“If you teach that nigger (speaking of myself ) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master” (p. 49).
“I now understood what had been to me a most perplexing difficulty—to wit, the white man’s power to enslave the black man. It was a grand achievement, and I prized it highly. From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom” (p. 49). (Education)
“In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of my master, as to the kindly aid of my mistress. I acknowledge the benefit of both” (p. 50). (Education) *
Blog question of the week: Why was education, for the slaves of the 1800's, the key to freedom? In what ways do these quotes apply today to our society, other societies? In what areas can you apply these quotes?
Reading Uncle Tom's cabin, you are. (What literary device is that? For extra credit)
The only thing that really separated white men from slaves was knowledge. If slaves were educated, they would know their strength. They would know that others in the north opposed slavery. They could communicate with each other to form a rebellion.
ReplyDeleteBut keeping a man in ignorance is the easiest way to keep him in bondage. We have seen this phenomenon throughout history, from communist regimes to abortion clinics.
(Third Quote) When something is guarded and withheld with such determination, it is a natural inclination of the human spirit to desire to know what it is. Something so dangerous and desirable as knowledge had to be protected by those who held it.
Anastrophe that is.
Exactly. If slaves were ignorant of the fact that they were human beings too, they would keep working without questions asked. But if they realized, "Hey! I'm a person just like my slave-master. What makes him better than me?!" then they would know the truth that they were meant to be equal too. And that's what slave owners couldn't let them find out.
DeleteNice analysis Karlyn. I like how you emphasized the impact of being kept in the dark.
DeleteDo I get extra credit for posting first?
ReplyDeleteYou get extra credit in the form of awe and applause.....
DeleteTo slaves in the 1800s, the ability to read and write was unique but essential. In today's world, one can't get anywhere without the ability to read or write. Back in the 19th century, illiteracy was more common (especially among slaves) but it was still pretty vital to know how to read. To many slaves, this talent resembled freedom and independence since now they could depend on themselves if necessary. An escaped slave who could read and write would fare much better in the world than one that couldn't.
ReplyDeleteI think these quotes (mainly the third one) talks about how there's always an encourager and a discourager. His master wasn't happy at all that he was becoming independent, but his mistress helped him accomplish this feat. In almost anything we do in life, there’s always someone telling us we should give up, and then there's someone who comes alongside you and assists. It's tough when you’re fighting for a cause and someone tries to stop you, but that's just our culture. Look at Nehemiah. He had a bunch of support to rebuild Jerusalem. The king financed the whole thing, but, Nehemiah also had some people who hated on him for what he did (Sandballot and Tobiah). The question we must ask ourselves sometimes is this: are we the encouragers, or the discouragers? Do we help a slave learn to become independent, or do we strongly oppose?
Very good points Nick, I like your analysis on how the quotes apply today.
DeleteInsightful thought - I hadn't considered that aspect of it: that there's an encourager and discourager in every situation.
DeleteFreedom. The one thing that most slaves held above all else: the chance to be free. In the 1800s one of the keys to escape was education. Why so, you may ask? Allow me to explain. Slaves weren't suppose to think, they were suppose to follow orders blindly. Education taught the slaves how to think for themselves which is why Douglas said "If you teach that nigger (speaking of myself ) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master” (p. 49). Education also gave them motivation for escape because now that he was educated he could make it in the world on his own not inhibited by illiteracy. It gave them independence. Educated slaves also gained motivation by some of the books they read. Sometimes they would read books about how the white men had kidnapped African Americans and taken them from their homes. This realization often infuriated them furthering their independence.
ReplyDeleteIn my first science class a couple years ago we did an experiment. We opened packages of Skittles to see if the color distribution was random or equal. After the experiment we found out that our teachers had carefully opened all of the packages and switched the skittles around ironing the packages shut. This taught us to question everything our teacher said and think through it ourselves. Although there are no literal slaves, and almost everyone can read these quotes still apply today. If one is educated and can think for themselves it is harder to fall slave to the lies many politicians and scientists tell. Being able to think for yourself allows you to question and scrutinize all ideas and allows us to think for ourselves and not fall for the traps those who want power lay. If you teach someone to think for themselves, then they will be of no use to their masters.
