Response to Sam's Precis on Frederick Douglas

All I can say is that I'm ever so greatful that I did not live in the days of slavery. I was saddened by Douglas's comment on whether or not his learning to read was a blessing or a curse: He actually believed that his learning to read was a curse. I suppose this was due to his slave owners condemnation of him for devising innovative ways to overcome his inability to read and write in the first place. However, today, I think I can speak for all Black Americans in saying that literacy is indeed a blessing. Kudos to Douglas for being the audacious soul that he was in endeavoring to learn to read and write. I am proud of him in doing so. This whole narrative sort of brings shame and embarrassment to Blacks who don't appreciate or take advantage of the opportunity that is offered to them in the form of obtaining literacy. From my perspective, as a black member of society, if our former brothers and sisters of slave owners, had the audacity to learn to read and write even in spite of the oppressed state that they were living in, then; we that are living in a state of freedom have no excusable reason for choosing illiteracy as a way of life. I wish that every Black child could read this narrative. It is quite impressive.