In Frederick Douglass’ writings I learned that his physical struggles and his
writing as resistance are nearly parallel. When Douglass is living in Baltimore
with the Auld family, Mrs. Auld began to teach him the alphabet. After this was
discovered by Mr. Auld, the teaching ceased, and Douglass was carefully watched
to be sure that he was not reading when alone. Despite this, Douglass was
insistent upon learning to read because he knew that his literacy would lead to
his freedom. His means of resistance through writing was going against what he
was allowed to do and doing what he knew was key to his survival as a human
being. “In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of
my master, as to the kindly aid of my mistress.”(p. 58) Douglass’ physical
struggle as a means of resistance is very similar to his learning to read. They
were both forbidden. A good example of one of Douglass’ physical struggles was
his fight with Mr. Covey. “My resistance was so entirely unexpected, that
Covey seemed taken all aback.”(p.78) After winning this “victory” Douglass
felt as he did when learning to read. It made him feel sure of himself, and it
made him feel like a real person in charge of his own destiny. “It was a
glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of
freedom.”(p.79)