusetts, he began reading the Liberator, the

abolitionist newspaper edited by William Lloyd Garrison. In 1841, Douglass

attended an abolitionist meeting in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he met

Garrison and was encouraged to tell the crowd about his experiences of

slavery. , Douglass traveled a lot with Garrison and others through the

northern states, speaking nearly every day on the injustice and the meanness

of slavery. Douglass encountered lots of opposition and, most often, the

charge that he was lying. Many Americans did not believe that such and well

developed man and intelligent person had so recently been a slave.


My reaction
My reaction to this book is that it is one of the most interesting book that I’ve read throughout my years. Do you know what would make this book a lot better is that if there was more pictures I would be more into it . Look like Dr. Suess I love his books because he puts his feelings into it and the best part is there is a lot of pictures. I thought it was an finominoal book to read and I world about it.

Frederick Douglass- Book Review by Ben Steuri

“Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” is a real life account of an American slave. Frederick Douglass was born a slave in Talbot Country, Maryland. As an infant, his mother was taken away from him before Douglass had reached his first year. He only remembers seeing his mother four or five times. She lived on Mr. Stewart’s farm which was located about twelve miles from where Douglass was living. Wanting to see her son meant walking a total of twenty four miles. This was not very easy to do after a long day of hard labor. The consequences for a slave running away from his or her master were brutal. His father was a white man and that is all the information given about him. Growing up as a slave, Douglass had no recollection of his age. By eavesdropping on one of his master’s conversation, he gathered that he was born around 1818. In the first five years of his life, Douglass had been living under the ownership of Captain Anthony. He was a very cruel man and his associates were just as bad. Living with Captain Anthony gave Douglass horrible experiences of the life of a slave. He had seen his master whip an elderly female slave until she was screaming with the most pain anyone could endure. The more the woman screamed, the harder he would whip.

After five years with Captain Anthony, Douglass began working on Colonel Edward Lloyd’s plantation. He was a very rich man. Tobacco, corn, and wheat were grown on Lloyd’s land. There were also many fruit trees and vegetable gardens. A few of the slaves trespassed and attempted to steal the fruits. Colonel Lloyd poured tar all around the gardens and trees so that when a slave was caught with tar on his clothes, he would be accused of stealing the fruits. Lloyd also owned several horse stables. He expected his horses to be perfectly groomed and well taken cared of. Douglass once saw a slave being beaten repeatedly by an overseer because the horse didn’t “perform” well enough. This was one example to show how unjust the slave drivers were. It was another reason to blame the slaves and fault them for the horse not performing as expected. Douglass often felt guilty for being of an African-American descent.

When Douglass was about seven or eight years old, he was sold out of Talbot, Maryland and bought in Baltimore, Maryland. He was then under the ownership of Hugh Auld and his wife Lucretia Auld who also happened to be Captain Anthony’s daughter. She was a very nice woman. When Douglass first arrived, she rewarded him with his own pair of trousers. Douglass noticed a huge difference for the better while living in Baltimore. In the first couple months while living there, Mrs. Auld began teaching Douglass the alphabets. He was soon able to sound the letters out and
read three and four letter words. Unfortunately, Mr. Auld found out about these teachings. He did not like it one bit. He along with many other slave owners feared that some day if the African American society would gain intelligence, they might run and be elected for the congress. Mrs. Auld immediately backed out of it. But this didn’t stop Douglass from learning. When the couple would be out of the house, he would sneak some books from the bookshelf and begin to read. Through his readings, he was finally beginning to understand the whole slavery act. In total secrecy, he reads the newspaper and other important information.

When Douglass was ten or eleven years old, he receives the news that Captain Anthony had died and that he would have to go back to Talbot Country and be divided along with all the other slaves between Anthony’s three children. Luckily for Douglass he was given right back to the Aulds.
Shortly after returning, Auld decides to lease Douglass to a poor man by the name of Edward Covey for one year. He was a harsh man and very cruel. He whipped Douglass a lot for very minor mistakes. Douglass worked very hard at Covey’s farm. He was tired of being constantly beaten and decides to run away from “home”. He went to the Auld resident to complain but is rejected and is sent back. He goes to another slave by the name of Sandy Jenkins. He stays at his house for the night and the next morning returns to the Covey residence. He was about to be tied and ready to be whipped when he finally stood up for himself and fought back. The two men were in a brawl for about two hours when finally Douglass backed off. Through this act, Douglass earned a lot more respect from his master.

On Christmas day 1833, Douglass is released from the Covey farm and is sent to live with Mr. William Freeland. Freeland was a much kinder man than Covey. This was the same farm that Sandy Jenkins, the man who sheltered Douglass, lived. Douglass began teaching a freed slave at the man’s house. This was illegal at the time to educate a black man. Douglass decides to escape, but someone rats him out and he is placed in jail with four other men. Soon after, Douglass is sent back to Baltimore to work for the Aulds. He was put to work at one of the docks to repair ships. One day, he was attacked by other white men, but there was nothing that could be done to prosecute them.

Douglass gets very anxious to escape, and in September, he sneaks out and gets to New York City. Not a lot of information is given on how he escaped in fear that he will give away possible routes for other slaves. Douglass met a freed black slave who advises him to go to Massachusetts to get a job. Douglass met up with his fiancée, Anne who was a free black woman. Together they went to Massachusetts. He is than recommended the name “Douglass” from a book. He then joins a magazine company and speaks to the public about his previous years as a slave. He lived the rest of his life a freeman with his wife.


Reactions
Overall, I thought this was a very interesting book. Like Anne Frank, this was a written account of Douglass’s hard life. Now I have different views on slavery. It was sad to hear about all the cruel experiences that this man went through. I enjoyed reading about his life and I think this book teaches one to realize that things may not be as bad as they think given the situations of hardships that others experience.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself;
By Lauren Hanano

This biography begins by Frederick Douglass telling us how he does not know the exact date of his birthday and that he is relatively saddened by this, I would be also. He then continues by explaining his life to us and how his mother died when he was only at the age of 3 years old. According to Fred, this doesn't necessarly affect him very much because he was separated from his mother when he was very young, rather than loosing at mother when you've know her for soo long and become attached. Douglass belives that his father was his master, Colonel Lloyd. Lloyd's large central plantation was called the "Great House Farm" by the hundreds of slaves that he owned. The life on Colonel Lloyd’s plantations for the slaves were like similar to many other Southern plantations. It was is brutal, the slaves are being overworked and exhausted; yet they receive very little food, barely any clothes, and no beds to sleep on. The slaves who do and do not break rules are being beaten or whipped to death, and sometimes even shot by the overseers of the plantation. Some of the cruelest are Mr. Severe and Mr. Austin Gore.

Being a child, Douglass’s life on the plantation is not as hard as most of the other slaves and he works in the house instead of out in the fields. Douglass witnessed his first brutal act of slavery at a very young age when he saw his Aunty Hester being whipped. His biography then continues on and he tells us in more details about the structure of the farms, and what role the slaves played, and how they acted while interacting with their masters. A very important part of the book is at this point, when Douglass describes to us the singing of the slaves. Here, I started to gain respect towards Douglass, as it appears that he truly understans the lives that slaves is forced to live. Then, he explains the cruel interaction that occurs between the slaves and slave holders, also how slaves are supposed to behave while they are in the presence of their masters. I also learned that even when slaves tell the truth, they are penalized by their owners. Douglass continued on by describing several other events to us in which there were extreme brutality against his fellow slaves.

