A Comparison of Freedom: The Works of Frederick Douglass and David Walker Essay

September 28, 2017 History

One of the hottest and most discussed subjects in American History is the issue of freedom. This is because of the fact that the immature American state. particularly in the early and in-between nineteenth century. witnessed different impressions of freedom that is believed by her citizens ; and most contrasting in this instance is the impression of freedom by the industrial North ( who favored the abolishment of bondage ) . and the impression of freedom by the agricultural southern provinces ( who favored bondage ) .

It is good known that the United States is called the “home of the free and the land of the brave ; ” nevertheless. it is besides good known that the establishment of bondage and the racism against African Americans played a dominant portion in the southern provinces of the state. dominated by cotton plantations ( besides known as the “deep south” ) . This paper would so discourse the impressions of freedom harmonizing to two African Americans. one whom is slave: Frederick Douglass and David Walker.

Frederick Douglass is one of the most celebrated former slaves in American History ; he shortly escaped from his Masterss. helped in the strengthening of the “underground railroad” ( a secret path that helped slaves get away to freedom” ) . and joined the abolitionist motion. His personal histories. every bit good as his impressions of freedom. can be seen in his work My Bondage and My Freedom. Meanwhile. David Walker is besides an emancipationist ; but he was free unlike Douglass ( his male parent was a slave. but his female parent was free ) .

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Despite being a free adult male. he besides witnessed the inhuman treatments of bondage in his childhood. and advocated the abolition of bondage. detailed in his work Walker’s Appeal. in Four Articles ; Together with a Preamble. to the Colored Citizens of the universe. but in Particular. and Very Expressly. to Those of the United States of America ( besides known as David Walker’s entreaty ) . This essay would seek to do an analytic comparing of their thoughts on freedom based on these two plants.

2. Frederick Douglass on Freedom One of the most compelling histories of freedom as narrated by Frederick Douglass can be seen in Chapter XIX of his book My Bondage and My Freedom. entitled The Runaway Plot ( Douglass 271-303 ) . In this chapter. Douglass was really reflecting upon his ideas on New Year’s Eve. particularly upon his ideas on deriving freedom and autonomy ( Douglass 272 ) .

In his ideas. Douglass really stated one of the most of import principles of the freedom of every person. in which each adult male has the right to be free of all time since being born. and regardless of colour ( Douglass 272 ) . Harmonizing to Douglass. “I was non through the first month of this. my 2nd twelvemonth with the sort and gentlemanly Mr. Freeland. before I was seriously sing and reding programs for deriving that freedom. which. when I was but a mere kid. I had ascertained to be the natural and congenital right of every member of the human household.

The desire for this freedom had been benumbed. while I was under the brutalizing rule of Covey ; and it had been postponed. and rendered inoperative. by my truly pleasant Sunday school engagements…It had. nevertheless. ne’er wholly subsided. I hated bondage. ever. and the desire for freedom merely needed a favourable zephyr. to fan it into a blazing. at any minute. ” ( Douglass 273 ) .

In this instance. it can clearly be seen that Douglass strongly believed that every adult male is created equal. wherein every adult male besides has the right to freedom. in the exclusive ground that he is human ; this debunks the very impression of the racial footing of inequality and bondage. Douglass adds to this point by stating that “My modules and powers of organic structure and psyche are non my ain. but are the belongings of a fellow person. in no sense superior to me. except that he has the physical power to oblige me to be owned and controlled by him.

By the combined physical force of the community. I am his slave — a slave for life” ( Douglass 272 ) . This is where Douglass wants to be free. for he believes that the maestro owing him is non. in any sense. superior to him. but is dictated by fortunes and by establishments to be slaved. In add-on. the impression of freedom harmonizing to Douglass. even though it is a natural right. must be fought for whenever it is taken off. this is the freedom that comes with action ( Douglass 274 ) .

Harmonizing to Douglass. “The intense desires. now felt. to be free. quickened by my present favourable fortunes. brought me to the finding to move. every bit good as to believe and speak…This vow merely bound me to do my flight separately ; but the twelvemonth spent with Mr. Freeland had attached me. as with “hooks of steel. ” to my brother slaves… and I felt it my responsibility to give them an chance to portion in my virtuous finding by frankly disclosing to them my programs and purposes” ( Douglass 274 ) .

In this instance. freedom is non merely to be fought for separately. but besides for fellow work forces. for “brothers” whose freedom is really taken away. Therefore. the thought of freedom by Douglass does non merely stop in acknowledging your ain personal right to freedom. but besides for contending for the freedom of other laden peoples. After he escaped into freedom from bondage. he put into action his words by fall ining the abolitionist motion. claiming triumph when Abraham Lincoln officially abolished bondage at the terminal of the civil war. 3.

David Walker on Freedom David Walker. celebrated for his David Walker’s Appeal. besides expressed his impression of freedom in a really expressive manner. gaining the disdain of both white plantation proprietors and white supremacists. Harmonizing to Walker. “All I ask is. for a candid and careful perusing of this the 3rd and last edition of my Entreaty. where the universe may see that we. the Blacks or Coloured People. are treated more barbarous by the white Christians of America. than devils themselves of all time treated a set of work forces. adult females and kids on this earth” ( Walker 4 ) .

What lead Walker to show this sort of emotion to the establishment of bondage? This is because of the fact that Walker believed the establishment of bondage. every bit good as the inhuman treatment to slaves ( who were overpoweringly coloured peoples ) violated the really foundation of the American democracy. being the “land of liberty” ( Walker 6 ) .

In this instance. Walker besides believed that it is the really “evil” establishments of bondage that has violated the right of freedom of work forces. saying that the system of bondage in itself is barbarous and cold. and that it is even the beginning of all wretchednesss and inhuman treatments to all states ( Walker 6 ) . Therefore. Walker argues that bondage must non be practiced at all. given that freedom is a right and it must non be violated. In add-on. Walker besides states that

“All individuals who are acquainted with history. and peculiarly the Bible. who are non blinded by the God of this universe. and are non actuated entirely by avarice–who are able to put aside prejudice long plenty to see honestly and impartially. things as they were. are. and likely will be– who are willing to acknowledge that God made adult male to function Him entirely. and that adult male should hold no other Lord or Godheads but Himself–that God Almighty is the exclusive owner or maestro of the whole human family” ( Walker 7 ) .

In this statement. Walker seeks a scriptural account. wherein God created all work forces equal. and merely God is superior to adult male ; hence. it besides follows that it is merely God who has the right to go maestro of adult male. to go the owner of adult male. to which bondage is a direct misdemeanor of it. 4. Decision One common facet of the impression of freedom for both Frederick Douglass and David Walker is the fact that they both believe that freedom is a natural right of adult male. wherein racial or category beginning does non number. Douglass emphasized its natural footing. while Walker seeks a scriptural account to it.

Besides. Douglass emphasized the facet of action. contending for freedom non merely of the ego but for others. while Walker emphasized the misery of adult male in bondage ( Walker 32 ) . Works Cited: Douglass. Frederick. My Bondage and My Freedom. New York: Miller. Orton & A ; Mulligan. 1855. Print. Walker. David. Walker’s Appeal. in Four Articles ; Together with a Preamble. to the Colored Citizens of the World. but in Particular. and Very Expressly. to Those of the United States of America. Boston: The Journal of Pan African Studies. 2009. eBook. Outline: 1. Introduction 2. Frederick Douglass on Freedom 3. David Walker on Freedom 4. Decision

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