Frederick Douglass in Context of Period.
Separated from family at early age.
Exhibited natural "flair with words".
B. Servant for the Auld Family.
1. Learned to read and write.
2. Mrs. Auld admonished for reading lessons.
C. Consequences of "literate Slave".
1. More grave than murder.
2. Slave who reads poses danger to system.
II Escape from Servitude.
A. Identification.
1. description: slave's likeness to free .
slave.
2. Soliciting aid from free slave.
B. Train station.
1. Disguised as sailor.
2. Confrontation with conductor.
a. Douglass" gift to gab handy here.
3. Hiding face from others who can identify.
him.
4. Unexpected "help" from white man.
a. White man remains quiet.
C. Transfer in Delaware.
1. Arrival in Philadelphia.
2. Arrival in NYC.
a. Free man.
.
Frederick Douglass, an ex-slave, was one of the foremost leaders of the movements to abolish slavery in the United States in the decades prior to the Civil War. By birth a black man, but presumed to be sired by his mother's owner, Douglass grew up to show a natural gift of silver-tongued oratory (Douglass 1846). Douglass became recognized when his autobiography was publicized in 1845. Two years later he began publishing an antislavery paper called the North Star, in Rochester, New York (Douglass 1846). .
From his new home in Rochester, he dedicated his life to the abolition of slavery, including equal treatment of women. His great oratory for the abolitionist cause was heard all over America (Douglass 1881). At age 6, Frederick's grandmother had told him that they were taking a long journey. That's all he was told, until they reached a stately manor on a plantation. It was then that young Frederick learned the harsh, cruel ways of the slave system. Frederick and his grandmother were separated, never to see each other again. A year later his own mother was sold to another plantation, not to be reunited with her son again, either (Douglass 1846). .
Douglass and other slave children were fed cornmeal mush that was placed in a trough, to which they were called.
