Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Frederick Douglass

" I have seen Colonel Lloyd make old Barney, a man between fifty and sixty years of age, uncover his bald head, knee down upon the cold damp ground, and receive upon his naked and toile-worn shoulders more than thirty lashes at the time."(Douglass, Norton pg. 2079).

"America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. " (Douglass, Brainyquote.com)

Summary:
Douglass is writing about two slaves, Barney and his son who took care of Colonel Lloyd's horses. How depending on his mood would find fault in the care of his animals, just so he could beat the father and son.

My Ideas:

Because Douglass wrote with a very honest tone, it was hard at times to finish "Narrative of the Life". I was moved to tears when he spoke of the poor slave girl who was asked to watch her masters child and because she was so tired did not wake when the baby did, provoking the Mother of the child to pick up a oak stick and beat the young girl, breaking the the girls breast bone and nose. The young girl died slowly and most likely in excruciating pain.
It is very eye opening as well as to how cruel the Wives of the slave owners were and at time more cruel as Douglass put it.

As for the the beating of Barney, I again was moved to tears again, all I could think about was my own father being beat and having to watch that on a daily bases, or having to watch your own child be beat, and you can not any do any thing but stand by and watch.

I wanted to put the book down many times, but I knew that I needed to read his story. Just like going to the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. . You know its going to be the most depressing thing you see, but as a human being sharing this earth with other people, you need to see it.

However depressing his story it is an inspirational story as well and humbling. He was a brave soul who was determined to learn how to read and write(reminds me of Lincoln) and against all odds did learn, not only learned but wrote books and became a activist and public speaker. I was also humbled learning about the their conditions how the children only received one item of clothing and it was to last them the whole year. Because of this many of them had to be naked in the winter or summer. Douglass aslo points out they these were not just infants who had to go naked but children from ages 8-12, this was another form of demoralization by the slave owners.

Reading about other people stories(Or listening to my fathers about being a Migrant Farm Work and how poor he was before they moved to the Bay Area and received an education) always reminds me to be thankful for what I have. What a gift I have been given to be able to go to school and learn, vote etc. I have a warm house over my head with food in my stomach.