Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Written by Himself, is a well-known autobiographical narration of an African American man who managed to escape from slavery. Not only did Frederick Douglass avoid the harsh life of a slave, but he also became a prominent fighter for the rights of others to be free. The narrative was first published in 1845 and served as a firsthand insight into the atrocities of slavery and the inhumane treatment that African Americans were subjected to.
One aspect of the monograph that is crucial in the historical context is the abolitionist movement. The activists of this movement, which took place from the early 1780s to the late 1880s, were defending the right to freedom for all individuals and strived to bring an end to slavery (McNeese, 2008). Douglass’ narrative served as a powerful tool in abolitionists’ arsenal. The monograph is a robust tool as historical evidence since it provides the life story of the narrator. At the same time, one should be cautious of the potential subjectivity of personal accounts. The assignment leaves me with the question, why was Douglass’ example so unique? If he had been able to escape, why could others not follow his example?
The Fugitive by Merle Haggard
In chapter 11, Douglass (2009, 107) describes his uneasy feelings and unsettlement upon escaping with the words, “but the loneliness overcame me. There I was in the midst of thousands, and yet a perfect stranger; without home and without friends…” This episode depicts how the narrator feels in his near freedom yet unhappy because he does not know what is to become of him and whom he can confide in. He misses his family and friends yet cannot address them in this time of misery.
The song’s lines, “I’d like to settle down, but they won’t let me and “A fugitive must be a rolling stone” echo the feelings of the narrator (Haggard, 2017). I considered these lines rather painful and imploring to sympathize with a person who has no one to rely on and no one or address for help. Even though he managed to run away, he cannot find peace and is forced to continue searching for it. The next lines substantiate this opinion: “Down every road, there’s always one more city / I’m on the run, the highway is my home” (Haggard, 2017).
Go Down, Moses by Louis Armstrong
In chapter 10, the narrator mentions how he and his friends felt when they tried to withstand the cruelty of their master by saying, “Our confidence in each other was unshaken. We were resolved to succeed or fail together, after the calamity had befallen us as much as before. We were now prepared for any thing” (Douglass, 2009, 92). He emphasizes that together, they are prepared to face any disastrous reaction to their revolt, but they are not afraid to accept the punishment as long as they are together. As Douglass states, “Our greatest concern was about separation. We dreaded that more than any thing this side of death” (Douglass, 2009, 92-93).
The song suits this episode from the book since it encourages deprived people to get together and fight for their rights. The lyrics, “The Lord said / ‘Go down, Moses / Way down in Egypt land / Tell all Pharaoes to / Let My People Go!’” serve as the reassurance not only for Israeli people to escape from captivity but also for all underserved populations to stand up for their liberation (Armstrong, 2017). The overall tone of the song is also highly optimistic, which persuades the people of the need for unification.
Children, We All Shall Be Free by Berea Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Ensemble
In chapter 10, Douglass (2009) describes how he fought against his master and won. He recalls, “This battle <…> rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense of my own manhood. It recalled the departed self-confidence, and inspired me again with a determination to be free” (Douglass, 2009, 78). This episode is an important point in the monograph since it is one of the few examples of a positive experience that the narrator had and, thus, serves as an inspiration not to give up on his way to freedom.
The song mirrors the selected episode as it dwells on the need for the deprived people to be strong both physically and spiritually in order to be able to receive what they deserve. By singing, “We want no cowards in our bend” and “We call for valiant-hearted men / That are not afraid to die,” the performers stress the urge for African Americans to be persistent in their efforts (Art in History and Politics, 2022). The song stimulates them to be ready to defend their rights with any means available.
Slave Song by Sade
In chapter 7, Douglass (2009, 47) describes his experience of learning to read and write and compares the ban on lessons as the attempt to shut him down “in mental darkness.” Further in the chapter, he recalls, “my copy-book was the board fence, brick wall, and pavement; my pen and ink was a lump of chalk. With these, I learned mainly how to write” (Douglass, 2009, 53). These examples illustrate that he was not going to give up on education and was determined to use any means available to become a literate man.
The song supports the ideas from the book by stating, “There was a time when I thought / I would have to give up” (Sade, 2016). However, the song’s narrator says, “I’m thankful that I’m / Strong as I am / And I’ll try to do the best I can” (Sade, 2016). Just like Douglass, the song’s hero is persistent and does not give up in the face of any difficulties. As a result, both feel empowered and eventually pursue their cherished dreams.
Alright by Kendrick Lamar
In chapter 4, Douglass (2009, 35) describes the inhumane treatment of one of the slaves by Mr. Gore, a slave owner whose “savage barbarity was equalled only by the consummate coolness with which he committed the grossest and most savage deeds upon the slaves under his charge.”. This excerpt sums up only one of the numerous horrors that slaves were forced to undergo during the time when Douglass lived. Many slaves were almost killed by such punishments, which their owners justified by the fact that such slaves were “unmanageable” (Douglass, 2009, 35).
The song spreads the message of pain that African Americans have to go through during their lives, both in the past and at present, both due to physical and mental abuse. The lines, “Wouldn’t you know / We been hurt, been down before, nigga / When our pride was low / Lookin’ at the world like, “Where do we go, nigga?” reflect the situation from the book (Lamar, 2015). Indeed, African Americans have suffered and continue to suffer from unfair attitudes even though the times of slavery are gone. There is still a lot of work to do on the way to complete equality.
References
Armstrong, Louis. 2017. “Go Down, Moses.” YouTube video. Web.
Art in History and Politics. 2022. ““Children We All Shall Be Free” 1860s Songs of Slavery and Emancipation, Berea College, Sept 18, 22.” YouTube video. Web.
Douglass, Frederick. 2009. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Written by Himself. Cambridge: Belknap Press.
Haggard, Merle. 2017. “The Fugitive.” YouTube video. Web.
Lamar, Kendrick. 2015. “Kendrick Lamar – Alright (Official Music Video).” YouTube video. Web.
McNeese, Tim. 2008. The Abolitionist Movement: Ending Slavery. New York: Chelsea House.
Sade. 2016. “Sade – Slave Song (Audio).” YouTube video. Web.