Baldin and Douglass
Baldwin and Douglass both used education as a guide to understanding their oppressivedisposition in society. In the, "Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave", Douglass overcomes many barriers to learn how to read and write. In, "The Discovery of what itmeans to be American", Baldwin goes on a philosophical journey to better understand himself andcome to terms with his color. The organization in both essays are quite similar, both authorspresent an up-lifting experience and reflect on it. Although both Baldwin and Douglass usededucation, the obstacles they overcame to obtain their knowledge were quite different. "The Discovery of what it means to be American " by James Baldwin, and "The Narrativeof the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave", by Frederick Douglass, are similar essaysbecause learning played a key factor in their lives. Douglass discovered his quest for knowledgewhen he learned the alphabet. He states of this, "The first step had been taken. Mistress inteaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from takingthe ell" (p.104). Douglass was a slave in a relatively rich slave family, and he was thus
Baldwinstarts out his essay by explaining how he went to Europe and this experience allowed him to cometo terms with his color. Both Baldwin and Douglass went through their ownself-education process that allowed them a higher state of thought. Douglass had to hide his own self-education, because he would be punished if hewas caught with a newspaper, book, or any other learning materials. Even though thebarriers overcome by Baldwin and Douglass were different the learning experiences werevaluable. Education played a key factor in both Baldwin and Douglass' lives. He states, "it is no wonder, in the meantime, thatthe American writer keeps running off to Europe. Because of the racism in America, Baldwin left toexplore a more open-minded culture in Europe. He needs sustenance for his journey. Subsequently Douglass overcame the barrier of being aslave and made use of his own skills to educate himself. Baldwin left America because hedidn't want to be, "merely a Negro, or Negro writer"(p. The organizational patterns of both essays show a very related writing technique. Douglassobviously stresses his desire to learn, like most humans aspire to do. Both Douglass and Baldwin explain a crucial point in their livesand then sum up with a flashback into what lead them to that original conclusion.
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Acceptance Essays
