Pros And Cons Of Frederick Douglass

The Emancipation Proclamation ended the enslavement of African-Americans in 1863. While slaves were now free of the hardships concerning forced labor and total domination, some believed that slavery was a better life style compared to freedom. The Great Depression introduced new, and what seemed like more difficult, adversities former slaves were left to tackle without any assistance. Frederick Douglass’ 1845 Narrative exemplifies some of the true “pros” and cons of slavery. The convenient accommodations of slavery supported the wrongful, ethical view that African – Americans were better off enslaved. The Great Depression brought a whole new wave of poverty in the 1930’s for the average African – American. The white population was subjected

Depending on whether a slave lived in the city or on a plantation, granted many more privileges. “A city slave is almost a freeman, compared with a slave on a plantation.” (Douglass 331) Douglass describes his tenure as a city slaves and what he was able to observe through his daily routine. Slaves resided on a plantation or their master’s home, if they lived in the city, therefore finding ways to fund housing was not an issue. Food was also provided by the master. “Every city slaveholder is anxious to have it known of him, that he feeds his slaves well, and it is die to them to say, that most of them do give their slaves enough to eat.” (Douglass 331) Most plantation slaves were unable to receive the surplus of food like city slaves, but they were fed enough to survive with no need of financial contribution. Slaves were not also hassled with the task of finding an occupation. Again, this was an important problem for everyone during the Great Depression. Slave duties and obeying the master were all the African – American slaves were obligated to do, and this was thought of as a huge “pro” when the argument of servitude being a better life was

It played a negative role not only on the slave, but also the slave owner. Some of the everyday expenses eliminated through slavery could never compare to the maltreatment and sense of being owned that slaves suffered with every day. Slaves were treated solely as property and nothing more. “I was immediately sent for, to be valued with the other property.” (Douglass 337) After the death of his old master, Douglass was sent back to the plantation along with other slaves to be claimed as an asset. “There were horses and men, cattle and women, pigs and children, all holding the same rank in the scale of being…” (Douglass 337) Slaves were merely only thought of on the ranks as animals, not human beings. No accommodation could ever replace being treated as animal or some sort of