The physical abuse described in Douglass was very appalling and cruel to say the least. I even agree that the mental anguish was just as harsh if not difficult to read or imagine. Yet I find that the attitude of some slaves that they were better than other slaves, for whatever reason, just plain sad “It was considered being bad enough to be a slave; but to be a poor man’s slave was deemed a disgrace indeed!” (Douglass 931). How could it be possible to convince a person or train a man, to forgo his own thoughts and beliefs to offend against his own kind or another human being for that matter? How great of a motivator would one man or system of cruelty have to be to convince another person to spy, whip, and even kill another human being? Not because of war or for the betterment of a greater cause no, only because of cotton, crops, wealth and economy. “The principal products raised upon it were tobacco, corn and wheat” (Douglass 926). This disturbs me more than anything. My mind has no way of understanding what the procedure could be to convince another man to do my biding in such a harsh manor just to ensure the crops would be harvested before sunset.
“The slaveholders have been known to send in spies among their slaves, to ascertain their views and feelings in regard to their condition” (Douglass 931). I recognize that slaves were treated in the most mortifying manor known to this country’s history. But after reading works like Douglass the question that still remains on my mind is,” why not rebel stand and fight from day one.” Many people may find this question as a little on the unsympathetic end, but it’s the contrary. I hadn’t been beaten in a physical since. Nor have I seen my Aunts and Uncles hands and feet bounded as if they where wild game, hanged from post outside of the shack I call my home. But I have seen people disrespected and rejected because of their race. I’ve been denied a chance to better take care of my family, because of the way I talk and my mannerisms. I’m not downplaying the struggles that my Great Great Great Grandparents went through. But this would be all the more reason to stop it, to rise up against it, to get mad and do something about it. Instead of spitting in the masters coffee use rat poison its quicker. Instead of taking an untimely break in the field while the master isn’t looking form an alliance with the other slaves and kill the Master and the horse.
If I don’t fight and attempt to change the things that I know is wrong I’m a part of the problem. This is a personal choice but what if every Niggars took a similar stand, American history would be written in a different way. I may have been killed in the process but the thought of my child seeing someone beat his father and I lie down and take it gives me a death every time I look at him. “A still tongue makes a wise head” (Douglass 931). As a Father, Son, Brother and Uncle I would rather die a thousand times and see my entire family die, than for any one of us to die a coward’s death from the inside out.