1. Who are you? (Name, Age)
2. Where are you? (Location in USA)
3. What is the date?(a specific date as well as one contemporary event from the periods to give your narrative historical context)
4. In your experience, does our democratic government establish equality among Americans? (Explain your answer)
5.What are the challenges to equality that you or those around you experience? How are those challenges overcome?
I, Frederick Douglass, was born in a slave cabin in February, 1818, right next to the town of Eaton, on the eastern shore of Maryland. I was separated from my mom when I was a few weeks old so I had to live with my grandparents for my childhood. I was very close to my grandparents. When I turned to the age of six my grandmother dropped me off at a plantation to my master where I had to live without seeing my grandparents, they did not even tell me that they were going to leave me there. I still to this day have never recovered from my grandparents ditching me like that. When I turned eight I had to go to the relatives of my master and be a slave for them. At first I was taught how to read for a little bit but then I was not allowed to be taught anymore because I was a slave. Then I just went on and would trade food to the neighborhood boys in exchange for reading and writing lessons. When I got to be eighteen years old I tried to escape from slavery for the second time, and this time it worked. I succeeded by impersonating a sailor. I got married to a girl named Anna Murray we went on to start our own family. Whenever I could I would attend abolitionist meetings, then on October, 1841, after attending an anti- slavery convention on Nantucket Island I became a lecturer for the Massachusetts anti- slavery society and a colleague of William Lloyd Garrison. This led me into public speaking and writing. I then published my own newspaper called, “The North Star.” It was about women’s rights. In the newspaper about women’s rights I wrote about how women should have equal opportunity, and I am unyielding defender of women’s rights. I became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, recorder of deeds for Washington D.C, and minister general to the republic of Haiti. This is how I wanted to establish equality among Americans. Women had to overcome the right of where they cannot vote and I helped with that by writing my newspaper articles. I always said you need these three things to be successful in life, Believe in Yourself, Take advantage of every opportunity, use the power of spoken and written language to affect positive change for yourself and society. Sources
Douglass, Frederick. "Life and times of frederick Douglass." http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE52&NewItemID=True. American History Online, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Inc, Fremarjo Enterprises. "A short Biiography Of Frederick Douglass." www.FrederickDouglass.org. Fremarjo Enterprises Inc, 2004. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Meltzer, Milton. The Black Americans. New York NY: Harper Collins, 1984. Print.
Smith, Ashley Lee. "Frederick Douglass." www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/ default.asp?ItemID=WE52&NewItemID=True. American History Online, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
I was an Abolitionist and I was born in February in 1818 near a town of Easton in Maryland. At the age of 6 I was left at a plantation by my grandmother. I gave away some of my food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing. I also taught myself about writing from a book called The Columbian Orator. At 15 years of age I was a field hand. At 20 years old I escaped from slavery by impersonating a sailor. Then I went to New Bedford Massachusetts to raise a family with my wife Anna Murray. I believed in three key for success in life which were “Believe in yourself, Take advantage of every opportunity, and use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society.” I believe that are democratic government doesn’t establish equality among Americans. They don’t really care if we are slaves working on plantation and that we will never a great enjoyable life. You have us slaves working extremely hard and we don’t get feed a great deal of food. If the democratic did something about this probably everything would be different. The challenges to equality is to be able to wake up everyday and work. You I never know if or when you will be out of their. I you might never get out and become free. I had to pay to have freedom. I have to pay 719 dollars and I don’t have nearly as much money as that. I also gave up my food to neighborhood kids to teach me how to read and write. I loved education it teaches you some much information. I would sometimes be starving but I gave up my food for lessons but I thought reading and writing would really help me in life.
Work Cited
"A Short Biography on Frederick Douglass." Frederick Douglass. Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc, 2004. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
My name is David Walker. I am black, and I am free. One of the lucky. When I was born in 1785 in Wilmington, North Carolina, my father was a slave. However, my mother was a free woman, which meant that I inherited her freedom. I soon tired of the injustice to blacks in the south and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where I did many things most of my brethren never get to experience. I taught myself to read and write, became a clothing merchant, and then married. I married my wife Eliza in 1828. I cannot say her last name because we want to protect her newly won freedom. Although I was a businessman, I found myself very interested in first slave history, and then in fighting slavery. I became a member of the Massachusetts General Colored Association and also an agent and contributor to Freedom’s Journal, the very first black newspaper. I made speeches and wrote articles to try to help my brethren being treated so monstrously down south. In 1829 I compiled all my speeches and articles and put together a pamphlet entitled, “David Walker’s Appeal, in Four Articles ;Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States.” My appeal was read all over the country, both north and south. Some of the southern states passed laws that made circulating my document a crime punishable by death. They forbade the teaching of reading and/or writing to slaves, for fear that they would read my pamphlet or others, and rebel. Imagine that! I fight for the freedom of my fellow blacks of America and the world. I truly believe that slavery is a brutal, unforgiving, ungodly act of selfishness. Just as bad are those inhumane slave owners who call themselves Christians! How dare they impose such treatment under the name of God! I also criticize the hypocrisy of this nation, who was founded with the principles of liberty and freedom, but forbids black priests from preaching to people of his own skin color for fear he will preach the words that inspire them to rebel. I hope with all my heart not only for my own children’s sake, but for all future generations of African-Americans, that they may live the life they were entitled to in the Constitution-a life of freedom and liberty, where not only every man is created equal, but treated equal.
Works Cited Bader, Philip. African-American History Online. Facts on File, 2004. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/ LowerFrame.asp?iPin=AAW0133&InputText=David+Walker&SearchStyle=Keyword&dTitle=Walker%2C+David&iRecord Type=&TabRecordType=AllRecords&TribeName=&TribeCodeSearch=&dCultureArea=&AllCountPass=76&SubBioCountP ass=72&BioCountPass=4
Kranz, Rachel C., and Philip J. Koslow. "Walker, David." African-American History Online. Facts on File, 1999. Web. 23 Mar. 201http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/ default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True
Samuels, Wilfred D. "David Walker." African-American History Online. N.p., 2007. Web. 23 Mar.http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
Walker, David. "Walker's Appeal in Four Articles: Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America." History: Slavery in America from Colonial Times to the Civil War. (2000): n. pag. African-American History Online. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/ LowerFrame.asp?iPin=E13620&InputText=David+Walker&SearchStyle=Keyword&dTitle=%3Ci%3EWalker%27s+Appeal %3C%2Fi%3E+%28excerpt%29&iRecordType=&TabRecordType=AllRecords&TribeName=&TribeCodeSearch=&dCultureAr ea=&AllCountPass=76&S
I am Fredrick Douglass, a six year old boy from around the Easton Shore in Maryland. My life is not that easy at the moment. As of today, my grandma took me to this big place full of many colored people working and being hit with these ropes. When my grandma said good bye, I she told me that she would see me in a couple of days to see how I was doing. I wonder if that is actually going to happen. Only when me and grandma were in the car, she had told me some really disappointing news that she had been wanting to tell me for a long time. This was about my parents, who I never knew about. I have always wondered about my father. Also, I have also wondered about my mother. My grandma told me that my mommy was a slave that worked really hard each and every day. Grandma told me that daddy was nowhere to be found. The other scary part: he was not the same color as me. She told me that he had white skin. That made me think real hard the whole ride home who my dad could be. Thinking about put me to sleep in the car, and when I woke up, we were at the big work place. When we pulled up, grandma dropped me off, gave me a big kiss, a big hug, and honked as she drove away. I was kinda scared for what was gonna happen, but then again I’m a big strong kid. The big white colored man took me into a room where there were lots of beds, and sick people. I thought it looked kind of sad in there. Almost like all of those colored people were hurt today or something. I hope that isn’t going to happen to me. As the day moved on, I was taken around the big farm place, and learned a few things. The mean not colored man told me that I would have to get my workin clothes from my cabin, because I would start working first thing in the morning. I was looking around after the man left and said just hang around until the morning when we will get to work. I’m actually really scared for work. I am because all the people that are working really hard are being whipped by this long rope that looks like it hurts so much. I wanna go home with grandma right now. I can’t even stop crying I’m so nervous. Well it’s time to go to sleep. I’ll have to overcome these sad emotions. I don’t wanna be here, but I know that I will be able to go home as soon as I’m done here. I just can’t wait for that day! Let’s hope my first day on the big plantation goes well, and I hope that I do not get hurt at all. Sources
1. Archer, Jules. They Had a Dream. N.p.: Penguin Group, 1993. Print. 2. “Frederick Douglass.” African American Biographies. Volume 3 ed. Print. 3. Fredrick Douglass. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. . 4. The Life of Frederick Douglass. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. . 5. Masoff, Joy. The African American Story. Waccabuc, NY: Five Ponds Press Books, n.d. Print.
I was an Abolitionist and I was born in February 1818 near a town of Easton in Maryland. At the age of 6 I was left at a plantation by my grandmother. I gave away some of my food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing. I also taught myself about writing from a book called The Columbian Orator. At 15 years of age I was a field hand. At 20 years old I escaped from slavery by impersonating a sailor. Then I went to New Bedford Massachusetts to raise a family with my wife Anna Murray. I believed in three key for success in life which were “Believe in yourself, Take advantage of every opportunity, and use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society.” I believe that are democratic government doesn’t establish equality among Americans. They don’t really care if we are slaves working on plantation and that we will never a great enjoyable life. You have us slaves working extremely hard and we don’t get feed a great deal of food. If the democratic did something about this probably everything would be different. The challenges to equality is to be able to wake up everyday and work. You I never know if or when you will be out of their. I you might never get out and become free. I had to pay to have freedom. I have to pay 719 dollars and I don’t have nearly as much money as that. I also gave up my food to neighborhood kids to teach me how to read and write. I loved education it teaches you some much information. I would sometimes be starving but I gave up my food for lessons but I thought reading and writing would really help me in life.
Work Cited
"A Short Biography on Frederick Douglass." Frederick Douglass. Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc, 2004. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. http://www.frederickdouglass.org/douglass_bio.html .
