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!