February 16, 2017 - 20:00
After learning about the hand that the abolistionists played in the production of The Narrative of Frederick Douglas, I feel really decieved. It's not that I was at all surprised, but through our various discussions or readings about the importance of the slave narrative I have realized that Douglass's is the only non fictionalized narrative of slavery I have read. Although I feel like i have read so much about slavery in the U.S. I think most of it has been through novels. While these historical fiction narratives are valid as well, I think everyone should have to read a true narrative of American slavery at some point in their lives. Frederick Douglass's book is frequently taught (for this reasion?) in english classes, I think due to the accessibility and brevity of his (is it even!?) language. Now im disappointed to know that it too was very doctored. I'm hoping to read his other autobiographies and learn more about how this narrative was used by the abolitionist movement.