I wonder if this is why school vouchers are so fought against.
DeleteReading Uncle Tom's cabin, you are. The literary device used is a Anastrophe.
ReplyDeleteLearning you are, my padawan. Hmm, still more to learn have you. Love Yoda do I.
DeleteEducation is THE most powerful tool in the world. It allows the Dalits in India to rise above their caste, it allows chieftains in tribes in Africa to learn medicine to bring it their people, and it allowed the slaves in America to break the bonds of racial division. Francis Bacon was famously quoted as saying, "Knowledge is power." When I hear this quote I can't help but to think how very true it was especially during the era of US Slavery. Slaves who learned how to read and write could so many things. Firstly and most importantly, they could read the word of God. This was an important thing in a slaves life because as I am learning even more now that I'm reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin", a slaves Faith in God was what kept him grounded. Secondly, slaves could make money for themselves if they could read and write - we learned this when we discussed Phyllis Wheatly, she was a slave but wrote poems and made a living for herself and then eventually earned her freedom. If a slave had knowledge, they had power. Many of them must have it drilled into their heads that they were nobody's and that black were inferiors to whites especially because they didn't have the same amount of education or knowledge as their masters. Once they could learn to read and write they would soon realize that, "Hey! We actually aren't any different from these people, what gives them the right to own us?!" Education not only made the slaves realize that they were equal, but it also made their way of escape much easier. They could now read road signs, newspapers, write letters, could talk intelligently, and could find and acquire a good job. Without education - freedom would be altogether impossible.
ReplyDeleteSo many people in our society of America today take education for granted, we even go to far as to complain about the excess amount of homework that we may have. Education meant so much more to the slaves because it was hard to attain. They had to WORK for it even if it meant scorn from their master (look to third quote) or even from their fellow slaves, but in the end for many of them it meant a much greater reward. Freedom.
Wow! Very good response, I really liked how you showed the benefit of education not only to the slaves but to the Dalits, Africa, and us today. Very thorough answer. Do you think we take education for granted because it is hard for us to imagine life without it?
DeleteNice response Haley, Sorry Stephen but I want to answer your question. I think we take education for granted simply because we always have it. Just like you take you hand for granted until you lose it we take education for granted because we haven' lost it yet.
DeleteEveryone knows of the phrase, "The pen is mightier than the sword." I think that is the basis for the slaves reasoning about learning. They knew that once they could learn to command the english language, there voice would be heard to the furthest corners of the nation. Although revolts have historical significance, we remember famous slave narratives, historical fiction about slavery, and moving speeches by African Americans. Slaves understood that once one had learned to read and write, unstoppable would he be.
ReplyDeleteSo the extra credit question is an anastrophe...and since I ended with an anastrophe, I think I should get a skittle or something.
It makes a lot of sense that writing would be a huge deal for a slave. Do you think that reading and learning to speak well was as big of an achievement?
Deletevery true, people might have also said sometime, "You can kill someone,(be barbaric) but can you move someone with your words(be civilized)
DeleteWe know that southerners didn't treat slaves like equals but dealt with them like livestock. With the rise of slave narratives, people were suddenly aware of their human emotions and personalities.
DeleteIn the book 1984 by George C. Orwell it states, "Ignorance is strength." This mindset was commonly held by many owners of slaves in the nineteenth century. Slave owners restricted their slaves from learning because they understood the benefits of education. When a slave learned how to read and write he became equipped to think for himself.
ReplyDeleteQuotation 1: “If you teach that nigger (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master” (49).
Knowledge is power. Literacy allowed a slave to reason, which provided a sense of liberation and equality. This was particularly true in the life of Fredrick Douglas. After learning how to read and write the slave stated, "I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted."
Extra Credit: Anastrophe (or Yoda) is the name of the literary device employed.
speaking in anastrophe all week I have. It's like pig-latin for nerds....
DeleteOne of the great rappers of our age, Mr. Kanye West, once said, "I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book's autograph." What amazing wisdom flows from the mouths of this century's idols! I'm being sarcastic, of course.