(Joey Period 2) Great Barrington, Massachusetts 1884 My name is William Edward Burghardt Du Bois. I was born on February 23, 1868, and in 1884 I was the only black student among thirteen graduates. After the thirteenth amendment was passed, I was a strong supporter of social reform, such as women’s voting rights and black rights. My mother was one of ten children born into the farming family. Basically my entire life, I was the only black student in all of my classes. In 1885 I finally made the risky decision to move to Tennessee for a college education at Fisk. Down south, hatred for black people is worse than anywhere else. I earned my scholarship without too many problems. That was me.
I experienced so much hatred and discrimination against the black race. After also receiving my doctorate degree from Harvard in 1895, I wanted to get into teaching. I got a job in Ohio. But teaching was not good enough. I started to get into social research of African Americans. I would station myself in the seventh ward slums and observe how they would be treated as villains. My goal was to basically find a solution to social prejudice. The outcome was The Philadelphia Negro. It revealed the Negro group as a palpitating group and not a body of crime. In almost every study I recorded from then on showed some sort of discrimination against the African American race.
Even though in the Constitution it states that all men are created equal, the government proves this not to be true. There are clear laws stating how if you’re black then you can’t drink from a certain water fountain, or you can’t go to a certain school. I was strong supporter for the necessary change. I did everything in my power to try and convince those Negroes around me that we can make a change if we try. My friend was once put in jail for trying to do the same, then the cops wanted me. I spent a good amount of time in my life making sure that people like me lived happily. Equality was never established, not even when I died in August 27, 1993. “Herein lie buried many things which if read with patience may show the strange meaning of being black here in the dawning of the Twentieth Century.”
Hynes, Gerald. "A Biographical Sketch of W.E.B DuBois." W.E.B DuBois Learning Center. N.p., 1973. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. http://www.duboislc.org/html/ DuBoisBio.html.
Unger, Harlow G. "DuBois, W.E.B." Facts on File. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
Rummel, Jack. "W.E.B Du Bois." Facts on File. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
West, Sandra L, and Aberjhani West. "Du Bois, W.E.B." Facts on File. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/ default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
Hinman, Bonnie. A Stranger in My Own House. Greensboro, North Carolina: Morgan Reynalds, 2005. Print.
Hello my name is Fredrick Douglas, I have just released the book Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas, An American Slave. I am only 27 but during my short time on earth so far I have a lot to tell the world about my life. I was born in February of 1818. My mother was a black slave while my father was white. I spent my child hood in Maryland living with my grandparents and aunt. I rarely saw my mother, see past away when I was seven. My father had no part in my life. All I knew about my father is that he was white. While living with my grandparents I witnessed many brutal beatings of slaves and spent many time cold and hungry. When I was eight I was sent to Baltimore to live with Hugh Auld, A ship carpenter. After seven enjoyable years in Baltimore I was sent back to the country to work at a farm runned by Edward Covey, a brutal “slave breaker.” Every day I was whipped and barely fed. This experience broke my soul, body, and spirit.” I couldn’t take it anymore, I had created an escape plan but before I could put it into action the plan was discovered and I was put into jail. On September 3, 1838 I arrived in New York. There I married my lovely wife who I had met in Baltimore. After that I moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts were I joined many organizations such as a black church. I also attended abolitionist meetings. I also subscribed to the Liberator, a weakly journal written by William Lloyd Garrison. In 1841 at the Bristol Anti-Slavery Society's annual meeting, I saw William Garrison speak. He was my inspiration to become a speaker. After I mentioned William in the Liberator he was also impressed. Many days later a gave my first speech at the Anti-Slavery Convention in Nantucket, Massachusetts. This was the cornerstone for my future as a teacher and public speaker. After giving the speech I was asked to become a lecturer for the Society for three years, I accepted. So that is why I wanted to get my Narrative out, so other slaves like I was know that there is always hope.
-Stephen P.4
Sources:
Lewis, J. Patrick. The Brothers War Cvil War Voices in Verse. Washington D.C: National Geographing Society, 2007. N. pag. Print.
PBS Online. "Frederick Douglass ." Africans in America. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. <http://www.pbs.o
MacEachern, Sally, and Aruna Vasudevan. African American Biographys. Danbury, Conneticut: Grolier, 2006. Print. rg/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1539.html.
Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc. "A Short Biography of Frederick Douglass." Frederickdouglass.org. Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc, 2004. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. <http://www.frederickdouglass.org/douglass_bio.html.
Marriman, C.D. "Frederick Douglass." The Liturature Network. Jalic Inc., 2008. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. <http://www.online-literature.com/ frederick_douglass/.
Vikranth E. Pd.4 July 3rd, 1831 Southampton, Virginia
I, Nathaniel Turner, am a great prophet; intended for a great purpose. I was born as the property of Benjamin Turner and all my life I have been praised as Prophet. I spoke of events that occurred before my birth and I learned how to spell with one look at a book. All the knowledge I have acquired came to me with ease. Among slaves this was nearly impossible as we were denied any form education. So, all this was astounding to the other slaves and, thus, I became very influential among them. As the prophet, it is best that I take heed of the two events that have occurred: As I was praying one day at my plough, the spirit spoke to me, informing me of that purpose. It showed a black man named Henry Garnet, apparently an abolitionist, who speaks of slaves throwing off the chains and forming an armed resistance at the National Negro Convention in Buffalo, New York. The second event is the solar eclipse that occurred; which explained the vision I had showing the sun turning dark while the white and black spirits fought. This was a sure sign that leading the revolution is my divine right. My continuous prayers for my calling had been answered. I have to lead an armed rebellion that will overthrow the white tyranny. The hypocritical overseers that preached that people have natural rights are little more than monsters. Yet they consider us unclean! Our so-called betters spoke of the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They go on and on about the right to not be unreasonably punished and the freedom to speech. None of which were granted to us just because our skin color. We have no life; our entire lives were devoted to working to the bone for our cruel masters. Every slave I know never knew the sweet taste of freedom and was simply considered property. Clearly we were not allowed the smallest miniscule of happiness by our merciless masters. The whites abuse us to the extent that we are nearly dead for the slightest offense. If the weaker of us collapses from exhaustion our ‘superiors’ would whip them until they either die or continue to work. If we try to speak out and rebel they hunt us down and hang us. They consider this cruelty nothing because apparently we are some sort of abomination, inferior to the white people. to be continued...
Vikranth E. Pd.4 continued... The Caucasians consider us little more than animals, nothing more than dumb animals that are only good for manual work. The only difference between us is our skin pigment and that we are inhumanely exploited. They talk of justice and fairness, yet all this brutality still continues. I have seen all these horrors throughout my life, so I decided that we will put a stop to this once and for all. The only way to solve this injustice is through force as Mr. Garnet said. This cruel treatment can only be stopped with armed resistance. Any other peaceful means will never be allowed by the white community. I am planning a revolt to overcome this deprivation of equality. I have used my influence and have already convinced my fellow slaves to revolt. I have chosen four other slaves as generals: Hark, Henry, Nelson, and Sam. I have the greatest confidence in them. I have also selected two special recruits, Jack and Will, whose skill with an axe will be a great asset to our cause. I have instructed them to spare no white life. Although, we have had many setbacks due to disagreements in plans I am completely assured that we will succeed. We will overcome these cruel injustices and, tomorrow, every African American will be equal to any white in this land.
Citations:
• Bio.True Story. "Nat Turner Biography." www.biography.com. history.com, 1996. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. . • Encyclopedia. "Nat Turner." www.ecyclopedia.com. N.p., 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. . • Melanet. "Turner's Confession." http://www.melanet.com/nat/nat.html. N.p., 1998. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. . • Scholastic. African American Biographies Volume 9. Old Sherman Turnpike Danbury, Connecticut: Scholastic, 2006. Print. • Www.thinkexist.com. "Nat Turner quotes." www.thinkexist.com. Check Point, 1999. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Katie P.D 9 Being this way isn’t my fault, it’s my advantage. As a young boy I remember being raised by my grandmother and asking where dad was. I didn’t understand why she would be so indecisive to answer; it hurt to hear that he was suspected of being Thomas Auld, a slave-owner in the village of St. Michaels, to whom he transferred me at age nine. Being who I am makes me stronger. I am proud of who I am, a well accomplished man who has been everywhere and seen everything, I am Frederick Douglass. My mom died when I was at a young age so I was practically raised by his grandmother. At age 6 I was sent to live on the Lloyd plantation owned by Captain Aaron Anthony. When I was seven my aunt and uncle fled to the north and I was jealous. At eight I moved to Baltimore to work at the home of Thomas Auld’s brother Hugh and his wife. She was always very kind to me and taught me a very basic form of reading. From then on my knowledge only grew, although she was forbade teaching me, so I taught myself. Again, being who I am, a slave works to my advantage. I see the problems and have the determination and motivation to fix them. Normal people would stop and give up, but not me. I’m going to keep fighting and enhancing myself to better the world. If I stand up and rebel others will gladly follow. I obtained this knowledge all in the longest hours of my life. As a black slave teenager growing up I then worked for a man by the name of Edward Covey. He had quite the reputation. Always rumors of him beating his workers senselessly and flogging everyone in sight, unfortunately this was true, but there was one encounter that changed my life forever. It was sixth months after my arrival there and Edward was coming after me fast. AndI blocked him over and over. My muscles were growing tense for I had been exerting my strength for countless hours month after month there was nothing left. But I kept going, I could not endure another hardship or brutal beating. I would die trying to save myself before I die by giving up. I ran and dodged his lunges towards me. No slave has ever defied a master, but I could not be whipped again. The endless scars on my back had no more room for new ones. “Are you going to resist you scoundrel?” he roared. I blocked and finally grabbed hold of him arm to the point where my nails stained red with his blood. “The fighting madness had come upon me, and I found my strong fingers attached to the throat of my cowardly tormentor; as heedless of consequences, at the moment, as though we stood as equals before the law. The very color of the man was forgotten. I felt as supple as a car, and was ready for the snakish creature at every turn. Every blow of his was parried, though I dealt no blows in return. I was strictly on the defensive, preventing him from injuring me, rather than trying to injure him.” After struggling with each other for two hours he had nothing left and I was also fighting to keep breathing. Finally Covey called out for his cousin, Hughes to help him. Hughes tore me off Covey, but then I kicked him and he let go in pain. Covey got up furiously and went after me for a final attempt, by non other than asking the help of other slaves. However they swiftly refused by saying, “Master hired me to work, not to help flog Frederick.” At that moment I felt so loyal. Covey gave up! At that moment I was beyond glowing. I saw the true value of myself and saw the power of standing up for my rights. “I was changed after that fight. I was nothing before; I was man now, with a renewed determination to be a free man. I had reached the point at which I was not afraid to die. This spirit made me a free man in fact, though I still remained a slave.”
