Literacy and Liberation

by Frederick Douglass and Frances E.W. Harper

1. Who were the "Yankees" and "Rebs"? What were their views about educating slaves and what actions did they take to carry out those views? Why?

2. Why did Douglass's mistress first wish to educate him, then fight to keep him from learning? Do you agree with Douglass that slavery was "as injurious to her" as it was to him? Why or why not?

3. How did Douglass's reading of "The Colombian Orator" both fulfill and torment him? What lasting impact did it have on his life?

Essay Question

• With slavery as a context, describe the ways in which writings in this selection are interconnected. How has learning to read and write liberated your life? Explain.