Unit 3: The Secret Road to Freedom (1èreG_gr1)

They Lived to Tell the Tale

Text A

The document under study is an extract of Frederick Douglass’ autobiography, published in 1845. He shares about his experience as a slave. He mentions a childhood episode when he would compare himself with whit children. Indeed, unlike the white children who knew their age, he could not say his own age. In fact, it was a will of the slave owners to prevent slaves from knowing too much about themselves, to keep them ignorant to manipulate them better. It was dehumanizing as slaves were treated as mere properties like horses.

Text B

The document under study is an extract from a speech pronounced by Frederick Douglass on July 4^th, 1852. In this speech Douglass aims at showing the contradiction of the values described in the Declaration of Independence because not everyone was free: the American slaves were the victims. He is denouncing the hypocrisy of this celebration.

Text C

The document is an extract from a speech pronounced by Harriet Tubman in 1859. She is explain why she does not agree with the idea that black slaves should be sent back to Africa to end slavery. Indeed, according to her, even though black people were forced to live in America, they could not be sent back to Africa as they belonged to America then. The fact that white people are trying to send them out; rooting them out of America is not fair.

(We will continue the study of the texts tomorrow. Be ready!)

 Homework: Learn the lesson.