Archer, Jules They Had a Dream New York New York 1993
Frederick Douglass August 25th, 1835 Tuckahoe, Maryland
I am writing this today because today I realized that we slaves are not being treated in a way that is acceptable. Our country is supposed to be a free country, but if we have slaves, are we really that free? When I was a young boy I lived with my grandma in a small hut with no furniture because we are expected to sleep on the ground and eat with our hands. I was never aware that I was a slave back then and I was happy, but when I turned six everything changed, I had to leave my grandma and live under the care of a complete stranger, and I was never treated right again. I have witnessed beatings and people being whipped. I have even experienced being whipped. I knew that the way our masters were treating us was wrong and against the constitution, but like any slave boy I kept my mouth shut and did my work until today. I have lived my life thinking that this was the only way to live for us blacks but today I realized that we could fight back. I have been working on Edward Covey’s fields for about a year now and every week for the past year I have been whipped with sticks or cow skins. This week was no different. This morning I headed out to the fields to work. About midway through the day Edward Covey started to whip and beat my, but instead of just taking it and then proceeding with my work I fought back. I had decided that I was done with the constant bruises and so I slapped him back. Mr. Covey looked so surprised and then we started punching each other until we were rolling in the dirt. We were kicking and struggling. I was just being defensive, I never wanted to hurt him I just was protecting myself from getting hurt. Then Mr. Covey asked for the other slaves help they all ignored him. The fight lasted for what seemed like forever but finally he gave up and let me return to my farm work. I have a feeling Mr. Covey will never lay a finger on me again. That is why today I’ve decided that m going to put everything I got into standing up for my black brothers and sisters. - Shannon O. Pd. 9 (to be Continued)
Shannon O.(continued) The Preamble to the Constitution states, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Today they are not establishing justice, to create fairness, but none of us slaves are being treated fairly. The Preamble also says that the government will promote the general welfare but I am not being fed enough, I don’t have a bed to sleep in, and I am getting beaten every weak. The final thing the government promises they will make sure of in the preamble of the Constitution is that they will secure the blessings of liberty, but I don’t feel free, I feel captured and under someone else’s rules. We can change all of this though. As long as we stay together and fight back like I did today we can gain our freedom
- Shannon O. Pd. 9
Citations:
Dubovoy, Sina. "Douglass, Frederick." Civil Rights Leaders, American Profiles. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1997. African-American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=afbio0077&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010)
Kranz, Rachel C. "Douglass, Frederick." In Kranz, Rachel C., and Philip J. Koslow. The Biographical Dictionary of African Americans. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1999. African-American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=afbio0157&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010).
Rummel, Jack. "Douglass, Frederick." African-American Social Leaders and Activists, A to Z of African Americans. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. African-American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=AASL0039&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010). Russell, Sharman A. "'A Soul on Fire'." Frederick Douglass, Black Americans of Achievement. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2007. African American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=BAFD03&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010). Russell, Sharman A. "'The Fortunate Meeting'." Frederick Douglass, Black Americans of Achievement. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2007. African American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=BAFD01&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010).
Hopefully tonight will be the last night of suffrage and hate towards a race that has endured so much over thousands of years. Every day I thank god for blessing me with an amazing gift that allows me to persuade others to stand up for what is right and fight for the freedom we deserve. The greatest gift I could receive now would be an Independence Day where our country is actually free. As African Americans we need a devoted leader that is educated but unfortunately I am the closest thing there is because of the cruelty and lack recognition that there could be brilliant men and women like myself that have no way to show the world what they can do. My mother was one of about six hundred slaves that was even the slightest bit illiterate which has enabled me to spread my message to other slaves. I feel almost as if I’m being mocked by being asked to make this speech when my people are still not yet free. I will definitely explore this topic tomorrow as well as the many other ways my people are being denied their rights.
As a thirty four year old ex slave it is incredible to be in a position where I have so much impact on so many people but in reality all citizens black or white should at leas have the opportunities I have had. I must use my unique situation to help other slaves and myself climb the mountain of adversity staring us in the face every hour of every day. My main goal during this speech will be to inform my audience why our government is treating us unfairly and not just complaining about not being treated equally.
This brings me to my next point about why things in America need to change. This country is a great land to inhabit if you are a white male but is cruel and harsh on women and anyone whose skin is the color of the nighttime sky. African Americans should be given the same rights as everyone else and right now they are being treated like animals which they certainly not. Even though I have only been alive for a short while I have still been a witness to many acts of injustice towards my race and myself that have made me wish that I could put an end to the burden myself and all African Americans must carry around everywhere they go, and finally I now have that chance. Even growing up in Easton, Maryland, an area where slavery was not as bad as some areas, I have still seen horrible acts committed against people who I know and love just because of the color of their skin. Hopefully the next time I am expressing my feelings they are of joy for I have finally brought peace and equality to a land where it is needed so badly.
Sincerely, Fredrick Douglass
Works Cited
1. Fredrick Douglass." (2010). Wikipedia. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. . 2. Fredrick Douglass." Pbs Online. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. . 3. The Hypocrisy Of American Slavery." The Hypocrisy Of American Slavery. The History Place. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/douglass.htm. 4. Biography of Fredrick Douglass." Fremarjo. Enterprises. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
Hi, I am David Walker. I was born to a free mother on September 28, 1785. However, my father was a slave in Wilmington, North Carolina. I decided to move to Boston because slavery was so popular in the South. When in Boston, I taught myself how to read and write. I also started a business selling and buying old clothes. I wanted to spend my time reading about world history and slavery. In 1828 I married an escaped slave named Eliza. We had to keep her last name a secret to protect her freedom. I became part of the nations first African American newspaper and became Boston’s leading spokesperson against slavery. In 1829, I wrote, “David Walker’s Appeal in for articles together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in particular and very expressly, to those of The United States of America.” In my 76 page Appeal, I urged slaves to resort to violence when it came to their freedom. If white people would whip and kill us, it’s the only thing we can do to save ourselves. People tried to pass laws to prevent the circulation of my document, but people still read it. Georgia passed a law that made it illegal to teach a slave how to read or write. People could be killed if they circulated writing involving the overthrow of slavery. The Georgia State Legislature got so angry from the Walker’s Appeal that they offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who brought me to the South alive and $3,000 for my head. My Appeal helped slaves in the South and everywhere stand up for what they believed in and do all they can to protect and salvage their freedom. Sincerely, David Walker
-David Walker was found dead in his home in August 1830. People thought he was poisoned or died of the same disease that killed his daughter-tuberculosis.
Works Cited:
"David Walker." Africa Within. N.p., 2001. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
"David Walker." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Eiselein, Gregory. "David Walker." Answers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
Inscoe, John C. "David Walker, 1785-1830." Documenting the American South. UNC University Website, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
Thuersam, Bernhard. "David Walker: Black Wilmington Abolitionist." Cape Fear Historical Institute. N.p., 2006. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
I feel it my duty and obligation to actively participate in the movement that will hopefully bring slavery to an end. I have witnessed and experienced the injustice and cruelty that is a result of slavery, starting at the Lloyd tobacco plantation in Talbot County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. When I was a baby my mother was sold to another plantation and later died. I was later the gift to a young, wealthy white boy by the name of Thomas Auld in Baltimore. The living conditions were heaven compared to the Lloyd tobacco plantation, and the work was much less. I was ever so fortunate to be given reading lessons with other boys from Tommy’s kind mother Sopha and was making great progress. I was making remarkable progress, too much progress for the liking of Tommy’s father Hugh, but the knowledge I attained later helped me escape. I continued to try and learn and swapped pieces of bread for reading lessons from white boys. I was sent back to the plantation where in Sunday-school classes I educated other slave companions to read and write but we were discovered one day by an angry mob. A man threatened to shoot me to my death if I was teaching slaves to read again. I was then sent to live with a brutal local farmer named Edward Covey who enjoyed beating the pulp out of slaves. A week in I had welts “as large as my little finger” on my back. A couple of weeks later I woke up to more beating and fled, looking for asylum even if it meant returning to my old master, and didn’t know anyone who could help me get to the north so I returned to the wretched farm where Covey was strangely kind to me upon my return, only to later return to his barbaric ways. The “very color of the man was forgotten” and we wrestled nonstop for two hours until he walked away. “He had not drawn a single from me. I had drawn blood from him.” I lived there for another six months and not once was I challenged again, for I was sixteen but tall and strong. That was the turning point of my life. “I was nothing before. I am a man now.” I was then sent to assist a relatively kind farmer by the name of William Freeland. Life was improved there but I still had my sights set on making it to the north. With the help of a free black man named James Mitchell, I organized a dangerous escape plan using five other eager young slaves but we ran into four white constables on horseback who would seize and imprison us on the way to our first stop in Baltimore. I spent a week in jail but I was then reclaimed by Thomas Auld, the uncle of the Thomas Auld I had to keep out of trouble and run errands for back in Baltimore. But Thomas sent me back to his brother Hugh in Baltimore because many whites in the community were threatening to hang me as a ringleader. There I worked for a shipbuilder and almost all of my colleagues were white. Four of them ganged up on me one day and beat the pulp out of me, and they couldn’t be brought to justice because of the racist, discriminating law. I worked at another shipyard were I befriended five free blacks and organized a secret debating club and had meetings and social gatherings over the next few years. There I met a beautiful lady, freeborn yet illiterate, named Anna Murray.
