Baldwin and Douglass both used education as a guide to understanding their oppressive
             disposition 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 it
             means to be American", Baldwin goes on a philosophical journey to better understand himself and
             come to terms with his color. The organization in both essays are quite similar, both authors
             present an up-lifting experience and reflect on it. Although both Baldwin and Douglass used
             education, 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 Narrative
             of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave", by Frederick Douglass, are similar essays
             because learning played a key factor in their lives. Douglass discovered his quest for knowledge
             when he learned the alphabet. He states of this, "The first step had been taken. Mistress in
             teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking
             the ell" (p.104). Douglass was a slave in a relatively rich slave family, and he was thus able to
             use the abundant amount of bread he had to trade the poor white children for their knowledge.
             He states, "This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give
             me that more valuable bread of knowledge"(p.104). Knowledge was so important to Douglass
             that he gave up his food just to learn more. The poor white children took for granted that they
             went to school, while Douglass was prevented from learning because he was a slave. Douglass
             obviously stresses his desire to learn, like most humans aspire to do.
             Baldwin also stresses the need for self-enlightenment. Baldwin left America because he
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