Frederick Douglass VS. Malcolm X
Today when people think of how they learned to read and write it is not as significant a memory as it once was. When Frederick Douglass wrote Learning to Read and Write he was simply describing his process of learning these skills, but at the time it was such a remarkable accomplishment for him. Even when Malcolm X wrote Learning to Read about one hundred years later it showed how memorable this success had been. For both authors becoming literate was such a major achievement that a good part of their autobiographies focused on it. Although the titles of the essays are similar the authors have contrasting feeling describing their experiences.
Douglass’s main argument was that slavery and being literate do not mix as well as he thought they could. In his essay he reveals that he did learn to read and write in the seven years he lived with his mistress. Although his mistress did not actually teach him how to read and write Douglass was extremely adamant about learning. He never explains why his mistress did not want to teach him anymore, but it can be speculated that she was influenced by her husband’s wishes and the fact that they were scared of him gaining to much knowledge and rebelling. Since she refused to help Douglass learn, he bribed the white kids on the street by giving them bread in return for lessons.
When Malcolm X learned to read and write slavery had already been abolished. He did not have the same troubles that Douglass did, but being black he was still treated as if he was less important than others. Unlike Douglass, Malcolm X learned everything he knew in prison. He had different methods of learning, he would read the dictionary aloud and copy words from it in hopes of bettering his writing. Both essays start off with the author expressing desire to become literate, but they both express different emotions towards this.
Once Douglass learned to read he began to focus on arguments about slavery. Douglass mentions that every chance he had he would read “The Colombian Orator”. This book was about a master and his slave and it conveyed an important message to Douglass. In his essay he says “The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder.” (Douglass 131) Although this book was important to him he talks about how it made him see slavery different. He says “The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers.” (Douglass 132) Douglass argues about the effect learning to read had on him because he was a slave. At first reading was a challenge he gladly accepted, but now reading made him aware of the truth about slavery. Douglass says “Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever” (Douglass 132)
Malcolm X has completely different emotions about the challenge of learning to read. He learned to read in prison but he says, “In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life” (Malcolm X 259) Even though he is confined to prison like Douglass was confined to slavery, he feels freer than ever because he spends all his time learning. Malcolm X is so happy about overcoming this obstacle, but for him he will be out of prison and he was not exposed to the terrors of anything particular. Douglass on the other hand resents reading, but it is because it has made him realize he will always be confined to slavery.
Both authors use words that stand out to them to emit the emotions they felt. Douglass uses “abolition” and Malcolm X uses “aardvark”. These words seem meaningless but for either writer they conveyed an emotion. Douglass had already realized that slavery was more terrible than he imagined, but when he ran across the word abolition he became curious. “I found it was “the act of abolishing”: but then I did not know what was to be abolished.” (Douglass 133) Later he mentions that he finally learned what it meant when reading one the city papers and that when he hears the word “abolish” he begins to listen intently. For Douglass this word makes him think of slavery and although not directly said it gives him hope that slavery will end. Malcolm X mentions “aardvark” being a word that he remembers when he was learning to read. This word is only significant to him because it reminds him of the dictionary and he feels accomplished that he learned to read.
Both authors essay’s convey a similar message; the importance of learning to read, but they do so in different manners. For Malcolm X he acknowledges how phenomenal it was that he became literate and recognizes this as something happy. Douglass starts out being enthusiastic about reading, but soon realizes that it’s not what he thought and maybe his mistress was right. They use similar techniques in their essays such as using a word of importance to show emotion. They also use a significant book to explain their process. The feelings in the essays may be different but the way they are presented shows similarities.
Today when people think of how they learned to read and write it is not as significant a memory as it once was. When Frederick Douglass wrote Learning to Read and Write he was simply describing his process of learning these skills, but at the time it was such a remarkable accomplishment for him. Even when Malcolm X wrote Learning to Read about one hundred years later it showed how memorable this success had been. For both authors becoming literate was such a major achievement that a good part of their autobiographies focused on it. Although the titles of the essays are similar the authors have contrasting feeling describing their experiences.