At seven years old, Douglass is given to Captain Anthony’s son-in-law’s brother, Hugh Auld, who lives in Baltimore. In Baltimore, Douglass enjoys a freer life. The slave-owners in the city only appearing cruel to their slaves in front of their non-slaveowning neighbors. Hugh’s wife, Sophia Auld has never owned a slave before, so in the beggining she is kind to Douglass. Sophia starts teaching Douglass how to read, but then her husband demands her to stop and tells her that education makes slaves unmanageable. Sophia eventually gets the idea of a slave owner and looses her kindness. Although Sophia and her husband Hugh become crueler towards him, Douglass still likes Baltimore and continues to try and teach himself how to read with the help of the local boys. As Douglass learns more of how to read and write, he decides that he wants to run away and escape to the North sooner or later.
After the death of Captain Anthony, Douglass is taken back to serve Captain Anthony’s son-in-law, Thomas Auld. Auld is a very cruel man who is made even harsher by his fake religiousness. Auld thinks that Douglass is an unmanageable slave so he rents him for one year to Edwars Covey. Covey is a man who is known for "breaking" slaves. Within the first six months, Covey manages to work and whip all of the spirit out of Douglass. Douglass no longer has an interested in learning how to read or becomming free. He is now only capable of resting from his injuries and exhaustion from being worked all day. The turning point in his life is when Douglass fights back against Cove; after the two-hour fight Covey dares to never touch Douglass ever again.

Douglass is then rented to William Freeland for two years. Though Freeland not as harsh, Douglass’s wish to escape is nonetheless renewed. While being a slave at Freeland’s, Douglass begins teaching his fellow slaves in a school at homes for free blacks. Despite the punishment and harsh violence that they face, many of slaves from close by farms went to go see Douglass and learn. While at Freeland’s, Douglass also plans an escape with three other slaves with whom he is very close to. Before they had a chance to escape, someone betrays them and tells the plan to Freeland and the gang is sent to jail. Once Douglass is out of jail, Thomas Auld then sends Douglass back to Baltimore with Hugh Auld to learn about the trade of ship caulking.
While working in the trade industry at Baltimore, Douglass has to go up against other races. The whites were working with the free black workers, but the whites were begging to fear that not before long, more of the free blacks come and take their jobs. Douglass is still a slave recived unwanted attention and violence from other white coworkers and is forced to switch to another shipyard. In Douglass's new apprenticeship, he quickly learns the trade of caulking and he soon earns the highest wage ammount as possible, but always giving them to his owner, Hugh Auld.

In the end, Douglass receives permission from Hugh Auld to hire out all of his extra time. Douglass saves up some of his money little by little nd eventually get enought money to make his escape to New York. Douglass is free at last but he refuses on describing how he exaclty escaped so that he could protect future slaves who want to follow him in the same escape route. When in New York, Douglass fears that he might get recapture and become a slave again so he changes his name from Bailey to Douglass. Soon after that, Douglass gets married to Annd Murray. Anna Murray is also a free woman that he met while he was still a slave working in Baltimore. They both moved north to Massachusetts together where Douglass then becomes a writer.



I'd have to say that Frederick Douglass is probably one of the most exciting and interesting non-fiction book that I've ever read! Well it's the only one that I've read besides Anne Frank, ha ha. But I still kind of perfer fiction books cause its jsuts soo much more.....interesting!

Frederick Douglass

The Narrative of a Life by Frederick Douglass was one of the most marvelous black biography's in history that gives insight on the cruelties endured by slaves before the American Civil War.Taken from their homes in Africa, separated from their families, and taken into a new land, these people became one of the most prominent backbones in American society. One of them, had won their right to explore the wonders of literature and freedom. This young black slave was Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery with a black mother and a white father. He starts his life as any other slave, separated from his mother and under the hands of cruel slaveholders. This though did not stop the bond between mother and son. On late nights, his mother would travel a long and winding 12 miles just to let her son feel feel the warmth and comfort he needed after a long day of work, whips and slanders from their cruel master Captain Anthony. When he was seven, his mother died. No one was there to comfort him on those cold nights. No one to have hope with. NO ONE TO LOVE. Frederick Douglass spent his next years working for Captain Anthony and under the eyes of Mr. Plummer. A cruel and drunk son of a gun who carries his whip and beer all over the place while lashing the backs of poor souls open for no given reason. One cruel and unjust whipping told by Frederick Douglass is the whipping of his Aunt Hester. She was very beautiful as told by Frederick Douglass and had caught the lustful eyes of Mr. Plummer. It was said she had run off with another slave named Ned and was whipped for so. Frederick describes this as the most horrendous scene of cruelty he had every witnessed and until today there aren't any words to describe it. Mr. Plummer was drunk and had carried out his whip. He lashed open at Aunt Hester until he was fatigued from it at until the bloody drops of red streamed to the ground.Frederick was so very scared that he hid in the closet and from then on set out to end the cruelty's of slavery. He also describes the farms surrounding the great house. A whole orchard of apples and oranges surrounds the house and a fence surround it covered with tar. Anyone seen with tar on them is whipped even if they had never tried to steal the fruit. Colonel Loyd also has an impressive stable with horses and carriages. He has two caretakers named Barney and Barney J.R. The Colonel is very critical on the way his horses looked and any minute change in the way they looked, weighed or walked meant a whipping to Barney or his son. When Frederick turns eight, he is sent to go live with at the aulds which is Captain Loyd's Son in laws cousin or something. There he is treated surprisingly nicely and is taught to read and write by Mrs. Auld. When Mr. Auld finds out what she is doing he tells her to stop immidiatley. Mrs Auld then becomes very cruel and cold to Frederick and her whole person changes. This does not stop Frederick. He gives bread to boys in the neighborhood in exchange for tutoring on how to read and write. He lives in the Auld's home for about 7 years and then he is moved from slave owner to slave owner until he becomes free and helps hundreds of slaves become free.

My response: Frederick Douglass was a man of courage and compassion for his people. he was determined to change the face of our country by making all people equal. If Frederick douglass were alive today, he would jump in joy over the fruits of his perseverance. All people today are equal wether it be sex, race, skin color, height, or any other thing and that is the way it should be Frederick Douglass was great man and a Hero to everyone.

Frederick Douglass

By: Sean Russell



Frederick Douglass


The book Frederick Douglass is a book about an American slave. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery. As a young man and still a slave in Maryland, Frederick Douglass was known for his intellligence by both blacks and whites. During his life as a slave in Baltimore, he learned to read and write and developed his speaking ability. Douglass had a deep comemitment to teaching and speaking on the need for freedom and equality for African Americans. He escaped from slavery in Bedford, Massachusetts. There he leerned about Douglass and Garrison worked together toend slavery. Douglass began telling his story at meatings of the Abolitionist Society. He
was an intense speaker who drew his audiaence into his personal stories of the slave
experience. Douglass became a powerful voice convincing many Americans to support
abolition of the institution of slavery.

Frederick Douglass continued his campaign to eliminate slavery by traveling to Great Britain from 1845 to 1847. At this point in his life, he broadened his goal to support struggles for human rights. He favored Irish home rul, women’s suffrage, prison
reform, and free public school educeation. Speaking in New York in 1857, Douglass
proclaimed, “The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all
concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and
yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they
want rain without thunder and lighttning. They want ocean without the roar of its many
waters.”