ReplyDeleteIn our society, education and reading are viewed as boring or nerdy. We fail to recognize, in our jaded outlook on these tools, the fact that we once held education in the light of godliness, and for many, an education was not only the key to a better life, but the key to life itself.
The slaves who learned to read and write became the greatest fear of slave owners. When a man is able to understand that there is more of a world out there than what he's been told there is, he is naturally going to want to be in that world, particularly if his world is worse than the one he knows is out there. And no matter how the slave masters might try to restrain their slaves, once they had a taste of freedom, there was no turning back.
Our society needs to remember how much we once valued our education. We need to stop having a Kanye mindset, and get back to a Frederick Douglas mindset, a mindset that values the freedom we have to learn.
Also, anastrophe that was.
Love the cultural reference Hannah. And is it sarcasm or Irony or a pardox????
DeleteVery true Hannah. Sadly learning is looked down upon.
DeleteI appreciate the contrast between Frederick Douglass and Kanye West. I think so many people in todays society hate reading so much, that it's been turned from a luxury into an option that many people despise. :( Which is sad because books are the best things ever!!!
DeleteI'm pretty sure Kanye West would have quite the changed mindset about education had he been born in the time of Frederick Douglass
DeleteEducation was a doorway to freedom for many slaves, because it teaches the mind to reason and operate independently. Sadly in our culture the skill of reasoning and making good decisions is all but lost. Thankfully, my father has recently focused on this, as well as in the past, and emphasizes the importance of using logic to answer the questions we have and knowing why we are in what we are in.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think we can get the average citizen to be more educated?
DeleteFirst we have to value learning. Sadly in modern america, most teens look down on learning as a necessary evil, instead of a blessing. You can see this with the average treatment of the nerd. While the nerd may be shy, he/she is most often a nerd because they love learning. They dig in and remember the things in that area. The "cool kids" look down on us nerds because what we are interested in isn't cool, or they can't stand someone outmatching them, even if it is in knowledge. In Japan, the students value there education and take it very seriously. This interest in their education has lead to their incredible advancement. I could say more, but for the sake of others I will stop now. :)
DeleteLit. device Anastrophe, aka YODA!!!
DeleteForced ignorance was one of the primary tools used by slave owners to subjugate their slaves. Without education, a slave was unaware of his own strength, intelligence, and worth as a human being. By preventing their slaves from learning, slave owners felt justified in their ideas of superiority, even as their efforts to eradicate education acknowledged the slave’s ability to learn. “If you teach that nigger (speaking of myself ) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master” (p. 49). As this quote demonstrates, allowing a slave to learn would also allow him to realize his own potential. Once he realized that he is the equal of any white man, he would refuse to accept the indignity of being “owned” by another person. Today’s societies should take note of these quotes. Education gives a person the knowledge of their own worth and potential, opening up limitless opportunities.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I forgot to mention that the literary device is an anastrophe.
DeleteThe goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth. John F. Kennedy
ReplyDeleteThis goal of the slave owners in the 1900th century was to not only, was not only not treat slave as unequal but to make the slaves feel unequal, they did by show that the slave were dumb, and unable to think for themselves. So why did the white man fear slaves being educated? Because it took away the need for masters. It showed that slaves were equal to the white man and that they could be their own masters. It showed as JKF said the "truth", education and knowledge brought truth to the slaves and hence freedom from the need of a master in their life showing them how to live!!!! Just like a knowledge of Christ freed us from the oppression of sin, the knowledge to read and write freed the slaves from the oppression of their masters!!! In our own society we take the education we receive for granted, and this is causing problems in our society, and increase in violence, and unemployment. The American culture need to look to our history and realize the freeing power of education. JFK was right knowledge is the truth that we need in our culture to continue to hold on to the freedom we hold so dear.
It's an interesting point that you're making about how the white masters didn't want the slaves to realize that they could be their own masters.Wouldn't you think, though, that slaves that were imported from Africa already knew that they could be their own masters?
DeleteGreat job Stephen!
