American Slave Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

American Slave - Essay Example Most slave owners had one great fear that of slaves learning how to write and read. The owners knew that the less the slaves knew the better they would be. Having the potential to write and read meant that, slaves would realize that they are equal to their masters. This would lead to them questioning slave owners about their treatment towards their fellow men. Douglas started reading and writing. As he kept on reading more it became easy to look at things extraordinarily differently. His attitude changed altogether. He started seeing things, not as a slave but a citizen. As a result of his gain in knowledge, he started to envy illiterate slaves, who did not understand the horrible living conditions. Therefore, he could not at all bear the thought of being captive as a slave (Fredrick 33). Any slave who got noticed by his master to be a quick learner or trying to read and write, he or she would be stopped and discouraged from learning. This is because slave owners never wanted their slaves to become aware of the news about slavery. Slave owners never wanted their slaves to know anything related to being free or freedom. In spite of the harsh rules against a teaching of slaves, they always found a way to gain knowledge of how to read or write. All this happened by Douglas holding classes on Sundays where slaves from other farms and plantation who sneaked and risked their lives, came over to learn (Fredrick 34). At the time, when Douglas is extremely young, he witnesses a slave getting whipped for the first time.