During the Civil War, Frederick Douglass worked as an enlistment officer for the Union. He knew President Lincoln personally and urged him to focus on emancipation as an issue in the Civil War. Followeing the war Douglass worked for the Freedman’s Bureau and held federal government positions. Douglass served as miniaster to Haiti and US marshal for the District of Columbia.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass; By: Ryann Linthicum

Narrative of the Life of  FREDERICK DOUGLASS

By: Ryann Linthicum

Fredrick Douglass was a hero in many cases. He was the son of an African-American women named Harriet Bailey and a white slaveholder. He was born in about 1818 in Tuckahoe, Maryland. Frederick Douglass was separated from his mother when he was an infant; he had never gotten the chance to know her, because he was so young.  His mother would sometimes travel twelve miles on foot just to see Frederick Douglass, but it was only for short periods of time. Frederick was about seven years old when he was informed his mother had passed away, but he was not that affected by it because he was never really given the chance to get to know her. Frederick was first a slave to Captain Anthony. He realized slavery when he saw his master whip his Aunt Hester. He was scared when he saw this.  He was worried that he would be the next one to be whipped. Captain Anthony, his two sons and one daughter all lived on Colonel Lloyd's plantation. Colonel Lloyd was very rich.He had hundreds of slaves and he did not even know some of them.  Frederick Douglass was to small to work in the field so some of the jobs he had were easier then the ones of an older age.  He spent most of his time helping Colonel Lloyd find his birds after he had shot them and because of their connection, Colonel Lloyd would sometimes protect Frederick. 

Frederick was about seven or eight when he left Colonel Lloyd to go to Baltimore to live with Mr. Hugh Auld. When he arrived to his new home Mr. and Mrs. Auld greeted him, and then he was given little Thomas. He also was given a new mistress, Ms. Sophia Auld. He was the only slave from Colonel Lloyd to go to Baltimore. After living there for a while Mrs. Auld started to teach Frederick the letters a, b, and c, and she started teaching him how to spell small words. After some time of this Mr. Auld found out and told Mrs. Auld all of the consequences that go along with teaching a slave how to read and write. This made Frederick understand the difference from slavery to freedom. This did not stop him from learning how to read, it encouraged him to learn how to read. 

By now Frederick had lived with them for about seven years. He, for the most part, had taught himself how to read.  In Frederick's free time he would hang out with the poor white kids that lived around that area. He talked to them a lot about slavery. The fact that Frederick would be a slave for life sometimes scared him. Frederick found a book one day called The Columbian Orator. It taught him about the understandings of slavery and how powerful human rights were. It gave him a different view of the conditions he was in, that he knew he would never be able to escape from.  

He was planning to run away, but he first wanted to learn how to write. He learned by being in Durgin and Baliey's shipyard, learning the letters that were written on the wood. He also used Thomas's copy books, that he no longer needed and rewrote the letters that Thomas had wrote. 

Frederick soon found out that his masters youngest son Richard died, and about  three years and six months later Captain Anthony died. Because of this Frederick had to go leave Baltimore, and go back. After being there for a few weeks he realized how good of a life he had, in Baltimore. He was given to Mrs. Lucretia and she sent him back to Baltimore to live in the family of master Hugh. Just after going to Baltimore Lucretia died, and after that Andrew died. The land was all given to strangers. Thomas got married then to his second wife, and he took Frederick to live with him at St. Michael's. After this it made him more determined to run away. In March of 1832 he went to live with Thomas. He became mean and did not give his slaves enough to eat. So, Frederick sometimes would let his horse out, then he would have to chase it about five miles down from St. Michael's, where Master William Hamilton would feed him enough. This made Thomas very mad and he lent Frederick to a man named Edward Covey, who was known to "break" slaves. He lived with Mr. Covey for one year. Mr. Covey was different, though, of all the other slave holders, he did work with his hands. Just a few months with Mr. Covey, and Frederick had been broken and tamed. He continued to break down Frederick and finally, Frederick reacts to it, and fights Mr. Covey, and the remaining time that he has to spend with him, Mr. Covey does not lay a finger on him. 

In January of 1834, Frederick is sent to live with Mr. William Freeland.  Mr. Freeland was a good master that treated the slaves fairly. Frederick starts trying to get some of the other slaves, to teach them how to read, but soon more and more slaves start to hear about this and Frederick starts to teach all the other slaves to read and write by teaching at a Sabbath school. Later on, after being with Mr. Freeland for another year, Frederick just wanted to be free. So, on the Sunday before Easter, Frederick and a few other slaves planned to escape and become free. That morning they end up getting caught and Frederick was sent back to Baltimore to go return to Master Thomas Auld. All of the slaves that tried to escape were put in jail, but later on all of the slaves were sent home, except for Frederick. Frederick was then sent to a shipbuilder named William Gardner. Frederick, one day, gets attacked by a few white men. Frederick is not aloud to fight back, or serious consequences occur for hurting a white man. Frederick was then learning caulking under Walter Price, who gives him the highest payment aloud, but then Frederick gave all of that money to Mr. Auld. Yet on some occasions were Frederick made more Mr. Auld would give him a few cents to reward him for all of his hard work. 

Master Thomas Auld then visits Baltimore and Frederick asks him if he can do his own work, and Master Thomas said no. About two months later Frederick then asks Mr. Auld if he can do work of his own, he agrees and lets him, but on one condition, that Frederick has to pay Mr. Auld three dollars at the end of every week, no matter what. Frederick liked this freedom, yet one week in August Frederick is at a meeting ten miles out from Baltimore and can not get Mr. Auld the money until the following day. Mr. Auld is very angry and the following week, Frederick does no work, so he again does not have the money. Then Frederick decides to try a second escape on September third. He continued to work even harder then before so Mr. Auld would not get any ideas about what he was about to do. He started to feel uncomfortable about leaving, and he was afraid of failing, but he did it and escaped to New York. He did not realize the difference there would be and he know that he could trust no one, but he was helped by Mr. David Ruggles. He told Frederick that is was no longer safe to stay there and that he and Anna should go to Massachusetts to continue his job as a caulker. The next three years Frederick works at a lot of different jobs. He then had earned the amount of money he needed to write in the Liberator. Later on, Frederick goes to a place where he is asked to speak about his experiences with slavery. Frederick Douglass was a hero. 

My Reaction: This was a very interesting book that gave me a different view of slavery. He had a very rough life but he worked hard and he was able to become free. This is a good book to show you about perseverance and determination. I would have to say I liked the book Anne Frank better because it was a little more exciting. 

harrison wray

Douglass’ Narrative begins with the few facts he knows about his birth and parentage his father is a slave owner and his mother is a slave named Harriet Bailey. Douglass shows white slave owners raping slave women and what is wrong with it both to satisfy their sexual hungers and to expand their slave populations. In the first chapter, Douglass also makes mention of the hypocrisy of Christian slave owners who used religious teachings to justify their treatment of slaves the religious practice of slave owners is a theme in the book.The next chapters Douglass describes the conditions in which he and other slaves live. As a slave of Captain Anthony and Colonel Lloyd, Douglass survives on and is often cold. He witnesses brutal beatings and the murder of a slave, which goes unnoticed by the law or the community that is quite large. Douglass argues against the people that slaves who sing are instead, he likes singing to crying away to relieve anger and depression. Douglass also draws attention to the false system of values created by slavery, in which to the slave master is far stronger than an to other slaves.When he is seven or eight years old, Douglass is sent to Baltimore to live with the Auld family and care for their son, Thomas. Mrs. Auld gives Douglass reading lessons until her husband comes. Douglass continues his lessons by trading bread for lessons with poor neighborhood white boys and by using Thomas books. Soon, Douglass discovers a little improvement in his readining
Several years later, as a result of his original owner’s death, Douglass finds himself being lent to a poor farmer with a reputation for “breaking” Douglass spends a year with Covey, who cruelly and brutally whips the slave until Douglass finally fights him. From that day on, Covey leaves Douglass alone. At that point to me douglass was a hero it kind of to me caompared like he was fighting off the sins and one and god was in him that is what it seemed like to me.
Douglass lives for a time with William Freeland, a kind master, and Douglass finds a family among the other slaves there. Douglass becomes a Sunday school teacher to other slaves, a position he likes. Although this situation is better than any he has experienced he still didn't feel like he had freedom yet so Douglass attempts to escape by up . He is caught and eventually finds himself working again for Hugh Auld in Baltimore. First, he runs errands for shipyard workers, but he after some of the workers heckle and strike Douglass, he fights back and is nearly beaten to death. Working at a different shipyard after the fight, Douglass becomes proficient at ship caulking, but he is forced to turn his wages over to Auld. Douglass soon makes an arrangement with Auld to hire himself out and give Auld a set amount of money each week. Douglass is allowed to pocket the rest, thus saving enough for his escape to New York. After his escape, Douglass is advised to move to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and he settles there with his new wife, Anna Murray. Douglass makes a living doing odd jobs; he is unable to find work as a caulker, however, because the white caulkers refuse to work with blacks, fearing the former slaves will take over their jobs. Although he still fears being caught and returned to the South, Douglass attends an anti-slavery convention, where he is encouraged to speak. This forms the beginning of his life in the public eye, speaking and writing in favor of the abolition of slavery. he then becomes a free man and made a huge mark in history