I like the John F. Kennedy quote. It does seem like slaveholders wanted to treat slaves as unequal so that the slaves believed that they were unequal. Many slaveholders seemed to believe that slaves were less than human and treated them accordingly. Without education, subjection had the deceptive effect of stopping "the dissemination of truth." Our culture certainly does need to know about our freedom today.
DeleteWow! Reading that story made me wish that it were fiction, unfortunately, it's not. To think that our country once made it against the law to teach slaves how to do something as simple as reading, which most of us take for granted, gives me shivers. The atrocities committed against people who were every bit as human as someone with paler skin, could have possibly been averted or at least lessened significantly had they been given the basic knowledge that we all have now. This situation begs us to question what we should be doing in other countries and even in our own country. 14% of adults can't read today in America. Globally, 774 million people are illiterate.
ReplyDelete"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke
So will we let evil triumph like so many did in the 1800's? Or will we take action and be looking for ways to make a difference?
Education was the key to freedom because it meant an outlet to doing great things. Being the next great person to make the history books. In the case of Frederick Douglass's lifetime, a slave is allowed no education or freedom. So if one acquired education, one would desire freedom to use that education. Take Booker T Washington. Born a slave, died an American educator, author, orator, and advisor to presidents of the United States, all because he acquired his freedom. George Washington Carver brought us over 500 uses for the peanut. That guy was no nut either. Even a simple education can motivate someone to do almost anything. Even though he wasn't black, Abraham Lincoln (sorry Stephen) was one of the greatest presidents in history, all from badly wanting an education, and in turn used it to fight for the freedom of slaves. Freedom and education are closely tied as you go back through the history books. Knowing great stuff sparks your brain into wanting to do great stuff. Imagine how much greater our history would have been had there never been slaves?
ReplyDeleteSam Waters
And also, to completely give in the cliche of everyone else's response: strong with the force, is the anastrophe mentioned.
Delete"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -William Butler Yeats
ReplyDeletePeople who are uneducated will naturally feel inferior to those who are. They feel as if they have no power because their opposer can always outthink them. That's how most of the slaves in the 1800's felt. If I were an uneducated slave, I'd imagine myself feeling helpless, like there was nothing I could do to overcome my bondage.
Looking at the first quote from page 49, Douglass talks about educated people being unfit for slavery, for they would become unmanageable. I firmly believe this to be true. William Yeats describes this very clearly in the quote above. "Education is like the lighting of a fire." Once that fire's lit, it becomes unmanageable.
In the Autobiography of Fredrick Douglass, Douglass talks for some time about not knowing his age. Not knowing something as simple as his age degraded his view of himself. He felt stupid and helpless and, for a while, things like that prevented him from doing anything to strive for freedom.
When my little siblings were younger, I (regretfully) used to bribe them to do my chores for me. I'd say very excitedly, "I'll give you a WHOLE quarter if you sweep the house." They'd jump at the opportunity, thinking that they were getting (by far) the better side of the deal. Because I had more experience and knowledge in the area of money, I was able to manipulate them to do things that I wanted them to do, and they wouldn't argue.
Also, this relates to the movie The Amistad that we watched for history the other night. The Africans that were enslaved and put on trial in America were unable to communicate with anyone but eachother. They were uneducated in the ways of Americans so they had no power at all. They were in the dark completely about the trial until they found a translator.
In the 1800's, education was the prime separator between the Whites and Blacks. It was the factor that kept some free, and the rest captives.
Also, the literary device you mentioned is Anastrophe.
DeleteMainly, education was a slave’s key to freedom, because it enlightened him as to his circumstances. Otherwise, a slave knew nothing different from his slavery. Douglas wrote that after he learned to read, he had “a new conception of my degraded condition. Prior to this, I had become, if not insensible to my lot, at least partly so” (p. 27). For instance, one of the speeches he read presented “a bold denunciation of slavery, and a powerful vindication of human rights” (p. 24).
