Lessons From Frederick Douglass on the Link Between Literacy and Freedom

The heroes of history prove that it’s impossible to contain the human spirit

I count myself fortunate that I had the opportunity to teach myself a foreign language. I moved to Peru in 2001 with nothing more than a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish. I learned through immersion which was both challenging and wonderful.

I devised many tactics for pursuing my objective. I kept track of all the new words I’d learned each day. In the evening, I’d sit down with my dictionary and write out the definitions in Spanish. When I found new words, I would write out the definitions for those as well.

When I was done, I taped these handwritten paragraphs to the wall next to the light switch so I could reread them every time I left my room. This was just one of many tactics that emerged due to my unquenchable curiosity.

Learning a foreign language was difficult, but I’ve never had to be concerned that any effort I made in the pursuit of knowledge would make me the target of physical abuse. That’s an example of privilege.

The same cannot be said of Frederick Douglass who miraculously taught himself to read under the constant oppression of human slavery. Today, Douglass’s work is likely to be banned under the authoritarian anti-CRT laws that have become an unfortunate part of our political landscape.

In the context of the present threat against our intellectual freedoms, I’d like to explore some of Douglass’s comments on how fundamental literacy is to escaping the clutches of tyranny. Perhaps his words are more poignant now than ever.

You cannot contain the human spirit

I grew up with the privilege of knowing that there was never any question that I would be taught how to read. I set about learning with eagerness, driven by intense curiosity, and I was soon devouring books.

Today, it’s disheartening to look around the desolate landscape of our politically divided country and witness our vulnerabilities to authoritarianism. It seems as if every day there are a few more titles added to banned book lists. Teachers in Florida have recently been forced to clear their shelves in fear of government persecution.

I’m left reflecting on what it might be like to live in a world where children are denied their right to literacy.

Although the idea provides ample cause for despair, I’m encouraged by the knowledge that bullies always delude themselves about the extent of their ability to control other human beings. Even in the absence of compassionate direction, the human mind cannot be contained.

My experience with learning Spanish provided me with a sliver of insight into the process Frederick Douglass used to teach himself how to read and write. It’s thanks to the works of individuals like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs that we have access to accounts which provide the truth about American history.

Our society has tried to deny human beings the basic right to dignity before. Today, humanity owes a debt of gratitude to those that, against all odds, ensured their voices would be heard.

The first lessons were a fortunate accident

In his account, Douglass speaks with kindness of the mistress that took it upon herself to begin his education. At first, he’s stunned that she is apparently ignorant of how slaves are generally treated.

She learns quickly enough, much to Douglass’s regret, but the passages about her transformation are revealing. To this day there is a large percentage of the population that lives in blissful and deliberate ignorance with regard to the ravages of institutionalized racism. Too often, when realization does descend, the ignorant take the side of the oppressors rather than the oppressed.

That appears to have been the case with Douglass’s mistress.

Very soon after I went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Auld, she very kindly commenced to teach me the A, B, C. After I had learned this, she assisted me in learning to spell words of three or four letters. Just at this point of my progress, Mr. Auld found out what was going on, and at once forbade Mrs. Auld to instruct me further, telling her, among other things, that it was unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read — Narrative of the Life of Frederic Douglass, Chapter 6.

To me, the use of the word “unsafe” is chilling in this passage. Evildoers always attempt to profess ignorance, or hide behind the justification of “tradition.” But in this case, there’s a clear knowledge of what might be gained by allowing the oppressed to become educated.

The oppressors know that it makes people more powerful. Consider that the next time you hear a proposal to cut education, limit the teaching of academic theories, or ban books. These are deliberately leveraged mechanisms of control.

They know exactly what they’re doing.

How Douglass taught himself to read

Imagine a child equipped only with curiosity and his own tenacious human spirit, surrounded by enemies, and yet undaunted in his quest for knowledge. That is Frederick Douglass.

I LIVED in Master Hugh’s family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems — Narrative of the Life of Frederic Douglass, Chapter 7.

