The interview with Federick Douglass

1. How did you get educated?

i learned from Hugh Auld's outburst that if learning how to read and write was my pathway to freedom, then gaining this knowledge was to become my goal. i gained command of the alphabet on my own and made friends with poor white children i met on errands and used them as teachers. i paid my reading lessons with pieces of bread. At home i read parts of books and newspapers when i could, but i had to constantly be on guard against my mistress. Sophia Auld screamed whenever she caught me reading. Sophia Auld's attitude toward me had changed, she no longer regarded me as any other child, but as a piece of property. However, i gradually learned to read and write. With a little money i had earned doing errands, i bought a copy of The Columbian Orator, a collection of speeches and essays dealing with liberty, democracy, and courage.


2. Why do you think it was important for slave owners to keep slaves ignorant about their birthdays and parentage?
well, that's good question...reason was thse master became less powerful or perhaps master might afraid that slave that point on he vows to become the best man he can possibly become, and to become his own Master.

3.do you consider yourself as free man and find out your father was white!

yes . but i was lucky child who happened to find his way through and get education as well.