A Comparison of Freedom: The Works of Frederick Douglass and David Walker Essay

One of the hottest and or so discussed topics in American muniment is the issue of license. This is because of the fact that the young American nation, especi all(prenominal)y in the ahead of time and middle 19th century, witnessed different nonions of liberty that is believed by her citizens and close separate in this case is the notion of freedom by the industrial northwestward (who favored the abolition of knuckle downholding), and the notion of freedom by the agricultural gray states (who favored slavery).It is salutary known that the United States is called the home of the free and the republic of the brave however, it is likewise well known that the institution of slavery and the racialism against African Americans p place downed a dominant part in the Confederate states of the country, dominated by cotton plantations (also known as the deep southwest). This paper would then discuss the notions of freedom according to two African Americans, one whom is slave Fr ederick Douglass and David cart.Frederick Douglass is one of the most famous former slaves in American History he soon escaped from his overwhelms, helped in the fortify of the underground railroad (a secret route that helped slaves escape to freedom), and fall in the abolitionist movement. His ad hominem accounts, as well as his notions of freedom, can be seen in his work My Bondage and My license. Mean composition, David Walker is also an abolitionist wholly if he was free unlike Douglass (his father was a slave, scarce his return was free).Despite being a free man, he also witnessed the cruelties of slavery in his childhood, and advocated the abolishment of slavery, detailed in his work Walkers Appeal, in Four Articles unneurotic with a Preamble, to the Colored Citizens of the institution, scarcely in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America (also known as David Walkers appeal). This essay would try to make an analytic comparison of th eir ideas on freedom based on these two works.2. Frederick Douglass on freedom One of the most compelling accounts of freedom as narrated by Frederick Douglass can be seen in Chapter XIX of his book My Bondage and My Freedom, entitled The Runaway Plot (Douglass 271-303). In this chapter, Douglass was actually reflecting upon his thoughts on New Years Eve, especially upon his thoughts on gaining freedom and liberty (Douglass 272).In his thoughts, Douglass actually stated one of the most important precepts of the freedom of every individual, in which each man has the proper to be free ever since being born, and regardless of color (Douglass 272). accord to Douglass, I was not through the first month of this, my second stratum with the kind and gentlemanly Mr. Freeland, before I was earnestly considering and advising plans for gaining that freedom, which, when I was but a mere child, I had ascertained to be the born(p) and innate right of every member of the human family.The cr aving for this freedom had been benumbed, go I was under the brutalizing dominion of Covey and it had been postponed, and rendered inoperative, by my truly pleasurable Sunday school engagementsIt had, however, never entirely subsided. I hated slavery, always, and the desire for freedom only needed a favorable breeze, to fan it into a blaze, at all moment. (Douglass 273).In this case, it can clearly be seen that Douglass powerfully believed that every man is created equal, wherein every man also has the right to freedom, in the sole reason that he is human this debunks the very notion of the racial basis of inequality and slavery. Douglass adds to this point by saying that My faculties and powers of body and soulfulness are not my own, but are the property of a workfellow mortal, in no sense top-notch to me, except that he has the bodily power to compel me to be owned and controlled by him.By the unite physical force of the community, I am his slave a slave for life (Douglas s 272). This is where Douglass wants to be free, for he believes that the master owing him is not, in any sense, superior to him, but is dictated by circumstances and by institutions to be slaved. In addition, the notion of freedom according to Douglass, even though it is a natural right, must be fought for whenever it is taken away, this is the freedom that comes with pull through (Douglass 274). fit to Douglass, The intense desires, now felt, to be free, quickened by my present favorable circumstances, brought me to the closing to act, as well as to think and speakThis vow only bound me to make my escape individually but the year fatigued with Mr. Freeland had attached me, as with hooks of steel, to my br early(a) slaves and I felt it my business to give them an opportunity to share in my virtuous determination by frankly disclosing to them my plans and purposes (Douglass 274).In this case, freedom is not only to be fought for individually, but also for fellow men, for brother s whose freedom is actually taken away. Therefore, the idea of freedom by Douglass does not only end in recognizing your own personal right to freedom, but also for fighting for the freedom of other ladened peoples. After he escaped into freedom from slavery, he put into action his words by joining the abolitionist movement, claiming victory when Abraham Lincoln formally abolished slavery at the end of the civil war. 3.David Walker on Freedom David Walker, famous for his David Walkers Appeal, also expressed his notion of freedom in a very expressive way, earning the contempt of both clean plantation owners and white supremacists. According to Walker, All I ask is, for a candid and careful perusal of this the third and last edition of my Appeal, where the world may see that we, the Blacks or Coloured People, are treated much cruel by the white Christians of America, than devils themselves ever treated a lop of men, women and children on this earth (Walker 4).What lead Walker to e xpress this kind of sense to the institution of slavery? This is because of the fact that Walker believed the institution of slavery, as well as the cruelty to slaves (who were overwhelmingly colored peoples) violated the very bag of the American republic, being the land of liberty (Walker 6).In this case, Walker also believed that it is the very evil institutions of slavery that has violated the right of freedom of men, stating that the system of slavery in itself is cruel and inhuman, and that it is even the source of all miseries and cruelties to all nations (Walker 6). Therefore, Walker argues that slavery must not be practiced at all, given that freedom is a right and it must not be violated. In addition, Walker also states thatAll persons who are acquainted with history, and particularly the Bible, who are not blinded by the beau ideal of this world, and are not actuated solely by avaricewho are able to lay aside prejudice long enough to view candidly and impartially, thi ngs as they were, are, and probably will be who are willing to admit that God made man to serve Him alone, and that man should have no other Lord or Lords but Himselfthat God Almighty is the sole owner or master of the whole human family (Walker 7).In this argument, Walker seeks a biblical explanation, wherein God created all men equal, and only God is superior to man therefore, it also follows that it is only God who has the right to become master of man, to become the proprietor of man, to which slavery is a direct violation of it. 4. finishing One common perspective of the notion of freedom for both Frederick Douglass and David Walker is the fact that they both believe that freedom is a natural right of man, wherein racial or class origin does not count. Douglass emphasized its natural basis, while Walker seeks a biblical explanation to it.Also, Douglass emphasized the aspect of action, fighting for freedom not only of the self but for others, while Walker emphasized the wretc hedness of man in slavery (Walker 32). working Cited Douglass, Frederick. My Bondage and My Freedom. New York Miller, Orton & Mulligan, 1855. Print. Walker, David. Walkers Appeal, in Four Articles Together with a Preamble, to the Colored Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America. capital of Massachusetts The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2009. eBook. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Frederick Douglass on Freedom 3. David Walker on Freedom 4. Conclusion