from the rape of women slaves, which Douglass believes, is the case with his parentage. These children never receive acknowledgment as part of the family, the main reason being that African Americans are not of acceptance in society. Although they are part white, the slightest bit of black blood is enough to stain them for life. It is also an insult to the mistress of the house to see proof of her husband's treachery running around the house. If the slaveholders did acknowledge every slave child they have and include them in the inheritance, the slaveholders would be helping slaves rise up from their oppression.
             Another important factor in perpetuating slavery is the need for physical and psychological violence. Douglass experiences this for the first time when he witnesses the beating of his Aunt Hester. The master forbids Aunt Hester to see her boyfriend. One night he calls for her and she cannot be found. When she finally comes around, she is with her boyfriend. The master proceeds to whip her until she is a bloody mess. Douglass has never seen this before because he lives on the outskirts of the plantation. Douglass describes his experience by saying, "I was so terrified and horrorstricken at the sight, that I hid myself in a closet, and dared not venture out" (43). The beating is successful in that it scares Douglass enough that he would never do anything to receive such horrible punishment. It scares him enough psychologically that he would do anything to avoid the physical pain.
             Learning to read is the most important thing Douglass can do to help his situation. Reading gives Douglass an insight into the world of slavery that he would never realize. Lisa Sisco writes, "Douglass thus emerges as a literate individual in the marginal spaces between the world sanctioned by slavery and an alternative space of his own making
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