Douglass’s main argument was that slavery and being literate do not mix as well as he thought they could. In his essay he reveals that he did learn to read and write in the seven years he lived with his mistress. Although his mistress did not actually teach him how to read and write Douglass was extremely adamant about learning. He never explains why his mistress did not want to teach him anymore, but it can be speculated that she was influenced by her husband’s wishes and the fact that they were scared of him gaining to much knowledge and rebelling. Since she refused to help Douglass learn, he bribed the white kids on the street by giving them bread in return for lessons.
When Malcolm X learned to read and write slavery had already been abolished. He did not have the same troubles that Douglass did, but being black he was still treated as if he was less important than others. Unlike Douglass, Malcolm X learned everything he knew in prison. He had different methods of learning, he would read the dictionary aloud and copy words from it in hopes of bettering his writing. Both essays start off with the author expressing desire to become literate, but they both express different emotions towards this.
Once Douglass learned to read he began to focus on arguments about slavery. Douglass mentions that every chance he had he would read “The Colombian Orator”. This book was about a master and his slave and it conveyed an important message to Douglass. In his essay he says “The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder.” (Douglass 131) Although this book was important to him he talks about how it made him see slavery different. He says “The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers.” (Douglass 132) Douglass argues about the effect learning to read had on him because he was a slave. At first reading was a challenge he gladly accepted, but now reading made him aware of the truth about slavery. Douglass says “Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever” (Douglass 132)
Malcolm X has completely different emotions about the challenge of learning to read. He learned to read in prison but he says, “In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life” (Malcolm X 259) Even though he is confined to prison like Douglass was confined to slavery, he feels freer than ever because he spends all his time learning. Malcolm X is so happy about overcoming this obstacle, but for him he will be out of prison and he was not exposed to the terrors of anything particular. Douglass on the other hand resents reading, but it is because it has made him realize he will always be confined to slavery.
Both authors use words that stand out to them to emit the emotions they felt. Douglass uses “abolition” and Malcolm X uses “aardvark”. These words seem meaningless but for either writer they conveyed an emotion. Douglass had already realized that slavery was more terrible than he imagined, but when he ran across the word abolition he became curious. “I found it was “the act of abolishing”: but then I did not know what was to be abolished.” (Douglass 133) Later he mentions that he finally learned what it meant when reading one the city papers and that when he hears the word “abolish” he begins to listen intently. For Douglass this word makes him think of slavery and although not directly said it gives him hope that slavery will end. Malcolm X mentions “aardvark” being a word that he remembers when he was learning to read. This word is only significant to him because it reminds him of the dictionary and he feels accomplished that he learned to read.
Both authors essay’s convey a similar message; the importance of learning to read, but they do so in different manners. For Malcolm X he acknowledges how phenomenal it was that he became literate and recognizes this as something happy. Douglass starts out being enthusiastic about reading, but soon realizes that it’s not what he thought and maybe his mistress was right. They use similar techniques in their essays such as using a word of importance to show emotion. They also use a significant book to explain their process. The feelings in the essays may be different but the way they are presented shows similarities.
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Rough draft burger shop. Burger sales go online at 10am wednesday pdx burger shop: 6620 sw scholls ferry rd wed & thurs 4 - 8pm fri & sat 12 - 8pm. How to get burgers. Rough Draft 1 - Major Paper 2 Due Feb 22, 2017 by 8am; Points 50; Submitting a file upload; File Types doc, docx, and pdf; Drafting, Evaluation, and Revision. Rough Draft Rocks, Category: Artist, Albums: First Run, Top Tracks: Sweet Potato Fries, Superstition, That I May Never Love Again, One Good Woman, Purple Haze, Biography: Rough Draft Rocks is a unique blend of 3 distinctly different individuals who collectively bring you authentic Classic Rock Music second to none (sometimes with a touch of humor!)., Monthly Listeners: 7, Where People Listen. Omniplan 3 9 1 – robust project management software download. 2 thoughts on “ Rough draft 1 essay 2 ” anmlg2012. October 1, 2012 at 5:26 pm 1) The authors argument is how Douglas and Malcom X experience reading in a.