My reaction: this book was very good i much more liked this book the i liked anne frank this book was alot more confusing then the anne frank book but this guy really seems like a hero to me he just planted his foot to some of the slave owners and just said know i am not going to do that and said also to some people yeah sure i will do that he mad a big mark in american slave history




book: Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglas

Harrison Wray

The life of Frederick Douglass- By Bree Martin

While reading the book "The narative of the life of Frederick Douglass" I have red about a black man named Frederick Douglass and what his life was like while growing up. Frederick Douglass was an American abolitionist or an anti-slavery campaigner, and was one of the most prominent figures in African American history. He was a firm believer in the equality of all people. He was fond of saying "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong". And he fufiled his saying as the book later explains. Frederick Douglass was born on Febuary 1818, in Talbot country, Maryland, U.S. He was born a slave. He was seperated from his mother (Harriet Bailey), when he was an infant, and then was brought to an old women's house (his grandmother), where she raised him as her own child. His mother was a black women, and his father to him was unknown. At the age of 6, Douglass was seperated from his grandmother and moved to another place to live and to serve. By the early 1800's he had served many people at a young age, ending up with a new keeper: Edward Covey. Mr. Covey was a slave "breaker" and Douglass's keeper for one year. Covey was the man that many slave owners sent their unruly slaves to. Douglass was sent to Covey because he was caught not working, by his master (Captain Anthony). This was a cruel fate for Douglass, because Covey punished him and made him work until he couldn't work anymore, and when he couldn't work Covey would kick him and beat him until he worked again. After one year pasted Douglass was free of Covey and continued to work for his old master: Captain Anthony (probaly Douglass's father). Even though Douglass was glad he didn't need to serve Mr. Covey no longer, he still disaproved of his master Captain Anthony. For his master beat Douglass's aunt, and was very cruel to him. Captain Anthony had 2 sons, and 1 daughter who was married to a man named Thomas Auld. They all lived together in a house on a central plantation owned by a man named Colonel Lloyd. Captain Anthony was a worker for Colonel Lloyd by supervising all of Lloyd's overseers (well he was before he died of old age). But before Captain Anthony died Douglass was selected to go to Baltimore to live and serve Hugh Auld. He served the Auld family with great respect, and was glad he left the plantation. As the months past Douglass was astounded by the strange kindness of a new mistress, Sophia Auld. Mrs. Auld had never owned a slave before, and at first seemed untouched by the evils of slavery. Yet, ater some time, she changed to be a cruel person. She at first began to teah Douglass literature, but then she stopped when her husband (Hugh Auld) realized what she was doing. For this period of time was an important part of Douglass's life, for even though he felt hurt inside, he then understood what he must do to win his freedom. Which was for him to become educated, and to teach other slaves of enlightenment, and literature. For he had noticed that slave owners gained and kept their power over their slaves by depriving slaves of sducation and ideas, and his plan for slaves to become educated would cause many slaves to become free. During Douglass's first several years in Baltimore he learned to read and write (privatley) and then returned to the plantation when hie old master: Captain Anthony died. He and other slaves owned by Captain Anthony were to be divided among his children. Douglass was sent to Lucretia ( Captain Anthony's daughter) and she decided to send him back to Baltimore. As we read on in the book it tells us how Douglass gained his place in history, and how he freed many slaves. Frederick Douglass died at the age of 77 in Washington, D.C.



My response:

My response to this book is a good one. I have enjoyed reading this book. It has taught me more about Black history, and what has happened in the past. The life of Freddrick Douglass was a depressing life at first. He like many other young black children had to work just because of their race. This part saddens me. I'm glad that America is no longer dependent on slaves. At the end of Freddrick Douglass's life is a good ending. He gets to be known of one of the most prominent figures in African American history,and became a world wide hero.

The Color of Your Skin Does Not Matter, By Nicole Emiko

I have read about the life of Malcom X, and almost all of his problems were caused by racial discrimination. His family was poor because no one wanted to hire a black person. He didn’t have a steady income, and could hardly support himself. When Malcom was little, couldn’t get well educated, because he or his family didn’t have enough money. Before becoming Malcom X, no one respected him. He didn’t have a high self esteem, and he thought of himself as hopeless. How could he support a family, or enjoy the happiness of riches, self respect, and knowing you did something that is worth praising? Just because he was black, he had few opportunities to becoming a successful businessman. If Malcom didn’t convert to Islam, and become an Islamic leader, his life would have been lifeless and depressing. Not many people were able to be famous leaders like Malcom, or Martin Luther King Jr. If you were a certain race that was considered a disgrace, you were most likely not going to be someone famous like Malcom. So, how would you support yourself or family members? How would you obtain an occupation? How would you get educated to obtain an occupation? How would you go about your life being proud of your accomplishments? No one should judge what your ethnic background is. No one can change or help what race he is born into. I know many black people that are more intelligent and respected than white people. People should be judged upon how they conduct themselves, and their decisions that they make, not by things they can’t change. Although racial discrimination has come a long way, it is still happening around the world everyday, and it needs to stop. No one should suffer because of what race they were born into.