Sources Hoose, Phillip. We Were There, Too! New York: Melanie Kroupa Books, 2001. Print.
Archer, Jules. They Had a Dream. New York: Penguin Group, 1993. Print.
I was determined to pursue a career in politics and became a firm abolitionist after associating myself with many free blacks and negotiated to buy my freedom with Hugh Auld. One day I went out of town for a meeting and paid out my wages a day late, which infuriated Hugh and I feared I would be shipped to the south. I had to make a move, it was now or never, and while I didn’t want to leave my friends and Anna this was something I had to do. To appease Hugh I worked at another shipyard and gave him more money, and he rewarded me with twenty-five cents, which I would use for my escape. I was able to disguise my self as a sailor using the documents of a retired merchant sailor. It was a treacherous, intense, nerve-wracking journey but I made it to Philadelphia at last! Anna joined me and we were married, and as a free black it was a much easier journey. Via the Underground Railroad I made my way to Massachusetts where I worked as a laborer and changed my surname from Baily to Douglass for the purpose of evading the lurking slave hunters. Life was hard, making a living and starting from scratch, and the racism wasn’t written on the wall but it still existed. I was hired to work for a whaling vessel but the white workers threatened to strike rather than work alongside me, and that was that. My children, Rosetta, Lewis, Charles and Annie, brought joy to my life. I became involved in the abolitionist movement, joining the American Anti-Slavery Society and regularly attended lectures which inspired me. In August 1841 I was offered to address a white audience, which I struggled to do for the first time but was met with thunderous applause in the end, much to my surprise. I found my niche as a public speaker and my popularity grew, especially among white abolitionists. I shared my experiences as a slave and that struck a chord with everyone else, while they were met with some hostility by a good amount as well, those who I had to deal with in my climb. People doubted my ability as a public speaker yet former slave, which provoked me to write my Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written By Himself. I poured my personal life into literature, my tales of being bounced and kicked around in my tumultuous life. I took my act global where I became a sensation and to drum up support for my cause and my movement, also to avoid recapture. To return to the United States as a free man two of my English friends kindly bought my freedom. I will continue to focus my efforts on bettering the lives of the African-American. When I say African-American I am endorsing the Constitution, which is not a pro-slavery document like some have suggested but could even be “wielded in behalf of emancipation,” especially where the federal government is in complete control. Dissolving the Union would also prove to be detrimental to my cause because it would leave fellow African-American slaves in the south stranded and hopeless. Also, the human we are striving for should apply to women as well. My journey has told me that our democratic government is doing a poor job of establishing equality among Americans of all color and I will dedicate my life to changing that, and my life I have decided to share with you up to this point is a collection of examples that show the challenges to achieving equality. It is important to campaign for our cause not just within our country where we are denied many rights but outside the country, like I just did.
Part one: by erica period 6 Rochester, New York 1850
The fire harshly burns and my eyes are glued to the flying sparks. As my eyes flicker shut, I recall my brutal past. Pride seems to overwhelm me for making it this far. It is the day of my birth, what I believed was February 14, 1817. Though there is no document proof that date seems to suit me quite well. The days in Tuckahoe, Maryland with my dear mother Harriet were brutal. She worked as a field slave on a rural plantation, while I was 12 miles away from her. She died when I was still a child, about 8 or 9. I was left with the only father I knew, a white slaves master named Aaron Anthony. He was, “like a pig.” Fed up with mush corn that my mother-spent months picking form the cornfield surrounding Holmes Hill. I recall glancing through the crack in the kitchen wall one night after hearing a wailing scream, there I saw my aunt Hester Baily, being whipped in the bare back by Aaron Anthony. I forced myself to watch the entire thing though it was greatly painful. This was the first whipping I saw. And certainly it wasn’t the last one. He soon sent my off to Baltimore to become a houseboy. My mistress there wished to teach me the alphabet, which excited me. The master banned me from learning. But secretly I found a way to learn it. In 1932, I was relocated yet again to the rural plantation. I was than sent to a man named Edward Covey. He was the worst. Images flooded into my mind. He would whip me with thick sticks. He let oxen run freely through the fields, they trampled my brittle bones. "I seized Covey hard by the throat, and as I did so, I rose." He kicked a beat me until I was finally transferred. I soon encountered a farm master named William Freeland. Though Freeland was rather kind I strived for a single thing. Freedom. Slyly I started an illegal school for blacks that met at night and on Sunday’s. A few other slaves and I plotted to escape. He stole a boat and rowed to the Northern trip to Chesapeake. We wished to flee to the free state of Pennsylvania. But one of the backstabbing slave’s men released our plot to the “white man.” That imbecile! I was thrown in jail for weeks, until a slave trader inspected me and I was sold to “A life in death.” I was sent back to the chambers of Baltimore.
part 2: by erica period 6 But light soon struck when I was hired as a shipbuilder in order to learn trade. The harassment from the white worker was brutal. They were in fury for having to compete for work with a “black” worker. I fought for woman’s rights as well and throughout my life strived for equality amongst everyone. The images rush through my mind and suddenly I fall back in reality. A single tear trickles down my flushed cheek. I search through the desk for a pad and pen. Delicately I begin to scribble my speech on American Slavery. I write of how the white men of the south still ridicule us to this day. I shall also suggest respect and equality among everyone of every race. According to the US Constitution we must promote the general welfare. This obviously is not happening. My life was so miserable I tried to escape from it multiple times. Though most of those times it failed. Unhappiness is spreading across the southeast and the well being of the slaves is inexistent. This also goes against securing the blessing of liberty from the preamble. Obviously, in my child hood I faced numerous struggles against freedom and independence. Being whipped by Edward Convey doesn’t exactly read freedom for me. I was a prisoner for my entire life. Being thrown in jail and sold yet again doesn’t exactly represent independence. This American Slavery Speech shall hopefully go down in history. Sincerely, Frederick Douglass
Works Cited Douglass, Frederick. "Speech on American Slavery." African American History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Foner, Philip S. "What the Black Man Wants." The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass. International Publishers, 1997. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
"Frederick Douglass." African American History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Root, Damon W. "Frederick Douglass, Classical Liberalism, and the Fight for Racial Equality." Reason. N.p., 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Thomas, Sandra. "A biography of the life of Frederick Douglass." Frederick Douglass. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Hello, my name is Frederick Douglass; I was a slave prisoner for most of my life and after I escaped I thought nothing else on my mind but to help free the slaves. I remember that I was the only slave on the farm that could remember their birthday and I was very proud. On February, 14, 1817, I, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born in Tuckahoe Creek. I never knew about my father because he had died before I was born, I took on the name “ Douglass” later. I had my cruelty no worse than the others, but I was still miserable. My heart was tortured by the fact these slaves were put against their will when we are no different than our owners. That’s when I realized I had to go. At the age of twenty, I escaped from my slaveholders by impersonating a sailor while in the shipyard and changing my name to Frederick Douglass. I ran away, out of Baltimore, to find myself with a beautiful African American woman. She was freed from slavery and we ended up getting married and moved to New Bedford where several of our children were born. During the Civil War, twenty three years later, I created my own persuasive newspaper about anti-slavery and slavery prevention. After many protest and speeches, Abraham Lincoln came to see my, and later appointed him as a trusted advisor. I also gave many speeches to anti-slavery after that including my speech in August, 1841. This was an impromptu speech I gave to describe my life as a slave. The most important line from a speech I gave was “"These may withdraw, and others come forward;" thus he proceeded till all the white members had been served. Then he took a long breath, and looking out towards the door, exclaimed, "Come up, colored friends, come up! for you know God is no respecter of persons.” I was explaining to the colored people that no matter what the white tell you, you can still have your own freedom, and God shows this to you. Many whites and slave owners especially were upset with my work, but I think it was well worth that sacrifice when Abraham Lincoln brought me to his attention. He brought me to his side and I helped him with most of his arguments and protests for anti-slavery. When I escaped from slavery I mostly wanted to listen to the stories of slaves. I tried to influence them to tell me their stories by writing my own, but I became more focused on writing and telling, rather than listening.
Works Cited by Aaron Wenta. *Archer, Jules. They Had a Dream. New York: Penguin Group, 1993. Print. * Fremarjo Enterprises. “Three Speeches from Frederick Douglass: Examples of his Passion Logic and Power.” Seminars on the Life and Teachings of Frederick Douglass . Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc, 1997. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. . *Grolier. “Douglass, Frederick.” African American Biographies. Volume3 ed. 2006. Print. *Pyramid Technologies Group. “Frederick Douglass.” Africa Within. Biography Resource Center, 2001. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. . *Shwarz, Philip. African American during the Civil War. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print.
I, Frederick Douglass, was born in a slave cabin in February, 1818, right next to the town of Eaton, on the eastern shore of Maryland. I was separated from my mom when I was a few weeks old so I had to live with my grandparents for my childhood. I was very close to my grandparents. When I turned to the age of six my grandmother dropped me off at a plantation to my master where I had to live without seeing my grandparents, they did not even tell me that they were going to leave me there. I still to this day have never recovered from my grandparents ditching me like that. When I turned eight I had to go to the relatives of my master and be a slave for them. At first I was taught how to read for a little bit but then I was not allowed to be taught anymore because I was a slave. Then I just went on and would trade food to the neighborhood boys in exchange for reading and writing lessons.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got to be eighteen years old I tried to escape from slavery for the second time, and this time it worked. I succeeded by impersonating a sailor. I got married to a girl named Anna Murray we went on to start our own family. Whenever I could I would attend abolitionist meetings, then on October, 1841, after attending an anti- slavery convention on Nantucket Island I became a lecturer for the Massachusetts anti- slavery society and a colleague of William Lloyd Garrison. This led me into public speaking and writing. I then published my own newspaper called, “The North Star.” It was about women’s rights.
