How I Learned to Read and Write
Frederick Douglass describes his journey of learning to read and write as a slave in his autobiographical work, “Learning to Read and Write” (1845). Douglass explains how he was taught the alphabet by his mistress before she was influenced by society’s bigotry. Then, Douglass had to seek erudition independently, learning from the white boys he met in the street. He showed resourcefulness and a thirst for knowledge in adversity at a young age. He read about Catholic emancipation and abolitionism, and became the Frederick Douglass we know today. Douglass shared this story from his life in order to show how a will to learn can transform into a will to change the world. Frederick Douglass’s intended audience was likely other abolitionists whom he wanted to inspire. After reading this piece of writing, I have gained even more insight on the importance of learning to read and write. Throughout the excerpt, Douglass explains his journey and curiosity. For instance, he states “The reading of...
