Chapter 11 and Appendix

Chapter 11 is about Douglass’s escape from slavery. Something interesting was how Douglass described the Underground Railroad. Although he benefited from their underground activities, he didn’t necessarily approve. He called the Underground Railroad the “upperground railroad”.

“They do nothing towards enlightening the slave, whilst they do much towards enlightening the master. They stimulate him to greater watchfulness, and to enhance his power to capture his slave. “ (66).

Douglass believed that abolitionists and the Underground Railroad were making it harder for slaves to escape, ruining their chances of freedom. It was interesting that even though they helped him escape slavery, he was still not approving of their actions.

During Douglass’ narrative, we see very little emotion. We believe this is done to ad to the strength of his narrative. What is very interesting is that in this chapter, he finally begins to show this emotion.

“The thought of leaving my friends was decidedly the most painful thought which I had to contend. The love of them was my tender point, and shook my decision more than all things else.”  (68).

Gaining his freedom was something that was not even a question to Douglass, it was a necessity, but with doing so, he has to leave everything and everyone he has known behind.  Prior to this event, emotion was something that Douglass didn’t show us. As he is about to become a “free man”, this emotion exemplifies the transformation from being “property” to becoming a human being. 

            Douglass description of religion and Christianity in the end of the text is very thought provoking and empowering. He has told us earlier in the text that religious slave owners were the worst, and this seems as though it would be contradictory, but he explains to us why he believes they are worse, and with everything he says, it makes the reader not just believe, but know it too. Douglass states that the Christian’s would give everything to God, and nothing to the slaves, “…represented as professing to love God whom they have not seen, whilst they hate their brother whom they have seen.” (77). This statement is very empowering, because through the history of slavery we know that it’s true. While they call themselves true Christians, they are still content with beating men, women, and children. This solidifies the fact that white people truly did not believe that slaves were even humans.

I also wanted to add a couple of links to an experiment that maybe some of you have seen, but it really is something worth watching. A 3rd grade teacher in a prominently white area, teaches her students a lesson on what it is like to be discriminated against, and what you see is shocking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BrFHq-t2VY&feature=related (PART 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UbNp15zDtE&feature=related (PART 2) Esp. watch 2:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPIxU6_ClIM&feature=related (PART 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPIxU6_ClIM&feature=related (PART 4)