Baldin And Douglass Essay, Research Paper

COMPARE & CONTRAST

Baldwin and Douglass both used education as a guide to understanding their oppressive

disposition in society. In the, Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave ,

Douglass overcomes many barriers to learn how to read and write. In, The Discovery of what it

means to be American , Baldwin goes on a philosophical journey to better understand himself and

come to terms with his color. The organization in both essays are quite similar, both authors

present an up-lifting experience and reflect on it. Although both Baldwin and Douglass used

education, the obstacles they overcame to obtain their knowledge were quite different.

The Discovery of what it means to be American by James Baldwin, and The Narrative

of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave , by Frederick Douglass, are similar essays

because learning played a key factor in their lives. Douglass discovered his quest for knowledge

when he learned the alphabet. He states of this, The first step had been taken. Mistress in

teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking

the ell (p.104). Douglass was a slave in a relatively rich slave family, and he was thus able to

use the abundant amount of bread he had to trade the poor white children for their knowledge.

He states, This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give

me that more valuable bread of knowledge (p.104). Knowledge was so important to Douglass

that he gave up his food just to learn more. The poor white children took for granted that they

went to school, while Douglass was prevented from learning because he was a slave. Douglass

obviously stresses his desire to learn, like most humans aspire to do.

Baldwin also stresses the need for self-enlightenment. Baldwin left America because he

didn t want to be, merely a Negro, or Negro writer (p.46). Baldwin thought that being colored

shouldn t be a mark of shame. Through Baldwin s journeys in Europe he came to the conclusion

that being African American isn t something to look down upon. He states, I had never listened

to Bessie Smith in America, (In the same way for years I never touched watermelon), but in

Europe she helped me reconcile being a nig*er (p.47). Baldwin experienced a totally new

thought process in Europe, that allowed him to better understand the world around him. He

states, I see the hidden racism s, social classes… . Baldwin was able to see through the color

barrier and realize he was, just as American as any Texas GI (p.47). America has been the battle

ground of racism for hundreds of years, and Baldwin is only one of the many that has left America

to search for a place more civilized. Both Baldwin and Douglass went through their own

self-education process that allowed them a higher state of thought.

Both Baldwin and Douglass experienced a learning process, but the barriers they had to

overcome were quite different. Baldwin grew up a fairly educated person and decided to go

abroad to expand his intellectual thought. Because of the racism in America, Baldwin left to

explore a more open-minded culture in Europe. He states, it is no wonder, in the meantime, that

the American writer keeps running off to Europe. He needs sustenance for his journey.. (p.50).

Granted, Baldwin faced a huge task in coming to his high state of reasoning, but the barriers

Baldwin faced were nowhere as daunting of a task that Douglass faced while learning how to read

and write. Slave owners wanted their slaves uneducated and passive so as not to realize their

position in society. Douglass states, She was and apt women(mistress); and a little experience

soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each

other (p.104). Douglass had to hide his own self-education, because he would be punished if he

was caught with a newspaper, book, or any other learning materials. In conclusion, Baldwin and

Douglass both overcame the stumbling block of ignorance.

The organizational patterns of both essays show a very related writing technique. Baldwin

starts out his essay by explaining how he went to Europe and this experience allowed him to come

to terms with his color. After explaining his accomplishment, Baldwin goes into specific selection

of details about how the open minded people of Europe, and his Bessie Smith records allowed

him to expand his train of thought. In the same way, Douglass explains at the start of the essay

that he learned how to read and write. Subsequently Douglass overcame the barrier of being a

slave and made use of his own skills to educate himself. Douglas used very specific details such

as how started to learn how to read at the shipyard or how he traded his bread for knowledge

from the poor white children. Both Douglass and Baldwin explain a crucial point in their lives

and then sum up with a flashback into what lead them to that original conclusion.

Education played a key factor in both Baldwin and Douglass lives. Even though the

barriers overcome by Baldwin and Douglass were different the learning experiences were

valuable. These writers rose out of the status society placed on them, of being merely a colored

person. Although these essays dealt exclusively with color, they show that society itself has many

flaws and it takes a real intellect to see this. Douglass and Baldwin s essays offer a great example

of how people can break through societies racism s and succeed.