In the newspaper about women’s rights I wrote about how women should have equal opportunity, and I am unyielding defender of women’s rights. I became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, recorder of deeds for Washington D.C, and minister general to the republic of Haiti. This is how I wanted to establish equality among Americans. Women had to overcome the right of where they cannot vote and I helped with that by writing my newspaper articles. I always said you need these three things to be successful in life, Believe in Yourself, Take advantage of every opportunity, use the power of spoken and written language to affect positive change for yourself and society.
Sources
Douglass, Frederick. "Life and times of frederick Douglass."
http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE52&NewItemID=True.
American History Online, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Inc, Fremarjo Enterprises. "A short Biiography Of Frederick Douglass."
www.FrederickDouglass.org. Fremarjo Enterprises Inc, 2004. Web. 24
Mar. 2010. .
Meltzer, Milton. The Black Americans. New York NY: Harper Collins, 1984. Print.
Smith, Ashley Lee. "Frederick Douglass." www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/
default.asp?ItemID=WE52&NewItemID=True. American History Online, n.d.
Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Thomas, Sandra. "Frederick Douglass." http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/
douglass/home.html. Sandra Thomas, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
Chris L. Pd. 1
I was an Abolitionist and I was born in February in 1818 near a town of Easton in Maryland. At the age of 6 I was left at a plantation by my grandmother. I gave away some of my food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing. I also taught myself about writing from a book called The Columbian Orator. At 15 years of age I was a field hand. At 20 years old I escaped from slavery by impersonating a sailor. Then I went to New Bedford Massachusetts to raise a family with my wife Anna Murray.
ReplyDeleteI believed in three key for success in life which were “Believe in yourself, Take advantage of every opportunity, and use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society.” I believe that are democratic government doesn’t establish equality among Americans. They don’t really care if we are slaves working on plantation and that we will never a great enjoyable life. You have us slaves working extremely hard and we don’t get feed a great deal of food. If the democratic did something about this probably everything would be different.
The challenges to equality is to be able to wake up everyday and work. You I never know if or when you will be out of their. I you might never get out and become free. I had to pay to have freedom. I have to pay 719 dollars and I don’t have nearly as much money as that. I also gave up my food to neighborhood kids to teach me how to read and write. I loved education it teaches you some much information. I would sometimes be starving but I gave up my food for lessons but I thought reading and writing would really help me in life.
Work Cited
"A Short Biography on Frederick Douglass." Frederick Douglass. Fremarjo
Enterprises, Inc, 2004. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
.
"Frederick Douglass." PBS online. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
.
"Douglass, Frederick." Fact on File. N.p., 1999. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
.
"Frederick Douglass." The Literature Network. N.p., 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
.
"Frederick Douglass." Wikipedia. N.p., 22 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
.
Alex pd1
Audrey period 1
ReplyDeleteMy name is David Walker. I am black, and I am free. One of the lucky. When I was born in 1785 in Wilmington, North Carolina, my father was a slave. However, my mother was a free woman, which meant that I inherited her freedom. I soon tired of the injustice to blacks in the south and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where I did many things most of my brethren never get to experience. I taught myself to read and write, became a clothing merchant, and then married. I married my wife Eliza in 1828. I cannot say her last name because we want to protect her newly won freedom.
Although I was a businessman, I found myself very interested in first slave history, and then in fighting slavery. I became a member of the Massachusetts General Colored Association and also an agent and contributor to Freedom’s Journal, the very first black newspaper. I made speeches and wrote articles to try to help my brethren being treated so monstrously down south. In 1829 I compiled all my speeches and articles and put together a pamphlet entitled, “David Walker’s Appeal, in Four Articles ;Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States.” My appeal was read all over the country, both north and south. Some of the southern states passed laws that made circulating my document a crime punishable by death. They forbade the teaching of reading and/or writing to slaves, for fear that they would read my pamphlet or others, and rebel. Imagine that!
I fight for the freedom of my fellow blacks of America and the world. I truly believe that slavery is a brutal, unforgiving, ungodly act of selfishness. Just as bad are those inhumane slave owners who call themselves Christians! How dare they impose such treatment under the name of God! I also criticize the hypocrisy of this nation, who was founded with the principles of liberty and freedom, but forbids black priests from preaching to people of his own skin color for fear he will preach the words that inspire them to rebel. I hope with all my heart not only for my own children’s sake, but for all future generations of African-Americans, that they may live the life they were entitled to in the Constitution-a life of freedom and liberty, where not only every man is created equal, but treated equal.
Works Cited
Bader, Philip. African-American History Online. Facts on File, 2004. Web. 23 Mar. 2010.
http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/
LowerFrame.asp?iPin=AAW0133&InputText=David+Walker&SearchStyle=Keyword&dTitle=Walker%2C+David&iRecord
Type=&TabRecordType=AllRecords&TribeName=&TribeCodeSearch=&dCultureArea=&AllCountPass=76&SubBioCountP
ass=72&BioCountPass=4
Kranz, Rachel C., and Philip J. Koslow. "Walker, David." African-American History Online. Facts on File, 1999. Web. 23 Mar. 201http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/
default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True
Samuels, Wilfred D. "David Walker." African-American History Online. N.p., 2007. Web. 23 Mar.http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
Walker, David. "Walker's Appeal in Four Articles: Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America."
History: Slavery in America from Colonial Times to the Civil War. (2000): n. pag.
African-American History Online. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/ LowerFrame.asp?iPin=E13620&InputText=David+Walker&SearchStyle=Keyword&dTitle=%3Ci%3EWalker%27s+Appeal %3C%2Fi%3E+%28excerpt%29&iRecordType=&TabRecordType=AllRecords&TribeName=&TribeCodeSearch=&dCultureAr
ea=&AllCountPass=76&S
August 24, 1824
ReplyDeletePlantation in Maryland
I am Fredrick Douglass, a six year old boy from around the Easton Shore in Maryland. My life is not that easy at the moment. As of today, my grandma took me to this big place full of many colored people working and being hit with these ropes. When my grandma said good bye, I she told me that she would see me in a couple of days to see how I was doing. I wonder if that is actually going to happen. Only when me and grandma were in the car, she had told me some really disappointing news that she had been wanting to tell me for a long time. This was about my parents, who I never knew about. I have always wondered about my father. Also, I have also wondered about my mother. My grandma told me that my mommy was a slave that worked really hard each and every day. Grandma told me that daddy was nowhere to be found. The other scary part: he was not the same color as me. She told me that he had white skin. That made me think real hard the whole ride home who my dad could be. Thinking about put me to sleep in the car, and when I woke up, we were at the big work place.
When we pulled up, grandma dropped me off, gave me a big kiss, a big hug, and honked as she drove away. I was kinda scared for what was gonna happen, but then again I’m a big strong kid. The big white colored man took me into a room where there were lots of beds, and sick people. I thought it looked kind of sad in there. Almost like all of those colored people were hurt today or something. I hope that isn’t going to happen to me.
As the day moved on, I was taken around the big farm place, and learned a few things. The mean not colored man told me that I would have to get my workin clothes from my cabin, because I would start working first thing in the morning. I was looking around after the man left and said just hang around until the morning when we will get to work. I’m actually really scared for work. I am because all the people that are working really hard are being whipped by this long rope that looks like it hurts so much. I wanna go home with grandma right now. I can’t even stop crying I’m so nervous. Well it’s time to go to sleep. I’ll have to overcome these sad emotions. I don’t wanna be here, but I know that I will be able to go home as soon as I’m done here. I just can’t wait for that day! Let’s hope my first day on the big plantation goes well, and I hope that I do not get hurt at all.
Sources
1. Archer, Jules. They Had a Dream. N.p.: Penguin Group, 1993. Print.
2. “Frederick Douglass.” African American Biographies. Volume 3 ed. Print.
3. Fredrick Douglass. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
4. The Life of Frederick Douglass. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
5. Masoff, Joy. The African American Story. Waccabuc, NY: Five Ponds Press Books, n.d. Print.
Matt W. Pd. 1
I was an Abolitionist and I was born in February 1818 near a town of Easton in Maryland. At the age of 6 I was left at a plantation by my grandmother. I gave away some of my food in exchange for lessons in reading and writing. I also taught myself about writing from a book called The Columbian Orator. At 15 years of age I was a field hand. At 20 years old I escaped from slavery by impersonating a sailor. Then I went to New Bedford Massachusetts to raise a family with my wife Anna Murray.
ReplyDeleteI believed in three key for success in life which were “Believe in yourself, Take advantage of every opportunity, and use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society.” I believe that are democratic government doesn’t establish equality among Americans. They don’t really care if we are slaves working on plantation and that we will never a great enjoyable life. You have us slaves working extremely hard and we don’t get feed a great deal of food. If the democratic did something about this probably everything would be different.
The challenges to equality is to be able to wake up everyday and work. You I never know if or when you will be out of their. I you might never get out and become free. I had to pay to have freedom. I have to pay 719 dollars and I don’t have nearly as much money as that. I also gave up my food to neighborhood kids to teach me how to read and write. I loved education it teaches you some much information. I would sometimes be starving but I gave up my food for lessons but I thought reading and writing would really help me in life.
Work Cited
"A Short Biography on Frederick Douglass." Frederick Douglass. Fremarjo
Enterprises, Inc, 2004. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
http://www.frederickdouglass.org/douglass_bio.html .
"Frederick Douglass." PBS online. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1539.html.
"Douglass, Frederick." Fact on File. N.p., 1999. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE01&iPin=afbio0157&SingleRecord=True.
"Frederick Douglass." The Literature Network. N.p., 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
http://www.online-literature.com/frederick_douglass/.
"Frederick Douglass." Wikipedia. N.p., 22 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass.