Malcom X: By Any Means Necessary

The man we know as Malcom X was born on May 19, 1925, was born in Omaha, Nebraska as Malcom Little. His mother was Lousie Little and his father was Earl Little. Earl Little was a black rights activist. He strived to help his people “reach their full potential”. Earl’s ideas were based on the ideas of a black leader named Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey created an organization called the U.N.I.A. or the Universal Negro Improvement Association. When Earl moved his family to Omaha, Nebraska, he took Marcus’s ideas with him. Earl soon became the head of the U.N.I.A. in Omaha. As Earl spread around his beliefs, racists threatened to harm him and his family. They drove earl and his family out of Omaha. Although Earl received threats, he did not give up on his beliefs. Earl and his family moved to Milwaukee and were still involved in the U.N.I.A. Garvey suggested that all African-Americans Move to Africa. Many blacks did not want to associate themselves with Africa so they complained to the government. Later, Garvey was arrested for mail fraud. The Littles moved to the outskirts of Lansing, Michigan. Their neighbors disapproved having blacks living next to them. Earl fought for the right to live in the house that he bought. Two weeks later, Malcom and his family were awakened by a fire that was started in their house. It was in the middle of the night. The fire department came to the house, but didn’t try to put out the fire. The Littles watched as their house burned down. Malcom’s family then moved to East Lansing, Michigan. There, his family was stoned by his neighbors. Earl wanted safety for his family so he moved again to the outskirts of the town. By 1931 there were seven children in the little family. Malcom’s had six brothers and sisters. The oldest was Wilfred, and then came Hilda, then Philbert and then Malcom. Reginald, Yvonne, and Wesley were his younger siblings. As a child, Malcom watched his father speak at U.N.I.A. meetings and respected how he spoke with such power and pride. By the age of six, he already knew many of the problems that faced the blacks. On the 28th of September 1931, Malcom was awakened by his mothers screams. Malcom’s father, Earl Little, was dead. He had been run over by a trolley. They suspected that he was killed by white people who hated him. Malcom had experienced so much tragedy by the age of six years. Malcom experienced another big change in his life, going to school. Most of the people at Malcom’s school were white, but they treated Malcom nicely. Malcom’s mother, Louise Little, did “day’s work”. They cleaned houses and earned money for their days work. Many of the black women had this job. They were offered five dollars for a week’s work. Louise earned fifty cents per day. She barely had enough money for food. She was well educated and if she had been white, she would have had been better off. Malcom got more and more worse in his behavior. He put a thumbtack on his teacher’s chair and was expelled from school. His mother was receiving welfare at the time and the social security workers questioned Louise about how she was as a parent. Later, Louise was sent to a mental institute. Malcom then went to live with his half sister, Ella. Ella invited Malcom to live with her in Boston. Malcom had to adjust to the city life. Ella told Malcom that he should make friends with high caliber people. Instead, he made friends with a boy her met at a pool hall. The boy’s name was Shorty. Shorty taught him how a black person could make a living in Boston. Malcom soon got a job as a shoe-shiner. He really knew how to entertain his customers. Soon enough, Malcom was learning how to speak and act like the people in Roxbury. Ella disapproved of Malcom spending his time in Roxbury. Malcom liked the excitement that was in Roxbury. Malcom wanted to change his image. He got his first Zoot Suit and got his first “Conk”. A Conk was a hairstyle used in the 40’s and 50’s. For teenagers, it was hard to find a job. Ella’s friend helped Malcom get a job on the railroad as a kitchen helper. As a kitchen helper, Malcom washed dishes, cleaning up after the cooks, bagging and disposing garbage, and washing stoves and counters. This kind of job was considered a great job for a black man. In early 1942, Malcom got to travel. He was assigned to the New York to Boston run. He then got a job as a sandwich man. He was on the train selling coffee cakes, ham and cheese sandwiches and coffee. In 1943, Malcom was eighteen years old and was in between jobs. Malcom sold drugs such as Marijuana, gambled, and worked with big-time mobsters. Malcom then became known as Detroit Red. He was then arrested for robbery and spent six years in prison. While Malcolm was in prison, his brother, Reginald Little sent letters to him describing his experience with the Nation Of Islam, and decided to convert. Malcom wrote letters to a man named Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the State of Islam. He responded to Malcom’s letters telling him not to think of himself as a criminal, but to think of the white people who have forced him to act the way he has. In 1952 Malcom was released from Prison. Malcom then met Elijah in person for the first time. He invited Malcom and other members to his house to have a meeting. There. Malcom fully understood the beliefs of the Nation of Islam. At the meeting, Malcom gained the right to drop his slave name and take up the last name “X”. The “X” represented his lost African name. Malcom then became a minister for the New York Temple Number Seven. Malcom then marries Sister Betty X four years later. Malcom helped the Nation of Islam to grow. In 1964, Malcom announced his split from the Nation of Islam. Malcom was willing to work with anyone who was willing to help African-Americans gain freedom. While Malcom was giving a speech in 1965, he was shot and murdered. The people accused of murdering Malcom were Norman 3X Butler, Thomas 15X Johnson, and Talmadge Hayer.

-By Jayke Manzano

The Diary of ANNE FRANK; by Lauren Hanano

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Anne, happy birthday to you! For Anne Frank's thirteenth birthday she recives a diary as a gift from her father which she later names "Kitty". Anne almost immediately fills in the pages of her diary with the details of her eeryday life: relationships with her friends, boys who like her, and her life at school. Anne confides in her diary so much because she feels like she has no true friends to open up with. Anne was a very fortunate girl with lots of friends, two loving parents to look out and care for her, and an older sister as a great role model. Anne's a comical girl who can't stop talking and loves to write up fictionals storie but, also serious and understandingat times when needed to be.

Despite the threats and danger that her family faces, Anne manages to stay calm and not spill the beans as they move into their new home, "The Secret Annex". The "Secret Annex" was located behind a book shelf through a secret door above Mr.Frank's old office. There were lots of people below them throughout the day so there were certain hours when you could run water and use the bathroom. Another Jewish family of three, the Van Daans soon joined the Franks in hidding. Of course the annex was slightly more cramped up with only limited space but Anne was just longing for complany and someone to talk to. In the family there was Mr. Van Daan, Mrs. Van Daan, and Peter. Peter was a shy boy who was just a couple years older than Anne. Mr. Van Daan wasn't too much of a problem and did his own thing. Then Mrs. Van Daan was the total opposite of the other two, she was very loud, obnixous, and basically a brat.

During her first year of living in the annex, the adults were constantly criticizing Anne on her behavior and giving her a hard time. Anne feels extremely lonesome and in need of some kindness and affection, which she thinks that her mother is incapable of doing. The maturity of Anne's writing changes as well as her personality while she is in hiding. As she matures, Anne comes to long for intimacy with a boy counterpart. She becomes carried away with Peter, the Van Daans teenage son, and comes to consider him as a very close friend for he is someone she can confide in, and they eventually fall in love.

In Anne's final diary entries, its obvious about the changes she has undergone, her ambitions, and how the holocaust is changing her. She has a clear perspective of how she has matured during their time in hidding. She has gone from an disrespectful and stubborn, imature little girl to a more emotionally independent young woman. Anne continues to wonder how she can be a good person when there are so many obstacles stopping her in her world. Anne thinks deeply about the war and humanity and also about her role as a young Jewish girl in such a challenging world.

From her diary I've learned sooo much about what it was like back in the day during the time of World War Two and the Holocaust. I must admit thought that this is the first non-fiction book that I have ever read and I'm not too sure if I liked it or not. Well I mean it was okay and all but it just got kinda boring I guess cause it was her diary. Can't wait to see what book you have next for us to read!

Angelica Pearson: Life of Fredrick Douglas

Blog: Narrative of Life of Frederick Douglas

Frederick Douglas was born into slavery and lived from 1818-1895. He was born in Maryland and died at age 77 in Washington D. C. Frederick Douglas was a slave from 1818-1838, and he taught himself to read and write even though it was illegal for a slave to be taught and it was punishable by death. He escaped to freedom in 1838 and in 1841 he attended an Anti slavery convention in Massachusetts. After he escaped he got married to a free American slave named Anna Murray who he met just before he ran away to freedom.

The book was written during his life as a slave about the terrors he suffered in slavery.
At the time the book was published in 1845, Frederick lectured about his life in slavery for the anti-slavery movement. Frederick also spent 2 years in Great Brittan and Ireland and gave several lectures there, mainly in churches and chapels.

During the pre-Civil War period, Frederick published a series of newspapers called the North Star. He also was outspoken about the lack of education for freed black children in New York and New England. Frederick was in his 40’s during the Civil War. He disapproved of John Brown’s plan for rebellion at Harper’s Ferry, but continued with the Abolitionist movement. Frederick met with President Lincoln in 1863 to discuss treatment of black soldiers. Six days after the war ended in 1865, Lincoln was shot and killed in Ford Theater. Frederick Douglass was there in the audience at Lincoln’s Memorial because Lincoln was his friend and helped all the slaves to freedom.


In the first chapter, his mother Harriet Talbot died when he was young and that is common for slaves; they lose their parents at a young age to death or slave trade. Parents were either sold or they died from a disease because he said that the slaves were sleeping in close quarters and it was easy to catch something. Separation of parent and child by selling to others was very common at this time and it was common that they never saw each other ever again. After Frederick’s mom died, most of his family was still alive but scattered on different plantations. He was lucky that he had one aunt that still lived on the plantation with him. Frederick was moved to a second plantation and he did mention that he had a cousin there to live with.



