and breadth of emotions and intellect to truly care (feel), as a white man would feel in similar circumstances. Frederick Douglass presented a side of the African-American race that Jefferson never considered or contemplated could exist. To read in Douglass's own words about the brutality, mistreatment and injustices he received at the hands of white slave owners must have shocked many. However, no one would have been more shocked than Thomas Jefferson to see the richness and complexities of Douglass's personality and writings. Douglass's life was extremely hard, and yet he rose above many injustices and prejudicial treatment all throughout his life to become an accomplished and fulfilled man. This too would have shocked Jefferson and proved many of his writings incorrect.
Thomas Jefferson held views of white supremacy in many aspects over African-Americans, most (but not all) of which revolved around the mental handicaps he thought they had. Jefferson believed that slaves were incapable of experiencing the full spectrum of love; rather, that their love was more sexual and lustful than spiritual. Jefferson writes, "They are more ardent after their female: but love seems with them {slaves} to be more an eager desire, than a tender delicate mixture of sentiment and sensation" (Jefferson. 265). Douglass's narrative reveals that he did in fact experience 'love' on a much higher and purer plane than thought was possible by Jefferson.
Frederick Douglass in his writing about his life refutes the prejudicial views that Thomas Jefferson had implanted decades earlier that slaves were incapable of love and they lacked the ability to love. That Douglass loved and felt deep emotion is evident in his writings. One can hardly suggest that his ability to love or experience deep emotional thought was a mere 'learned' response. Douglass's narrative includes an accou
...