It’s a tradition here on the blog around every Fourth of July to bring up Frederick Douglass. Because for one, he’s not mentioned much in conversation anymore especially from the political party he dedicated himself to, but whose descendants seem ashamed to reference whenever they pull out ‘the party of Lincoln’ card. In previous posts, I’ve commented on his famous July 5, 1852 speech where he condemned the holiday while at the same time explaining why for those in the audience at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York, it had a special significance for them, but not for Negroes still under captivity such as Mr. Douglass had been.

But one must understand the context where Mr. Douglass came from. He didn’t make these spirited comments for lack of knowledge, quite the contrary. He was born into a country that treated him more like property than a man. Eventually he became the great orator, author, and activist we know him to be today in the 21st Century. Before he could accomplish so much, he found out that even in acquiring knowledge by reading thanks to his co-owner Sophia Auld, who committed an unlawful act by teaching him how to read. From this, Mr. Douglass’s mind expanded as mentioned by Wikipedia:

As Douglass learned and began to read newspapers, political materials, and books of every description, he was exposed to a new realm of thought that led him to question and then condemn the institution of slavery. In later years, Douglass credited The Columbian Orator, which he discovered at about age twelve, with clarifying and defining his views on freedom and human rights.

More on this from another website (sorry, I don’t know where I borrowed this from)

Frederick asked his mistress to teach him to read and she readily consented. He soon learned the alphabet and a few simple words. Sophia Auld was very excited about Fredericks progress and told her husband what she had done. Hugh Auld became furious at this because it was unlawful to teach a slave to read. Hugh Auld believed that if a slave knew how to read and write that it would make him unfit for a slave. A slave that could read and write would no longer obey his master without question or thought, or even worse could forge papers that said he was free and thus escape to a northern state where slavery was outlawed. Hugh Auld then instructed Sophia to stop the lessons at once!

Frederick learned from Hugh Auld's outburst that if learning how to read and write was his pathway to freedom, then gaining this knowledge was to become his goal. Frederick gained command of the alphabet on his own and made friends with poor white children he met on errands and used them as teachers. He paid for his reading lessons with pieces of bread. At home Frederick read parts of books and newspapers when he could, but he had to constantly be on guard against his mistress. Sophia Auld screamed whenever she caught Frederick reading. Sophia Auld's attitude toward Frederick had changed, she no longer regarded him as any other child, but as a piece of property. However, Frederick gradually learned to read and write. With a little money he had earned doing errands, he bought a copy of The Columbian Orator, a collection of speeches and essays dealing with liberty, democracy, and courage.

Frederick was greatly affected by the speeches on freedom in The Columbian Orator, and so began reading local newspapers and began to learn about abolitionists. Not quite 13 years old but enlightened with new ideas that both tormented and inspired him.

There’s more that I could drag out right now, but I wanted to present to you what this means and why it’s so important for our young people to understand what Mr. Douglass accomplished at a young age. In a way, Sophia Auld should be congratulated for teaching a young man like Mr. Douglass how to read and where it not for the unjust law not permitting a Negro to read, she may not have changed her view of the young slave, but ‘the law is the law’ as our conservative friends would tout, even in 2009.

Reading sprang forth knowledge, which Mr. Douglass quickly absorbed by his lessons with Ms. Auld and what he read. The fact he took advantage of his thirst for learning served him well with the right material, which shaped his opinions of the world, slavery and the concept of justice for years. Reading also birthed new ideas in Mr. Douglass that he put to good use later in his life. For example, he joined the liberal – I mean, Abolitionist movement, he created media to help promote their cause against slavery. The North Star, Frederick Douglass Weekly, Frederick Douglass' Paper, Douglass' Monthly and New National Era are prime examples.

So here we are in 2009 A.D., and while we should appreciate and honor the life of Mr. Douglass, so many of our youth aren’t following in his footsteps, and instead of a sham, it would be a shame if they blow the greatest of opportunities, even with the first Black President of the United States. Although Mr. Obama accomplished many things, Mr. Douglass set the pace, the standard, which all men who wear this flesh, should follow.

Here is a man who craved knowledge as a young man, who wanted more. He understood the key to freedom was education. Sometimes, we throw that word around but to Mr. Douglass, it was more than that. It was a way of life; a status of proving the slave can elevate above his condition and be free. Reading allowed him to free his mind and entertain new thoughts and ideas and – Mr. Auld would hate this – question whenever injustice springs forth. The life of Frederick Douglass serves as an inspiration to those who appreciate the effort and struggle he made to insure equality for all. To the Mr. Aulds of the world, he is the living personification of their fear.

Who will we listen to then? Frederick Douglass, who was born a slave but through the unlawful act of reading, was able to achieve many things that benefited all? Had he not been able to read, he wouldn’t have said this:

“I didn't know I was a slave until I found out I couldn't do the things I wanted.”

Or should we heed the warnings of Mr. Auld who insisted, again:

if a slave knew how to read and write that it would make him unfit for a slave.

if a slave learned to read, he would become dissatisfied with his condition and desire freedom.

When our conservative friends mention ‘freedom isn’t free’, they’re right to an extent. It takes work to break out of bondage. Mr. Douglass took the first step and I pray whether our kids live in environments they don’t deserve, or in places were they should take advantage and go far in the world, they learn from him and grow. No, they must.

Otherwise, the Mr. Aulds of the new millennium would have their fears abated, and that again, would be a huge shame.

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