Introduction
Slave resistance was occasioned by the understanding that the vice was unnatural and was used by the masters to define human beings as properties. In most cases, slavery took the form of forced labor in the work environment, and therefore, those coerced to work decided to define and push for their rights and terms under which they rendered their labor. This essay discusses the slavery life of Frederick Douglass as written in his autobiography, and it highlights how he resisted slavery, the nature of his rebellion, and the view he together with Brinkley had about resistance.
How Douglas Resisted Slavery
Fredrick Douglas became a slave at the age of 6 to work on one of the largest plantations on Maryland’s eastern shore. While there, he suffered what he termed as chronic hunger and witnessed several cruelties nettled on fellow human beings. Douglas managed to escape from the forced work on a plantation when he was transferred to Baltimore to work for a shipwright, where he got the chance to get an education that empowered him to be able to read and write. Through this, he perfected his oratory skills and learned the ideas of enlightenment and attacks on slavery. Douglas was hardened and began resisting everything about slavery, and despite the beatings and harassment he suffered at the hands of his masters, he never gave up. At some point, he decided to retaliate by fighting back, and this earned him some freedom from his masters when he was hired for wages and given the privilege of living independently. The little freedom allowed him the opportunity to improve his education and planned his escape by adopting a new last name to conceal his identity.
Nature of Douglas Rebellion
Douglas rebelled against slavery first by attending abolitionist meetings and speaking loudly about his experiences in slavery that earned in the United States. Secondly, embraced the women’s rights movement, helped people on the Underground Railroad, and supported anti-slavery political parties. Thirdly, he bought a print media called “The North Star”, which he used to publish the contents of his second autobiography that talked about freedom and racial segregation.
Douglass and Brinkley’s Viewpoint on Resistance
Douglass and Brinkley believed that resistance requires a constant struggle for its progress and to bear fruits. Further, it may take different forms such as moral one or physical, or it may be both moral and physical, and in both cases, people must demand their rights. Additionally, that resistance is measured by how much endurance the oppressed are willing to allow from their masters. Lastly, in the face of the struggle, people may not get all they want but they must be ready to pay for what they get.
Conclusion
Douglas escaped from slavery in Maryland to Baltimore where he got the opportunity to learn how to read and write. This perfected his oratory skills and learned the ideas of enlightenment and attacks on slavery. The education process hardened and made him resist everything about slavery and at some point earned him the chance to live independently and presented him with the best opportunity to plan his escape. His rebellion was in the form of abolitionist meetings, embracing the women’s rights movement, helping people on the Underground Railroad, and supporting anti-slavery political parties. Together with Brinkley, they believed that resistance requires a constant struggle for its progress and bearing fruits.