In the book it sounds like he lived in New England because he mentions at one point that the slaves went looking for oysters. At some points Frederick talks about a boat transporting him to a new plantation. He also talks about lumber that someone was going to use to make a boat and how he learned how to read and write the letters cut into the logs.

At the plantations there were a couple slaveholders that would keep an eye on the slaves and also whip them when they were bad. In the book, there was one really mean man and his name fitted his punishments. His name was Mr. Severe and he had a very colorful vocabulary, no heart visible in an X-ray, and a temper worse than a rhino’s. The slaves were happy when he died and he lived the way he died, saying bad words. There was a much nicer slaveholder at the plantation after him that had a less colorful vocabulary and a heart.

The slaves got a yearly allowance of clothes but the kids did not get clothes for a while. The slaves did not even have beds but they got blankets that were not very good looking. They also got food but they did not get a table to eat it on and it probably was not very good. Frederick did say that at his second master’s plantation the Colonel died there, then his son died some time after the father’s death, then his daughter died sometime after her brother’s death. The daughter was nice to Frederick so he sounded sad writing the book when he remembered it at the time he was writing the book. In the Afterword he is remembered in black history as a “culture hero”.

This was near the time Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad led slaves to freedom. Frederick Douglas probably sang this song “Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd”. It really is a map to the Underground Railroad and the drinking gourd is the Big Dipper. At the time it was illegal for a slave to marry another or have a ceremony. The bride and groom had to hop on a broom and they were married. The slaves could not even go to church because they would pray to be released and the plantation owners would have no one to run the plantation for free.

The book was pretty good and when I read about Frederick Douglass on the Internet it sounded as if he was almost like Martin Luther King Jr. I think that after he ran away from slavery when he was 20 that he had a better life than a slave his same age. I am glad that he ran away and that he knew how to read and write. Otherwise this book would have never existed and I would not have known what slavery was like for a young person.

Malcolm X: Unfair Racism.

Malcolm Little was born into a period of great struggles for black people, in 1925, just a few years before the great depression. Malcolm had 7 siblings, and a caring mother and father. The family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1926 and to Lansing Michigan shortly after. In 1931 Malcolm’s father was found dead after he got run over by a street car. After, Louise Little, Malcolm’s mother had a nervous breakdown and was later considered legally insane. Malcolm and his siblings went to separate foster homes. Malcolm graduated from junior high but decided not to continue his education after a teacher told him that he would never get the job he wanted, a lawyer, because of his race. Malcolm moved to New York in 1943. He found work as a shoeshine in Harlem. However, after a while in Harlem he turned to illegal activities such as drug dealing, gambling, and robbery. In 1946 Malcolm was arrested for stealing a watch. In court, he pleaded guilty and was sent to Charlestown State Prison. He found pleasure in reading books while in prison. In 1948 Malcolm was transferred to an experimental prison in Massachusetts. In 1952 he received parole and was released from prison. In 1952 he joined the nation of Islam. Soon after, he changed his surname to "X". Until Malcolm left the organization in 1964, Malcolm always preached the whites as "devils". in 1958 Malcolm got married to Betty X and later had 6 daughters. He founded his own organization called Muslim Mosque Inc. He completed his religious quest by making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Malcolm X was assonated on February 21, 1965 while he was delivering a speech in Manhattans Audubon Ballroom. His funeral was held on February 27, 1965.
Imagine being told that you would never become what you want, because of your skin color. Does it seem fair that fair skinned people have better chances of getting good jobs than black skinned people? I believe that racism is a major flaw in our society, especially a few decades ago, during Malcolm's time.
Think of all of the black people that were, and still are, being prosecuted just because of their skin color. I believe that black people are just as qualified, if not even more qualified, to do everything that white people do. Why are white people any "better" than black people? I believe that Malcolm suffered from a lot of racial judgment, from when he was one of the poorest kids in school, because his mother did not get paid as much as the other women, to when he got shot, just because he was giving a speech. I believe that he had a right to hate white people, he did not do any serious crime, he did not kill anyone, yet him and his followers were prosecuted, and even killed by white gangs and white individuals.
Towards the end of the book, Malcolm would be prepared for an attack at any minute. He kept a loaded gun in his possession. He even said To come right down to it, if I take the kind of things which I believe, then add to that the kind of temperament that I have, plus the one hundred per cent dedication I have to whatever I believe in- these are ingredients which make it just impossible for me to die of old age --The autobiography of Malcolm X. I believe that is not fair for any man to face because of his color of skin and his beliefs. Malcolm knew that he would be killed because of his black skin and his dedication to his beliefs, yet he did not give up. I think that level of determination proves that ones skin color does not make him who he is, he chooses who he wants to be. Skin color is simply what it seems, a color, not a bragging right.
You'll find very few people who feel like I feel that live long enough to get old. I'll tell you what I mean and why I say that. When I say by any means necessary, I mean it with all my heart, and my mind and my soul. But a black man should give his life to be free, but he should also be willing to take the life of those who want to take his. It's reciprocal. And when you think like that you don't live long... I believe that ones skin color goes only skin deep, it doesn't make you any better, I believe that what matters is how understanding and determined one is, and if he has great qualities, he will become a great man, white or black.

malcom x blog

Malcom Little started out as a young, good boy. He always did the right thing. He was the president of his class and a very good student. He always listened to his parents and was a good kid. But later in life, his life took a bad turn. He went from a grade A student. To a hustling gangster. This turn, he proboably thought was good. but really, it was bad.
I have seen this in many people. their life is going in the right direction. then they start hanging out wit the wrong people. and make a turn for the worse. they will start doing the things that their friends are doing. wether it is just to fit in, be cool or because u got pressured in to doing it. it could be drugs, sex, or anything bad. i have seen a lot of people in my life that have done this. they will be going to church, caring abut school and getting good grades. they start hanging out with the wrong people and soon, you will stop seeing them at church. they will stop excelling at school. they will just care abut doing other things. it doesnt matter what it is. but mabye, they will relize that they are going in the wrong track, and will come back to being good. not everybody is the same. most people don't go off in the right track. but a lot of people do.


by dylan

in the time of malcolm X

An attempted black right movement had started out from his father, Earl Little and Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey was the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association or U.N.I.A in which Malcolm’s was a big part of and he ran the Omaha chapter. This organization’s main purpose was to bring about a black rights movement to that there for the rights that they could have the freedoms that the non colored white people had such as sitting in the front of the bus going to the same schools and therefore that black people could have the same respect and dignity as the other people. Malcolm also contributed to this by doing speeches setting up rallies doing protests and occasionally violent acts to show that they were serious. Malcolm X started a group after he had become a Muslim he stated a group called the black Muslims in which he when to different places trying to get the best care for the black people in the area. Authorities in those areas knew about the Black Muslims and heard rumors that they hated white people and that they were trained in the deadliest of the martial arts, but this was not true the Black Muslims were a peaceful group that did know the martial arts but did not use them they were just there to take good care of the black population.

--by ilind farris

The Backgrounds of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

    On May 19, 4 years before the Great Depression began, Malcolm Little was born to  young, African-American parents, Earl and Louise Little in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up in a family of 7 children with a father who was a minister and a big part of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (U.N.I.A.) and an educated mother who had come from the British Island of Grenada. When Malcolm was 4, his family moved to a farmhouse in Lansing, Michigan. However, whites who were opposed to having black neighbors burnt down the house on a cold, November night. The family moved again, only to be met with similar challenges. In 1929, Earl Little began to fear for his family's safety and moved again to the outskirts of Lansing. As the son of the head of a U.N.I.A. chapter, Malcolm grew up listening to his father speaking at many public functions about the problems that faced black people who lived in America. 