Alex pd 1
(Joey Period 2)
ReplyDeleteGreat Barrington, Massachusetts 1884
My name is William Edward Burghardt Du Bois. I was born on February 23, 1868, and in 1884 I was the only black student among thirteen graduates. After the thirteenth amendment was passed, I was a strong supporter of social reform, such as women’s voting rights and black rights. My mother was one of ten children born into the farming family. Basically my entire life, I was the only black student in all of my classes. In 1885 I finally made the risky decision to move to Tennessee for a college education at Fisk. Down south, hatred for black people is worse than anywhere else. I earned my scholarship without too many problems. That was me.
I experienced so much hatred and discrimination against the black race. After also receiving my doctorate degree from Harvard in 1895, I wanted to get into teaching. I got a job in Ohio. But teaching was not good enough. I started to get into social research of African Americans. I would station myself in the seventh ward slums and observe how they would be treated as villains. My goal was to basically find a solution to social prejudice. The outcome was The Philadelphia Negro. It revealed the Negro group as a palpitating group and not a body of crime. In almost every study I recorded from then on showed some sort of discrimination against the African American race.
Even though in the Constitution it states that all men are created equal, the government proves this not to be true. There are clear laws stating how if you’re black then you can’t drink from a certain water fountain, or you can’t go to a certain school. I was strong supporter for the necessary change. I did everything in my power to try and convince those Negroes around me that we can make a change if we try. My friend was once put in jail for trying to do the same, then the cops wanted me. I spent a good amount of time in my life making sure that people like me lived happily. Equality was never established, not even when I died in August 27, 1993. “Herein lie buried many things which if read with patience may show the strange meaning of being black here in the dawning of the Twentieth Century.”
Hynes, Gerald. "A Biographical Sketch of W.E.B DuBois." W.E.B DuBois Learning
Center. N.p., 1973. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. http://www.duboislc.org/html/
DuBoisBio.html.
Unger, Harlow G. "DuBois, W.E.B." Facts on File. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
Rummel, Jack. "W.E.B Du Bois." Facts on File. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
West, Sandra L, and Aberjhani West. "Du Bois, W.E.B." Facts on File. N.p., n.d.
Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/
default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=True.
Hinman, Bonnie. A Stranger in My Own House. Greensboro, North Carolina: Morgan
Reynalds, 2005. Print.
May 17, 1845
ReplyDeleteNantucket, Massachusetts
Hello my name is Fredrick Douglas, I have just released the book Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas, An American Slave. I am only 27 but during my short time on earth so far I have a lot to tell the world about my life. I was born in February of 1818. My mother was a black slave while my father was white. I spent my child hood in Maryland living with my grandparents and aunt. I rarely saw my mother, see past away when I was seven. My father had no part in my life. All I knew about my father is that he was white.
While living with my grandparents I witnessed many brutal beatings of slaves and spent many time cold and hungry. When I was eight I was sent to Baltimore to live with Hugh Auld, A ship carpenter. After seven enjoyable years in Baltimore I was sent back to the country to work at a farm runned by Edward Covey, a brutal “slave breaker.” Every day I was whipped and barely fed. This experience broke my soul, body, and spirit.” I couldn’t take it anymore, I had created an escape plan but before I could put it into action the plan was discovered and I was put into jail.
On September 3, 1838 I arrived in New York. There I married my lovely wife who I had met in Baltimore. After that I moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts were I joined many organizations such as a black church. I also attended abolitionist meetings. I also subscribed to the Liberator, a weakly journal written by William Lloyd Garrison. In 1841 at the Bristol Anti-Slavery Society's annual meeting, I saw William Garrison speak. He was my inspiration to become a speaker. After I mentioned William in the Liberator he was also impressed. Many days later a gave my first speech at the Anti-Slavery Convention in Nantucket, Massachusetts. This was the cornerstone for my future as a teacher and public speaker. After giving the speech I was asked to become a lecturer for the Society for three years, I accepted. So that is why I wanted to get my Narrative out, so other slaves like I was know that there is always hope.
-Stephen P.4
Sources:
Lewis, J. Patrick. The Brothers War Cvil War Voices in Verse. Washington D.C:
National Geographing Society, 2007. N. pag. Print.
PBS Online. "Frederick Douglass ." Africans in America. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Mar.
2010. <http://www.pbs.o
MacEachern, Sally, and Aruna Vasudevan. African American Biographys. Danbury,
Conneticut: Grolier, 2006. Print. rg/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1539.html.
Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc. "A Short Biography of Frederick Douglass."
Frederickdouglass.org. Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc, 2004. Web. 25 Mar.
2010. <http://www.frederickdouglass.org/douglass_bio.html.
Marriman, C.D. "Frederick Douglass." The Liturature Network. Jalic Inc., 2008.
Web. 25 Mar. 2010. <http://www.online-literature.com/
frederick_douglass/.
Vikranth E. Pd.4
ReplyDeleteJuly 3rd, 1831
Southampton, Virginia
I, Nathaniel Turner, am a great prophet; intended for a great purpose. I was born as the property of Benjamin Turner and all my life I have been praised as Prophet. I spoke of events that occurred before my birth and I learned how to spell with one look at a book. All the knowledge I have acquired came to me with ease. Among slaves this was nearly impossible as we were denied any form education. So, all this was astounding to the other slaves and, thus, I became very influential among them. As the prophet, it is best that I take heed of the two events that have occurred: As I was praying one day at my plough, the spirit spoke to me, informing me of that purpose. It showed a black man named Henry Garnet, apparently an abolitionist, who speaks of slaves throwing off the chains and forming an armed resistance at the National Negro Convention in Buffalo, New York. The second event is the solar eclipse that occurred; which explained the vision I had showing the sun turning dark while the white and black spirits fought. This was a sure sign that leading the revolution is my divine right.
My continuous prayers for my calling had been answered. I have to lead an armed rebellion that will overthrow the white tyranny. The hypocritical overseers that preached that people have natural rights are little more than monsters. Yet they consider us unclean! Our so-called betters spoke of the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They go on and on about the right to not be unreasonably punished and the freedom to speech. None of which were granted to us just because our skin color. We have no life; our entire lives were devoted to working to the bone for our cruel masters. Every slave I know never knew the sweet taste of freedom and was simply considered property. Clearly we were not allowed the smallest miniscule of happiness by our merciless masters. The whites abuse us to the extent that we are nearly dead for the slightest offense. If the weaker of us collapses from exhaustion our ‘superiors’ would whip them until they either die or continue to work. If we try to speak out and rebel they hunt us down and hang us. They consider this cruelty nothing because apparently we are some sort of abomination, inferior to the white people.
to be continued...
Vikranth E. Pd.4
ReplyDeletecontinued...
The Caucasians consider us little more than animals, nothing more than dumb animals that are only good for manual work. The only difference between us is our skin pigment and that we are inhumanely exploited. They talk of justice and fairness, yet all this brutality still continues. I have seen all these horrors throughout my life, so I decided that we will put a stop to this once and for all. The only way to solve this injustice is through force as Mr. Garnet said. This cruel treatment can only be stopped with armed resistance. Any other peaceful means will never be allowed by the white community. I am planning a revolt to overcome this deprivation of equality.
I have used my influence and have already convinced my fellow slaves to revolt. I have chosen four other slaves as generals: Hark, Henry, Nelson, and Sam. I have the greatest confidence in them. I have also selected two special recruits, Jack and Will, whose skill with an axe will be a great asset to our cause. I have instructed them to spare no white life. Although, we have had many setbacks due to disagreements in plans I am completely assured that we will succeed. We will overcome these cruel injustices and, tomorrow, every African American will be equal to any white in this land.
Citations:
• Bio.True Story. "Nat Turner Biography." www.biography.com. history.com, 1996.
Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
• Encyclopedia. "Nat Turner." www.ecyclopedia.com. N.p., 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
.
• Melanet. "Turner's Confession." http://www.melanet.com/nat/nat.html. N.p., 1998.
Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
• Scholastic. African American Biographies Volume 9. Old Sherman Turnpike Danbury,
Connecticut: Scholastic, 2006. Print.
• Www.thinkexist.com. "Nat Turner quotes." www.thinkexist.com. Check Point, 1999.
Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Katie
ReplyDeleteP.D 9
Being this way isn’t my fault, it’s my advantage. As a young boy I remember being raised by my grandmother and asking where dad was. I didn’t understand why she would be so indecisive to answer; it hurt to hear that he was suspected of being Thomas Auld, a slave-owner in the village of St. Michaels, to whom he transferred me at age nine. Being who I am makes me stronger. I am proud of who I am, a well accomplished man who has been everywhere and seen everything, I am Frederick Douglass. My mom died when I was at a young age so I was practically raised by his grandmother. At age 6 I was sent to live on the Lloyd plantation owned by Captain Aaron Anthony. When I was seven my aunt and uncle fled to the north and I was jealous. At eight I moved to Baltimore to work at the home of Thomas Auld’s brother Hugh and his wife. She was always very kind to me and taught me a very basic form of reading. From then on my knowledge only grew, although she was forbade teaching me, so I taught myself. Again, being who I am, a slave works to my advantage. I see the problems and have the determination and motivation to fix them. Normal people would stop and give up, but not me. I’m going to keep fighting and enhancing myself to better the world. If I stand up and rebel others will gladly follow. I obtained this knowledge all in the longest hours of my life. As a black slave teenager growing up I then worked for a man by the name of Edward Covey. He had quite the reputation. Always rumors of him beating his workers senselessly and flogging everyone in sight, unfortunately this was true, but there was one encounter that changed my life forever. It was sixth months after my arrival there and Edward was coming after me fast. AndI blocked him over and over. My muscles were growing tense for I had been exerting my strength for countless hours month after month there was nothing left. But I kept going, I could not endure another hardship or brutal beating. I would die trying to save myself before I die by giving up. I ran and dodged his lunges towards me. No slave has ever defied a master, but I could not be whipped again. The endless scars on my back had no more room for new ones. “Are you going to resist you scoundrel?” he roared. I blocked and finally grabbed hold of him arm to the point where my nails stained red with his blood. “The fighting madness had come upon me, and I found my strong fingers attached to the throat of my cowardly tormentor; as heedless of consequences, at the moment, as though we stood as equals before the law. The very color of the man was forgotten. I felt as supple as a car, and was ready for the snakish creature at every turn. Every blow of his was parried, though I dealt no blows in return. I was strictly on the defensive, preventing him from injuring me, rather than trying to injure him.” After struggling with each other for two hours he had nothing left and I was also fighting to keep breathing. Finally Covey called out for his cousin, Hughes to help him. Hughes tore me off Covey, but then I kicked him and he let go in pain. Covey got up furiously and went after me for a final attempt, by non other than asking the help of other slaves. However they swiftly refused by saying, “Master hired me to work, not to help flog Frederick.” At that moment I felt so loyal. Covey gave up! At that moment I was beyond glowing. I saw the true value of myself and saw the power of standing up for my rights. “I was changed after that fight. I was nothing before; I was man now, with a renewed determination to be a free man. I had reached the point at which I was not afraid to die. This spirit made me a free man in fact, though I still remained a slave.”
