Dreams in Song of Solomon, Narrative Frederick Douglass,...

Dreams in Song of Solomon, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Push In 1776 it was stated that our country was based upon one simple truth, That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Though stated with a poetic justice, this statement did not hold true for all U.S. citizens. Many citizens were held in captivity, versus freedom, unable to pursue those inalienable rights. After two hundred years of inequality, Martin Luther King, Jr., would provide one of the most vocal positions regarding the lack of equal rights owed to African Americans. In his 1969 Lincoln†¦show more content†¦After I had learned this, she assisted me in learning to spell words of three or four letters (Gates 274). Ultimately, his master discovered his wifes acts and immediately ended the teaching. Even though his instruction was cut early, Douglass soon realized that in being able to read and write, not only could his mind be free of captivity, bu t he may find physical freedom. It took Douglass seven years to learn to read and write. Though this power allowed Douglass to free his mind, he once stated, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without a remedy [...] I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead; and but for the hope of being free (279). Even in achieving his dream of literacy, it led to a greater dream, freedom. Douglass achievements were not without setbacks and/or difficulties. In working towards literacy, his master withheld knowledge of reading and writing forcing him to learn these in unconventional ways. He tricked the neighborhood boys into showing him how to write and spell words in the dirt. He also secretly read newspapers and other texts. These setbacks only impressed upon him his necessity to become literate. If his master worked so hard to keep him from learning, then there must have been a great benefit for Douglass that his master was not vocalizing. He felt an absolute need toShow MoreRelated American Dream in Song of Solomon, Narrative Frederick Douglass, Life of a Slave Girl, and Push1924 Words   |  8 PagesAmerican Dream in Song of Solomon, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Push   Ã‚   In an era where knowledge is power, the emphasis on literacy in African American texts is undeniable. Beginning with the first African American literary works, the slave narratives, through the canons more recent successes such as Toni Morrisons Song of Solomon and Sapphires Push, the topic of literacy is almost inextricably connected to freedom and power. A closer investigationRead More The African-American Nightmare Exposed in Black Literature Essay2231 Words   |  9 Pagesin Olaudah Equiano, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, Song of Solomon, and Push    The American Dream was founded on the concept that all men are created equal(Jefferson 729) and that everyone has the capability and resources to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. The Declaration of Independence was written so Americans could achieve this dream, but was not written with the African slave in mind. The African slave was never intended to be a part of this American Dream, therefore, not capableRead More Comparing Dreams in Song of Solomon, Push, and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl2962 Words   |  12 PagesA Dream Revised in Song of Solomon, Push, and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   America was founded on the belief that all men are created equal. However, a question must be posed which asks who constitutes men and what is equal? Where do women fit into the picture? What about minorities? The Declaration of Independence serves as the framework for rules that govern the people who fall beneath it, but who were the architects of the infamous work? They were white, upper