    However, when Malcolm was 6 years old, his father was crushed by a trolley and killed. Around this time, Malcolm started school in a mainly white elementary school. He struggled through this time of his life, as did his mother and the rest of America. His mother, as smart as she was, could not keep a job and support her family. Malcolm and the rest of the Little children were sent to different foster homes in Michigan.

    As a young teenager, Malcolm began to have troubles in school, and was transferred to a county juvenile home 12 miles from his mother's home. At the juvenile home, Malcolm was pushed to get good grades, and succeeded. However, one time one of his highly respected asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Malcolm responded by saying that he wanted to be a lawyer. His teaches seemed displeased, and said,

  "We all here like you, you know that. But you've got to be realistic about being a nigger. A lawyer- that's no realistic goal for a nigger. You need to think about something you can be. You're good with your hands. Why don't you plan on carpentry?"

  This was a turning point in Malcolm's life. To make a change in his life, he moved to boston in 1941 to live with his half-sister, Ella. Boston was a completely different city than Lansing, with many more black people. In this town, Malcolm began to hang out with different people, an they influenced him greatly. After awhile,  he moved to Harlem in search of more respect as a black man. The new Malcolm believed that this respect would be found only in a black community. He began to steal things, and he was eventually caught. He was sentenced to a State Prison for eight to ten years. While in prison, he received letterd from his brothers and sisters, especially from his brother, Renigald, who was a minister in the Nation of Islam. After talking and corresponding with several Islamists, Malcolm decided to convert to the religion in 1947. 

  Five years later, Malcolm was released from prison and moved to Detroit. A month later, he heard the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, speak. Afterwards, he gave up his English last name of Little  X, to symbolize his African roots, and became a minister in a New York temple. There, Malcolm used his knowledge from his days in Harlem to spread the religion of Islam. He met a young, beautiful, black woman called Betty and they married in January, 1958. Ten months after, their first daughter, Attallah, was born. Her sister Qubilah followed two years later. They also had a third daughter after another two years named Ilysah. During this time, the rapidly-growing Nation of Islam was being represented more and more in America by a militant Malcolm. He once proclaimed at a public speech, " Our enemy is the white man! . . .Oh, yes, that devil is our enemy."

In the late 1950s, while many black people in the North were speaking of the strength of Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, the people in the South were talking about Martin Luther King, Jr., and the strength of his nonviolent methods to fight racial discrimination. The F.B.I. began to take tabs on Malcolm, especially after he spoke with the leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro. Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm began to not quite see eye-to-eye. After Malcolm publicly commented on President Kennedy's assassination against the wishes of the Nation of Islam, he split from the Nation in 1964. He soon formed a new organization, Muslim Mosque, Inc., and met Martin Luther King. In order to fulfill his religious quest, he completed a pilgrimage to Mecca and returned with another new name, and many new ideas. The same year, his fourth daughter, Gamilah, was born.

Sadly, Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21st, 1965 when he was delivering a speech in Harlem's Audobon Ballroom. He lived to be the mere age of 40. That fall after his death, his twin daughters (numbers five and six) were born. More than a year after Malcolm's assassination, Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler, and Thomas 15X Johnson were convicted of his murder,  and sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, Malcolm's goal and dream of racial equality was not his alone. Another man that was born 4 years after him, and assassinated 3 years after him, was a civil rights activist in the South, while Malcolm was the activist of the North. This man's name was Dr. Martin Luther  King, Jr. While Malcolm X in the northern United States was preaching the religion of Islam and for blacks to become equal "by any means necessary", Martin was being influenced by men such as Mohandas Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau, and preaching civil disobedience and non-violence. Both of these very famous men had very different approaches to the same goal due to their early influences and experiences.

As mentioned, one of Malcolm's early traumatic memories was having his family home burnt down. His father was killed, possibly by the Ku Klux Klan. He watched his mother struggle to feed all of her children during the Great Depression, and eventually she had a mental breakdown. As a young, bright student, Malcolm was taken away from his mother and suffered through integrated schooling. Once a respected teacher told him he could not be a lawyer and crushed his dreams. Subsequently, he dropped out of school, became involved with crime, and ended up in prison. No wonder Malcolm once said that whites were "agents of the devil"! He grew up in an atmosphere of violence, and most of that was due to white men. 

Martin Luther King, however, was raised in the exact opposite environment, where dreams and love existed in his middle-class family with loving parents who both had  professions. They taught him strong values that nurtured his sense of self-worth. Martin skipped two grades and graduated high school at the age of 15. With an A average, he entered and Ivy League college and quickly graduated. A few years after, he became a minister in the Baptist religion, and moved on to being a black civil rights activist  that will be famous for centuries.

Can you see how these two men's histories are so different? They both grew  up in very different environments, and I think this significantly affected their strategies  of how to win equality between races. Because Malcolm grew up with so much violence and fighting in his life, I believe that helps to explain why he believed the only way  to gain equality was by "any means necessary", including violence. He was taught of as an extremist and once said he believed in "black supremacy". Martin, however,  grew up knowing love and peace, and believed in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was taught by a supportive family that there are other other ways to solve things, as long as you use patience. These two great leaders of the civil rights movement both had very different tactics that seem to be influenced by their opposite backgrounds.