Archer, Jules They Had a Dream New York New York 1993
Frederick Douglass
ReplyDeleteAugust 25th, 1835
Tuckahoe, Maryland
I am writing this today because today I realized that we slaves are not being treated in a way that is acceptable. Our country is supposed to be a free country, but if we have slaves, are we really that free? When I was a young boy I lived with my grandma in a small hut with no furniture because we are expected to sleep on the ground and eat with our hands. I was never aware that I was a slave back then and I was happy, but when I turned six everything changed, I had to leave my grandma and live under the care of a complete stranger, and I was never treated right again. I have witnessed beatings and people being whipped. I have even experienced being whipped. I knew that the way our masters were treating us was wrong and against the constitution, but like any slave boy I kept my mouth shut and did my work until today. I have lived my life thinking that this was the only way to live for us blacks but today I realized that we could fight back.
I have been working on Edward Covey’s fields for about a year now and every week for the past year I have been whipped with sticks or cow skins. This week was no different. This morning I headed out to the fields to work. About midway through the day Edward Covey started to whip and beat my, but instead of just taking it and then proceeding with my work I fought back. I had decided that I was done with the constant bruises and so I slapped him back. Mr. Covey looked so surprised and then we started punching each other until we were rolling in the dirt. We were kicking and struggling. I was just being defensive, I never wanted to hurt him I just was protecting myself from getting hurt. Then Mr. Covey asked for the other slaves help they all ignored him. The fight lasted for what seemed like forever but finally he gave up and let me return to my farm work. I have a feeling Mr. Covey will never lay a finger on me again. That is why today I’ve decided that m going to put everything I got into standing up for my black brothers and sisters.
- Shannon O. Pd. 9 (to be Continued)
Shannon O.(continued)
ReplyDeleteThe Preamble to the Constitution states, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Today they are not establishing justice, to create fairness, but none of us slaves are being treated fairly. The Preamble also says that the government will promote the general welfare but I am not being fed enough, I don’t have a bed to sleep in, and I am getting beaten every weak. The final thing the government promises they will make sure of in the preamble of the Constitution is that they will secure the blessings of liberty, but I don’t feel free, I feel captured and under someone else’s rules. We can change all of this though. As long as we stay together and fight back like I did today we can gain our freedom
- Shannon O. Pd. 9
Citations:
Dubovoy, Sina. "Douglass, Frederick." Civil Rights Leaders, American Profiles. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1997. African-American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=afbio0077&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010)
Kranz, Rachel C. "Douglass, Frederick." In Kranz, Rachel C., and Philip J. Koslow. The Biographical Dictionary of African Americans. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1999. African-American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=afbio0157&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010).
Rummel, Jack. "Douglass, Frederick." African-American Social Leaders and Activists, A to Z of African Americans. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. African-American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=AASL0039&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010).
Russell, Sharman A. "'A Soul on Fire'." Frederick Douglass, Black Americans of Achievement. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2007. African American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=BAFD03&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010).
Russell, Sharman A. "'The Fortunate Meeting'." Frederick Douglass, Black Americans of Achievement. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2007. African American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=BAFD01&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 25, 2010).
Matt Smoot
ReplyDeletePeriod 6
Social Studies
July 3 1852: Dear Diary,
Hopefully tonight will be the last night of suffrage and hate towards a race that has endured so much over thousands of years. Every day I thank god for blessing me with an amazing gift that allows me to persuade others to stand up for what is right and fight for the freedom we deserve. The greatest gift I could receive now would be an Independence Day where our country is actually free. As African Americans we need a devoted leader that is educated but unfortunately I am the closest thing there is because of the cruelty and lack recognition that there could be brilliant men and women like myself that have no way to show the world what they can do. My mother was one of about six hundred slaves that was even the slightest bit illiterate which has enabled me to spread my message to other slaves. I feel almost as if I’m being mocked by being asked to make this speech when my people are still not yet free. I will definitely explore this topic tomorrow as well as the many other ways my people are being denied their rights.
As a thirty four year old ex slave it is incredible to be in a position where I have so much impact on so many people but in reality all citizens black or white should at leas have the opportunities I have had. I must use my unique situation to help other slaves and myself climb the mountain of adversity staring us in the face every hour of every day. My main goal during this speech will be to inform my audience why our government is treating us unfairly and not just complaining about not being treated equally.
This brings me to my next point about why things in America need to change. This country is a great land to inhabit if you are a white male but is cruel and harsh on women and anyone whose skin is the color of the nighttime sky. African Americans should be given the same rights as everyone else and right now they are being treated like animals which they certainly not. Even though I have only been alive for a short while I have still been a witness to many acts of injustice towards my race and myself that have made me wish that I could put an end to the burden myself and all African Americans must carry around everywhere they go, and finally I now have that chance. Even growing up in Easton, Maryland, an area where slavery was not as bad as some areas, I have still seen horrible acts committed against people who I know and love just because of the color of their skin. Hopefully the next time I am expressing my feelings they are of joy for I have finally brought peace and equality to a land where it is needed so badly.
Sincerely,
Fredrick Douglass
Works Cited
1. Fredrick Douglass." (2010). Wikipedia. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. .
2. Fredrick Douglass." Pbs Online. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
3. The Hypocrisy Of American Slavery." The Hypocrisy Of American Slavery. The History Place. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/douglass.htm. 4. Biography of Fredrick Douglass." Fremarjo. Enterprises. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
May 21, 1830
ReplyDeleteHi, I am David Walker. I was born to a free mother on September 28, 1785. However, my father was a slave in Wilmington, North Carolina. I decided to move to Boston because slavery was so popular in the South. When in Boston, I taught myself how to read and write. I also started a business selling and buying old clothes. I wanted to spend my time reading about world history and slavery. In 1828 I married an escaped slave named Eliza. We had to keep her last name a secret to protect her freedom.
I became part of the nations first African American newspaper and became Boston’s leading spokesperson against slavery. In 1829, I wrote, “David Walker’s Appeal in for articles together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in particular and very expressly, to those of The United States of America.” In my 76 page Appeal, I urged slaves to resort to violence when it came to their freedom. If white people would whip and kill us, it’s the only thing we can do to save ourselves.
People tried to pass laws to prevent the circulation of my document, but people still read it. Georgia passed a law that made it illegal to teach a slave how to read or write. People could be killed if they circulated writing involving the overthrow of slavery. The Georgia State Legislature got so angry from the Walker’s Appeal that they offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who brought me to the South alive and $3,000 for my head. My Appeal helped slaves in the South and everywhere stand up for what they believed in and do all they can to protect and salvage their freedom.
Sincerely,
David Walker
-David Walker was found dead in his home in August 1830. People thought he was poisoned or died of the same disease that killed his daughter-tuberculosis.
Works Cited:
"David Walker." Africa Within. N.p., 2001. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
.
"David Walker." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Eiselein, Gregory. "David Walker." Answers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
.
Inscoe, John C. "David Walker, 1785-1830." Documenting the American South. UNC
University Website, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
Thuersam, Bernhard. "David Walker: Black Wilmington Abolitionist." Cape Fear
Historical Institute. N.p., 2006. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.
.
-Morgan Pd. 6
Frederick Douglass
ReplyDelete3/28/1848 Sanjay Pd. 4
PART I
I feel it my duty and obligation to actively participate in the movement that will hopefully bring slavery to an end. I have witnessed and experienced the injustice and cruelty that is a result of slavery, starting at the Lloyd tobacco plantation in Talbot County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. When I was a baby my mother was sold to another plantation and later died. I was later the gift to a young, wealthy white boy by the name of Thomas Auld in Baltimore. The living conditions were heaven compared to the Lloyd tobacco plantation, and the work was much less. I was ever so fortunate to be given reading lessons with other boys from Tommy’s kind mother Sopha and was making great progress. I was making remarkable progress, too much progress for the liking of Tommy’s father Hugh, but the knowledge I attained later helped me escape. I continued to try and learn and swapped pieces of bread for reading lessons from white boys. I was sent back to the plantation where in Sunday-school classes I educated other slave companions to read and write but we were discovered one day by an angry mob. A man threatened to shoot me to my death if I was teaching slaves to read again. I was then sent to live with a brutal local farmer named Edward Covey who enjoyed beating the pulp out of slaves. A week in I had welts “as large as my little finger” on my back. A couple of weeks later I woke up to more beating and fled, looking for asylum even if it meant returning to my old master, and didn’t know anyone who could help me get to the north so I returned to the wretched farm where Covey was strangely kind to me upon my return, only to later return to his barbaric ways. The “very color of the man was forgotten” and we wrestled nonstop for two hours until he walked away. “He had not drawn a single from me. I had drawn blood from him.” I lived there for another six months and not once was I challenged again, for I was sixteen but tall and strong. That was the turning point of my life. “I was nothing before. I am a man now.” I was then sent to assist a relatively kind farmer by the name of William Freeland. Life was improved there but I still had my sights set on making it to the north. With the help of a free black man named James Mitchell, I organized a dangerous escape plan using five other eager young slaves but we ran into four white constables on horseback who would seize and imprison us on the way to our first stop in Baltimore. I spent a week in jail but I was then reclaimed by Thomas Auld, the uncle of the Thomas Auld I had to keep out of trouble and run errands for back in Baltimore. But Thomas sent me back to his brother Hugh in Baltimore because many whites in the community were threatening to hang me as a ringleader. There I worked for a shipbuilder and almost all of my colleagues were white. Four of them ganged up on me one day and beat the pulp out of me, and they couldn’t be brought to justice because of the racist, discriminating law. I worked at another shipyard were I befriended five free blacks and organized a secret debating club and had meetings and social gatherings over the next few years. There I met a beautiful lady, freeborn yet illiterate, named Anna Murray.
