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Learning to Read and Write: Frederick Douglass’ Journey Towards Learning how to Read and Write

Frederick Douglass was born during the era of slavery around 1818 in Maryland, the United States and later died in February 1895. Douglass was fascinated by the art of reading and writing; indeed, he later became a journalist and an author. His most famous work is Learning to Read and Write, was aimed at defying a ban on educating slaves which was raised by imperialists. Douglass desire for learning was motivated by the need of formulating opposing ideologies to counter the then political regime. In the process of learning to become an excellent reader and writer, Frederick Douglass faced many struggles; nonetheless, he used serval strategies to overcome education barriers.

Douglass' challenges emanated from the fact that he was black, there was no one to educate him, as well as open oppositions. In his work, Douglass acknowledged that being a black was an inhabitation by itself. “I consoled myself with the hope that I should one day find a good chance [to escape]; meanwhile, I would learn to write" (147). The fact that the political environment did not support education for the black communities intensified Douglass' struggle towards education. Besides, there existed few willing and highly qualified black Americans who would teach their kinsmen how to read and write.

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