Malcolm X By Any Means Necessary

In Malclom X By Any Means Necessary, by Walter Dean Myers, we are shown how Malcolm Little grew up and became Malcolm X. On May 19, 1925, Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm’s father, Earl Little, wanted to “help his people gain their independence, and to help African-Americans everywhere to reach their full potential.” Influenced by the ideas of Marcus Garvey, a black leader, Earl Little fought for the rights of African-Americans. By speaking out, Earl Little spread his message. Because he spoke out about his beliefs, he was always threatened by racists and others who disagreed. When Malcolm was four, the Little family moved into Lansing, Michigan. But whites there did not want him and his family in their neighborhood. They took this to court, but when Earl Little decided to stay in the house, the house was set on fire and burnt down. Because of this, they moved into East Lansing, Michigan. But he was still getting threats and moved again. Then on September 28, 1931, Malcolm’s father died. He had been run over by a trolley. The conductor claimed to not have seen him, but Malcolm’s mother, Louise, believed he was killed by whites who did not want him to spread his beliefs about blacks.
America was in the middle of a depression when Malcolm’s father had died. Jobs were scarce and single mother Louise was having a very hard time providing for her family. Malcolm had to face poverty at the young age of six. He was teased at school because of his old clothes. He would go hungry some days because they had no money. Malcolm was good in school, and realized that he was bright. But at home, things were not going well. All the stress was taking a toll on his mother. She began to cry for no reason or talk to herself. When social workers came to their home, they found his mother to be an “unfit mother.” She was taken away from her children and they were put into foster homes. Malcolm was still doing very well in school. He was at the top of his classes and was elected as class president in the 8th grade. But one day, his teacher asked what Malcolm wanted to be when he grew up. He told his teacher that he wanted to be a lawyer. Instead of supporting this idea, his teacher said, “. . . you’ve got to be realistic about being a nigger. A lawyer – that’s no realistic goal for a nigger.” Although Malcolm knew that blacks were not expected to succeed, he thought that if he could work hard and get good grades that he could still make it. But talking with his teacher changed his mind. He went to live with his half-sister, Ella, in Boston.
Malcolm loved the excitement in Boston, and this is where he found himself a new image. With the help of his new friend, Shorty, he got his first zoot suit and a conk. Since he had dropped out of school, he was able to have a job as a shoeshine boy, a clerk in a drugstore, a busboy, and, with the help of one of Ella’s friend, a kitchen helper on the railroad. Because of Malcolm’s kitchen helper job, he was able to see different cities, including Harlem. Malcolm felt at home in Harlem’s black community. It was in Harlem where he felt that he could earn respect. But he started to use drugs. When his drugs got him into trouble with New York gangs, he moved back to Boston. There, he and a couple of his friends started to rob houses. But they were caught and Malcolm was sentenced to eight to ten years of hard labor. He was put in the Charlestown State Prison. He learned about an experimental prison reform plan that was being conducted at an institution in Norfolk, Massachusetts. He was accepted and found that Norfolk had an excellent library. From letters that he received from his relatives, he found out about the Nation of Islam.
The Nation of Islam was not just a religion. It was a movement. At 23 years old, Malcolm Little converted and wrote a letter to the head of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad. In Elijah’s reply, Malcolm was told not to think of himself as a criminal, but to think of the whites who had forced you into the acts you have committed as the criminals. When Malcolm was released from prison in 1952, he found a job at a furniture store, lived with his brother, Wilfred, in Detroit, and joined Temple Number One in Detroit. In Chicago, Malcolm saw Elijah Muhammad for the first time. After the meeting, Elijah invited him and other members to his home. They decided to try to recruit the young people in the area. After attending meeting and listening to the teachings of ministers, Malcolm Little fully understood the beliefs of the Nation of Islam. He had full membership and now, he had the right to drop his “slave name” and assume the last name of “X.” The “X” stood for his unknown, lost African name. This is how Malcolm Little became Malcolm X.
In 1954 Malcolm becomes the minister of New York Temple Number Seven and, four years later, marries Sister Betty X. Thanks to Malcolm, the Nation of Islam was growing rapidly. However, the growth proved to be too much for the structure to handle. Conflicts between Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm arose. So in 1964, Malcolm announced his split from the Nation of Islam.
After making the sacred hajj, Malcolm changed his message, he was willing to work with all races, as long as they were sincere in their efforts to help African-Americans gain freedom.
But during one of Malcolm’s speeches, in February of 1965, he was shot. A year later, it was found that Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler, and Thomas 15X Johnson had assassinated Malcolm X.
My Response:
Although I believe that Malcolm X was right, and African-Americans should be given their freedom, I do not agree with his methods. I can see it is hard to just stand by and watch “their women and children being beaten and killed,” but if you use violence to end violence, nothing gets solved. I understand that it is hard to let someone push you down without kicking him back, but if you do the same thing that he is doing, you’re no better of a person. I think if Malcolm X had followed the kindergarten rule, two wrongs don’t make a right, people would have been more supportive and his message would have gotten through a little better. Martin Luther King Jr. used tactics that created “enormous sympathy for the black cause throughout the world,” and this increased “moral pressure on American legislators to pass and enforce the new civil rights laws.” I know that Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had the same goal. Both wanted to give their people the rights they deserved. However, their ideas and methods were different. I cannot say that I completely agree with Malcolm’s ideas, but I do believe that American would not be what it is today without Malcolm X.

Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary

Malcolm X
By Any Means Necessary

Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 to Earl and Louise Little. He had many other siblings. On September 28, 1931, Malcolm received the news that his father had died. He was six years old at the time. After his father’s death, things started to go downhill. Malcolm started to feel insecure, and his mother was struggling to make money to buy the food the family needed. His mother was hardly ever home because she was too busy working or looking for work. There was no money for clothing, and Malcolm had to wear what was handed down to him by his older brothers. Then one day, Malcolm was caught stealing, and one of the neighbors reported it to the welfare investigator. The welfare investigator then questioned Malcolm’s mother, and she began to cry. Louise Little then began to sit for long periods of time without speaking. She acted as if she suddenly forgot to do things she always had done before around the house. She would ignore the children and began talking to no one in particular. She would often cry softly to herself for no reason. Soon her condition worsened, and Malcolm and some of his siblings were placed in separate homes. Malcolm was placed in a home of a black family named the Goannas. He was sad that he had been separated from his family. Malcolm was transferred from the Pleasant Grove School to West Junior High School. He began to have troubles in WJH, and one day, he put a thumbtack under the teacher’s chair and was expelled. He simply thought he wouldn’t attend school after that, but he was then forced into a reform school, which was run by the Swerlein family in Mason.
During this time in his life, Malcolm met Ella, his half sister. She invited Malcolm to Boston. Malcolm wasn’t used to cities, but he was fascinated by the pace, the music and the fast life. He then moved to the city of Boston, where there was a history of black populations and a history of civil rights. In 1943, he moved to New York City. He worked for the New Haven Railroad, and he also worked as a shoe shiner at a Lindy Hop nightclub. After some time in Harlem, he became involved in drug dealing, gambling, robbery, etc. His friends started to call him "Detroit Red.” He was later arrested for robbery and spent six years in prison.
While Malcolm was in prison, his brother Reginald wrote letters describing his experience with the Nation Of Islan, and Malcolm decided to convert.
In 1952, Malcolm was released from prison, and he went to meet Elijah Muhammad in Chicago. Soon after his meeting with Elijah Muhammad, he changed his last name, Little, to X. The X symbolizes the rejection of their slave names and the disappearance of the “inherited African” name.
In 1958, Malcolm married Betty X in Lansing, Michigan, and had six daughters. Malcolm soon started traveling and preaching about segregation. He, like Martin Luther King, Jr., did not agree with the dividing of blacks and whites. He forced equality upon the people he preached to, literally. He wanted people to get freedom… “by any means necessary.” On Feburary21,1965, Malcolm had just begun giving a speech when a disturbance broke out in the crowd. As Malcolm and his bodyguards moved to quiet the disturbance, a man rushed forward and shot Malcolm in the chest. Two other men charged the stage and fired at Malcolm. Malcolm was shot 16 times and was pronounced dead on arrival at New York's CNew York's Columbia Preysbyterian Hostpital.

My Response:
I think that it’s just crazy how people can get so caught up in hating someone just because what that person says is true. Malcolm X wanted a change. He didn’t like the separation of blacks and whites so he preached about it, and what came next? He got shot. How ironic. Martin Luther King, Jr. did the same thing, and he also got shot. I think its kind of weird. I also think it’s pretty pathetic that people would just shoot another person just because they don’t believe in what the other person believes in. I think Malcolm X preached for the right thing. I mean who ever heard of separating people just because of their color? That’s like separating oranges from oranges. Everyone is the same, or should I say that everyone is equal?

Isn’t America supposed to be about freedom of speech and taking a stand when you think something isn’t right? What’s up with that?

Speaking of freedom of speech and expression, at times, I see our society as a hypocritical one. We say things like you can dress however you want to dress, and then some smart kid comes along and asks, “What is that you’re wearing?” “Shouldn’t you be dressed like us?” “Shouldn’t you conform?” I mean what the heck?! Then the very next day, that smart kid comes to school with the outfit you were wearing yesterday, and you’re wearing what he wore yesterday. The smart kid says, “What is that you’re wearing?” Other times, it’s like a person tells you to be quiet, and then in the next five minutes, that person who told you to be quiet is screaming at the top of their lungs.

I also think that Malcolm shouldn’t have forced a change upon people. Although sometimes it’s good to get people’s attention and make them realize that these types of things are happening, I don’t think it should have been violently done. Using force to change people will get them angry because who would want someone coming up to them and violently forcing change upon them? I know I wouldn’t. Martin Luther King, Jr. spread his ideas peacefully and without force, and for that, we respect him and have a holiday devoted to him. I think his message got around way more strongly than Malcolm’s ever did. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and the root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems we face as a race.” And Elija Muhammad said, “Malcolm X got just what he preached."

--Lasie Eto