The stratagems Douglass employed are nothing short of inspiring, and they have not lessened in their ability to provide us with hope today.

You’d think it would be impossible for a powerless, uneducated child to free himself from the bonds of slavery. Yet, Douglass did it. What we can take from his success is proof that the power oppressors claim to wield is based largely in illusion. Their apparent strength can be used against them.

Douglass transformed his oppressors into teachers

You do not have to be long on this Earth to have come up against an individual who thinks s/he is “superior” to you. Although this attitude is superficially frustrating, it can be to your benefit to exploit the inherent weakness of this belief.

It does you no good to confront the delusion directly. You cannot make an oppressor admit that you are their equal. However, it’s very easy to take advantage of this flawed thinking. Believing he can never be fooled due to his superiority, an oppressor can be easily manipulated.

That’s exactly what Douglass did.

The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell.

The plan which I adopted, and the one by which I was most successful, was that of making friends of all the little white boys whom I met in the street. As many of these as I could, I converted into teachers — Narrative of the Life of Frederic Douglass, Chapter 7.

The truth cannot be suppressed forever

Douglass set about building on his rudimentary knowledge. Some of his tactics amounted to simple bribery.

I used also to carry bread with me, enough of which was always in the house, and to which I was always welcome; for I was much better off in this regard than many of the poor white children in our neighborhood. This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give me that more valuable bread of knowledge — Narrative of the Life of Frederic Douglass, Chapter 7.

It’s easy to feel disheartened when you look at the prevalence of injustice in our society. It seems as if the forces of oppression have every advantage. But the thing we have to remember is that mechanisms of abuse are fundamentally flawed and doomed to fail.

Douglass, in his genius, was able to recognize that he was surrounded by allies, though the poor white children in his neighborhood would have never thought of themselves as such. Douglass didn’t make it his objective to convince them of this. He merely exploited his situation to achieve his own ends.

Oppressors make human beings into slaves by obeying their own compulsions to evil, indifference, and laziness. In a culture of oppression, there will always be others who are oppressed. There can be strength in common purpose even if there’s no stated agreement as to what that purpose is.

Taking advantage of opportunities

In some ways, Douglass’s efforts are reminiscent of the exploits of a spy. He was very similar to an agent in hostile foreign territory, aware that the the intelligence he sought would put his life at risk.

One of the other inherent weaknesses of the concept of slavery is that slave owners cannot constantly monitor the people they oppress. If they did so, the effort of keeping slaves would be more effort than the work the masters sought to avoid.

Douglass took good advantage of his alone time.

My mistress used to go to class meeting at the Wilk Street meetinghouse every Monday afternoon, and leave me to take care of the house. When left thus, I used to spend the time in writing in the spaces left in Master Thomas’s copy-book, copying what he had written. I continued to do this until I could write a hand very similar to that of Master Thomas. Thus, after a long, tedious effort for years, I finally succeeded in learning how to write — Narrative of the Life of Frederic Douglass, Chapter 7.

In a very real sense, Douglass found nourishment in the table scraps his oppressors left behind. He found his freedom in the space between the bars of his cell. His achievement of teaching himself to read under those circumstances is nothing short of miraculous. It’s a testament to the power of the human spirit.

The modern mechanism of oppression must also fail

They couldn’t stop Frederick Douglass from teaching himself how to read. They couldn’t stop Frederick Douglass from becoming free.

Today, we live in a world where modern oppressors, having failed at suppressing Douglass himself, are trying to limit our children’s access to his work. They pass Anti-CRT legislation with vague and unclear language so that they can censor whatever books and academic theories that they want.

It’s frustrating, but it’s not going to work. The example of Frederick Douglass shows us that. If he, under the most deplorable system of abuse, was able to win his freedom, then we can too.

Nobody should have to go through what Douglass had to go through. On the days when you’re exhausted from the fight, it’s important to look at his example and find inspiration in the true strength of the human spirit.

If you have the ability to read this article, you are already equipped with everything you need to be a warrior for freedom. Don’t despair. Pass it on.

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