ReplyDeleteThis truth can be applied to our present society as well. Our politicians often play on Americans’ lack of education in political matters. If we knew our government inside and out, it would be much more difficult for it to assume unconstitutional powers or violate our rights. If we don’t realize our situation, we won’t become discontent with it.
These quotes can also be applied to our spiritual lives. Those who are not acquainted with God and His truth are slaves to sin and Satan. They don’t grasp their situation because they are blind and uneducated. Only those whose eyes God has opened are free.
The literary device you asked about is anastrophe - the reversal of words or structure
When white men have enslaved Africans that have no education, the slaves have gained no advantage over a servile beast. Although, as human beings, they have the capacity to reason, they have nothing substantive to learn and nothing to reason about. Their condition and treatment can be likened to that of a common work animal on a farm, born as property and treated as property their entire life, having no conception of freedom. When vested with the ability to read, a slave is given a human ability that gives them an idea of what human nature and freedom mean. As Douglass wrote, "Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking
ReplyDeletethe ell [greater length]." Infused with the human capacity to reason and contemplate his slavery, Douglass acquired the desire for freedom, "The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness." Fulfilling the ultimate fear of a slaveholder, Douglass found books that argued against slavery, and he learned what human nature and human rights really entailed.
Similarly, a government by the people cannot stand without educated citizens. An uneducated people cannot wisely give consent to the government and safeguard their liberty. In society today, the ability to read, write, and understand the origin and protection of liberty must precede the freedom and happiness of that society.
These quotes also apply to Christianity, which is why Apologetics is so important. With a firm understanding of what faith and Christianity mean, a Christian can strongly defend his faith.
Great response Jared! I really liked your point that many slaves would have no conception of freedom. Do you think that in today's society, many people may not understand their own fundamental rights laid down in the Constitution?
DeleteAs I'm reading the remarkable speeches from the Founders of this country in history class, the more and more it occurs to me how brilliant these men really were. Being able to read these words from these philosophers was not only a privilege for the people of America, but also a huge learning device. As the saying goes, "great readers make great leaders," the citizens of the 1800's were being educated in a remarkable way of what the new terms Liberty, Human Rights, and Democracy meant. Now a huge advantage to the slave owners at this time was in the fact that imported African Americans had absolutely no idea how to read. The slaves were ignorant of the progressive ideas plowing through America at the time simply because of their lack of ability to read. Imagine if they knew how to, and they read the words of the political leaders at the time, the slaves would realize that they had just as much a right to liberty as someone with white skin, and fight for it! Be it physically or diplomatically, the slaves would've rose up and fought for their own liberty. Not only that, the owners would've had such a harder time controlling their slaves. The power of being able to read is so significant.
ReplyDeleteThe power of reading fully applies to our society today as well. An increasing problem in America is that the average person is uneducated in the ways of politics. This ignorance allows politicians to simply "guarantee" giving money to the citizens, and sadly, the average citizen accepts and elects him/her into office without actually thinking about the ramifications of their choice and the harm brought with welfare. Imagine how different our country would be today if the people were educated because they read so much.
The literary term for this is Anastrophe (and no, I didn't just look at previous posts, I researched all by myself, cause I'm a big boy)
aaww, and the big boy posts late too ;( :)
DeleteWhy was education, for the slaves of the 1800's, the key to freedom? In Fredrick Douglas’s Autobiography he makes it clear that ignorance is a tool used to enslave, but knowledge is the key to freedom. The reason slaves were enslaved was because they were deemed unequal, animals, beasts who knew nothing. However as African-Americans gained knowledge and became equal to that of Whites this showed they were not under but were equals deserving freedom. In what ways do these quotes apply today to our society, other societies? Many times knowledge leads to power. Those who know more and are wiser and more likely to be well off or even powerful. In other countries ignorance leads to others becoming too powerful and controlling of the ignorant. In what areas can you apply these quotes? In the US we can apply this to politics. Once you see behind the schemes of politicians and know more about them and your knowledge increases the general welfare increases because the good politicians will take office and the scheming corrupt ones will be ejected. Around the world knowledge leads to a decrease in oppression, once this is applied around the world oppression will fall if the people are full of knowledge.
ReplyDelete