Frederick Douglass by:Eli Sweatt

Author Background The son of a slave women and an unknown white man in Maryland. Escaped from slavery into freedom at the age of 20. Became a lecturer for the abolitionist cause at 23. Even after the civil war he was involved in area of social reform. Fought for all injustice of Civil Rights.

Education Against the odds Douglass educated himself while still a slave. Thought of the day was that education would lead to the want for freedom and equality. Douglass’s education and maturity lead to a more deeper understanding of the music African American’s sang while working.

My Bondage and My Freedom His second autobiography of three. Written in the form known as slave narrative, an account of events that occurred during a period of enslavement. My Bondage and My Freedom was wrote during the civil war as a testament to the uncrushable human spirit.

My Bondage and My Freedom The Spirituals were not merry but plain and full of grief and sorrow. Douglass felt that true testament to the horrific act of slavery was the sound of slave's song. Each song was a story of suffering and prayer for deliverance. The songs helped the slaves keep their spirit alive. A source of hope. They were intended to be heard and not read. Emotion is the key element to the music.

My Bondage and My Freedom Douglass first heard Spirituals while working on the plantation as a child. Due to his youth Douglass did not fully understand the power of Spirituals. During the poem Douglass describes the potato famine in Ireland. In Ireland Douglass had matured and become more educated and the sound of the people’s singing took on a different meaning.

Something to think upon Think about a song that you have heard while you were a child. Do you remember the song taking on any different meaning now that you are older?