Sources
Hoose, Phillip. We Were There, Too! New York: Melanie Kroupa Books, 2001. Print.
Archer, Jules. They Had a Dream. New York: Penguin Group, 1993. Print.
MacEachern, Sally, and Aruna Vasudevan. African Americn Biographies. Danbury,
Connecticut: Scholastic, 2006. Print.
"Frederick Douglass." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2010. .
"Frederick Douglass Biography." Biography.com. Biography, n.d. Web. 26 Mar.
2010. .
Sanjay Pd. 4 PART II
ReplyDeleteI was determined to pursue a career in politics and became a firm abolitionist after associating myself with many free blacks and negotiated to buy my freedom with Hugh Auld. One day I went out of town for a meeting and paid out my wages a day late, which infuriated Hugh and I feared I would be shipped to the south. I had to make a move, it was now or never, and while I didn’t want to leave my friends and Anna this was something I had to do. To appease Hugh I worked at another shipyard and gave him more money, and he rewarded me with twenty-five cents, which I would use for my escape. I was able to disguise my self as a sailor using the documents of a retired merchant sailor. It was a treacherous, intense, nerve-wracking journey but I made it to Philadelphia at last! Anna joined me and we were married, and as a free black it was a much easier journey. Via the Underground Railroad I made my way to Massachusetts where I worked as a laborer and changed my surname from Baily to Douglass for the purpose of evading the lurking slave hunters. Life was hard, making a living and starting from scratch, and the racism wasn’t written on the wall but it still existed. I was hired to work for a whaling vessel but the white workers threatened to strike rather than work alongside me, and that was that. My children, Rosetta, Lewis, Charles and Annie, brought joy to my life.
I became involved in the abolitionist movement, joining the American Anti-Slavery Society and regularly attended lectures which inspired me. In August 1841 I was offered to address a white audience, which I struggled to do for the first time but was met with thunderous applause in the end, much to my surprise. I found my niche as a public speaker and my popularity grew, especially among white abolitionists. I shared my experiences as a slave and that struck a chord with everyone else, while they were met with some hostility by a good amount as well, those who I had to deal with in my climb. People doubted my ability as a public speaker yet former slave, which provoked me to write my Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written By Himself. I poured my personal life into literature, my tales of being bounced and kicked around in my tumultuous life. I took my act global where I became a sensation and to drum up support for my cause and my movement, also to avoid recapture. To return to the United States as a free man two of my English friends kindly bought my freedom.
I will continue to focus my efforts on bettering the lives of the African-American. When I say African-American I am endorsing the Constitution, which is not a pro-slavery document like some have suggested but could even be “wielded in behalf of emancipation,” especially where the federal government is in complete control. Dissolving the Union would also prove to be detrimental to my cause because it would leave fellow African-American slaves in the south stranded and hopeless. Also, the human we are striving for should apply to women as well. My journey has told me that our democratic government is doing a poor job of establishing equality among Americans of all color and I will dedicate my life to changing that, and my life I have decided to share with you up to this point is a collection of examples that show the challenges to achieving equality. It is important to campaign for our cause not just within our country where we are denied many rights but outside the country, like I just did.
Part one: by erica period 6
ReplyDeleteRochester, New York
1850
The fire harshly burns and my eyes are glued to the flying sparks. As my eyes flicker shut, I recall my brutal past. Pride seems to overwhelm me for making it this far. It is the day of my birth, what I believed was February 14, 1817. Though there is no document proof that date seems to suit me quite well. The days in Tuckahoe, Maryland with my dear mother Harriet were brutal. She worked as a field slave on a rural plantation, while I was 12 miles away from her. She died when I was still a child, about 8 or 9. I was left with the only father I knew, a white slaves master named Aaron Anthony. He was, “like a pig.” Fed up with mush corn that my mother-spent months picking form the cornfield surrounding Holmes Hill. I recall glancing through the crack in the kitchen wall one night after hearing a wailing scream, there I saw my aunt Hester Baily, being whipped in the bare back by Aaron Anthony. I forced myself to watch the entire thing though it was greatly painful. This was the first whipping I saw. And certainly it wasn’t the last one. He soon sent my off to Baltimore to become a houseboy. My mistress there wished to teach me the alphabet, which excited me. The master banned me from learning. But secretly I found a way to learn it. In 1932, I was relocated yet again to the rural plantation.
I was than sent to a man named Edward Covey. He was the worst. Images flooded into my mind. He would whip me with thick sticks. He let oxen run freely through the fields, they trampled my brittle bones. "I seized Covey hard by the throat, and as I did so, I rose." He kicked a beat me until I was finally transferred. I soon encountered a farm master named William Freeland. Though Freeland was rather kind I strived for a single thing. Freedom. Slyly I started an illegal school for blacks that met at night and on Sunday’s. A few other slaves and I plotted to escape. He stole a boat and rowed to the Northern trip to Chesapeake. We wished to flee to the free state of Pennsylvania. But one of the backstabbing slave’s men released our plot to the “white man.” That imbecile! I was thrown in jail for weeks, until a slave trader inspected me and I was sold to “A life in death.” I was sent back to the chambers of Baltimore.
part 2: by erica period 6
ReplyDeleteBut light soon struck when I was hired as a shipbuilder in order to learn trade. The harassment from the white worker was brutal. They were in fury for having to compete for work with a “black” worker. I fought for woman’s rights as well and throughout my life strived for equality amongst everyone. The images rush through my mind and suddenly I fall back in reality.
A single tear trickles down my flushed cheek. I search through the desk for a pad and pen. Delicately I begin to scribble my speech on American Slavery. I write of how the white men of the south still ridicule us to this day. I shall also suggest respect and equality among everyone of every race. According to the US Constitution we must promote the general welfare. This obviously is not happening. My life was so miserable I tried to escape from it multiple times. Though most of those times it failed. Unhappiness is spreading across the southeast and the well being of the slaves is inexistent. This also goes against securing the blessing of liberty from the preamble. Obviously, in my child hood I faced numerous struggles against freedom and independence. Being whipped by Edward Convey doesn’t exactly read freedom for me. I was a prisoner for my entire life. Being thrown in jail and sold yet again doesn’t exactly represent independence. This American Slavery Speech shall hopefully go down in history.
Sincerely,
Frederick Douglass
Works Cited
Douglass, Frederick. "Speech on American Slavery." African American History Online. N.p., n.d. Web.
24 Mar. 2010. .
Foner, Philip S. "What the Black Man Wants." The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass.
International Publishers, 1997. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
"Frederick Douglass." African American History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
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Root, Damon W. "Frederick Douglass, Classical Liberalism, and the Fight for Racial Equality."
Reason. N.p., 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
Thomas, Sandra. "A biography of the life of Frederick Douglass." Frederick Douglass. N.p., n.d. Web.
24 Mar. 2010. .
Frederick Douglass 1817- 1895
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Frederick Douglass; I was a slave prisoner for most of my life and after I escaped I thought nothing else on my mind but to help free the slaves. I remember that I was the only slave on the farm that could remember their birthday and I was very proud. On February, 14, 1817, I, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born in Tuckahoe Creek. I never knew about my father because he had died before I was born, I took on the name “ Douglass” later. I had my cruelty no worse than the others, but I was still miserable. My heart was tortured by the fact these slaves were put against their will when we are no different than our owners. That’s when I realized I had to go.
At the age of twenty, I escaped from my slaveholders by impersonating a sailor while in the shipyard and changing my name to Frederick Douglass. I ran away, out of Baltimore, to find myself with a beautiful African American woman. She was freed from slavery and we ended up getting married and moved to New Bedford where several of our children were born.
During the Civil War, twenty three years later, I created my own persuasive newspaper about anti-slavery and slavery prevention. After many protest and speeches, Abraham Lincoln came to see my, and later appointed him as a trusted advisor. I also gave many speeches to anti-slavery after that including my speech in August, 1841. This was an impromptu speech I gave to describe my life as a slave. The most important line from a speech I gave was “"These may withdraw, and others come forward;" thus he proceeded till all the white members had been served. Then he took a long breath, and looking out towards the door, exclaimed, "Come up, colored friends, come up! for you know God is no respecter of persons.” I was explaining to the colored people that no matter what the white tell you, you can still have your own freedom, and God shows this to you.
Many whites and slave owners especially were upset with my work, but I think it was well worth that sacrifice when Abraham Lincoln brought me to his attention. He brought me to his side and I helped him with most of his arguments and protests for anti-slavery. When I escaped from slavery I mostly wanted to listen to the stories of slaves. I tried to influence them to tell me their stories by writing my own, but I became more focused on writing and telling, rather than listening.
By Aaron Wenta period 2.
Works Cited by Aaron Wenta.
ReplyDelete*Archer, Jules. They Had a Dream. New York: Penguin Group, 1993. Print.
* Fremarjo Enterprises. “Three Speeches from Frederick Douglass: Examples of his Passion Logic and Power.” Seminars on the Life and Teachings of Frederick Douglass . Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc, 1997. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .
*Grolier. “Douglass, Frederick.” African American Biographies. Volume3 ed. 2006. Print.
*Pyramid Technologies Group. “Frederick Douglass.” Africa Within. Biography Resource Center, 2001. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. .
*Shwarz, Philip. African American during the Civil War. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print.