Manhood Stems from Right to Education

Douglass illustrates how slaves did not have manhood, but they would "be valued with other property." (Douglass 67). Slaves were put on a scale with animals, land, and other possessions of a white person. Slaves were stripped of the simple freedoms to be able to think for themselves and voice their own opinions. When Douglass describes his experiences, his prior experience from learning how to read and write have allowed him to stand up in some way against the oppression, such as the fight he had with Mr. Covey. Douglass is one of the very few slaves who has that ability, so they do not know what to stand up for. When we think about manhood today, the educated have a greater advantage than other people because of their ability to persuade others and sound "intelligent" based off their education. An example is children looking up to and respecting their parents, obviously a much different relationship but the same authority between the two parties. In many strong families, the children do not override the parents, but that is because the parents have the best interest in mind for the children. Douglass begins to gain his manhood as he educates himself and allows him to share ideas, think for himself, and educate other slaves.

 Manhood is defined for slaves by many different factors, none of them that regards the humanity of the slave. Douglass writes, "...walk straight through Delaware into Pennsylvania. When I get there, I shall not be required to have a pass; I can travel without being disturbed." (Douglass 71). Manhood is legally dependent on the location of the slave, the time of day, or other temporary states instead of always retaining manhood. Yet socially, they are still an inferior race in the entire country, but highlighted to a far greater extent in the South. When a white man and a black man talk, the dialogue is about how the slave's master treats them, and the only answer they can give is "yes".