My Bondage and My Freedom

by Douglass, Frederick

• ISBN13: 9780252014109
• ISBN10: 0252014103
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1988-03-01
• Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr

Summary

""My Bondage and My Freedom," writes John Stauffer in his Foreword, "[is] a deep meditation on the meaning of slavery, race, and freedom, and on the power of faith and literacy, as well as a portrait of an individual and a nation a few years before the Civil War." As his narrative unfolds, Frederick Douglass--abolitionist, journalist, orator, and one of the most powerful voices to emerge from the American civil rights movement--transforms himself from slave to fugitive to reformer, leaving behind a legacy of social, intellectual, and political thought. Set from the text of the 1855 first edition, this Modern Library Paperback Classic includes Douglass's original Appendix, composed of excerpts from the author's speeches as well as a letter he wrote to his former master.

Table of Contents

Editor's Preface	p. 1
Introduction	p. 5
Life as a Slave
The Author's Childhood
Place of Birth	p. 21
Character of the District	p. 21
Time of Birth--My Grandparents	p. 21
Character of My Grandmother	p. 23
The Log Cabin--Its Charms	p. 23
First Knowledge of Being a Slave	p. 24
Old Master--Griefs and Joys of Childhood	p. 25
Comparative Happiness of the Slave-Boy and His White Brother	p. 25
The Author Removed from His First Home
The Name "Old Master" a Terror	p. 29
Home Attractions--Dread of Being Removed from Tuckahoe	p. 30
The Journey to Col. Lloyd's Plantation	p. 31
Scene on Reaching Old Master's	p. 32
First Meeting with My Brothers and Sisters	p. 32
Departure of Grandmother--Author's Grief	p. 33
The Author's Parentage
Author's Father Shrouded in Mystery	p. 35
My Mother--Her Personal Appearance	p. 36
Her Situation--Visits to Her Boy	p. 37
Cruelty of "Aunt Katy"--Threatened Starvation	p. 38
My Mother's Interference	p. 39
Her Death	p. 39
Her Love of Knowledge	p. 40
Penalty for Having a White Father	p. 40
A General Survey of the Slave Plantation
Slaveholding Cruelty Restrained by Public Opinion	p. 43
Isolation of Lloyd's Plantation	p. 44
Beyond the Reach of Public Opinion	p. 45
Religion and Politics Alike Excluded	p. 45
Natural and Artificial Charms of the Place	p. 46
The "Great House"	p. 47
Etiquette among Slaves	p. 49
The Comic Slave-Doctor	p. 50
Praying and Flogging	p. 50
Business of Old Master	p. 52
Sufferings from Hunger	p. 53
Jargon of the Plantation	p. 54
Family of Col. Lloyd--Mas' Daniel	p. 55
Family of Old Master--Social Position	p. 55
Gradual Initiation into the Mysteries of Slavery
Growing Acquaintance with Old Master--His Character	p. 57
Evils of Unrestrained Passion--A Man of Trouble	p. 58
Supposed Obtuseness of Slave-Children	p. 58
Brutal Outrage on My Aunt Milly by a Drunken Overseer	p. 59
Slaveholders' Impatience at Appeals Against Cruelty	p. 59
Wisdom of Appealing to Superiors	p. 60
Attempt to Break Up a Courtship	p. 62
Slavery Destroys All Incentives to a Virtuous Life	p. 62
A Harrowing Scene	p. 63
Treatment of Slaves on Lloyd's Plantation
The Author's Early Reflections on Slavery	p. 65
Conclusions at Which he Arrived	p. 65
Presentiment of One Day Being a Freeman	p. 66
Combat Between an Overseer and a Slave-Woman	p. 67
Nelly's Noble Resistance	p. 68
Advantages of Resistance	p. 69
Mr. Sevier, the Brutal Overseer, and His Successors	p. 70
Allowance-Day on the Home Plantation	p. 70
The Singing of the Slaves No Proof of Contentment	p. 71
Food and Clothing of the Slaves	p. 73
Naked Children	p. 74
Nursing Children Carried to the Field	p. 75
Description of the Cowskin	p. 75
Manner of Making the Ash Cake--The Dinner Hour	p. 75
Contrast at the Great House	p. 77
Life in the Great House
Comfort and Luxuries--Elaborate Expenditure	p. 79
Men and Maid Servants--Black Aristocracy	p. 81
Stable and Carriage House	p. 81
Deceptive Character of Slavery	p. 82
Slaves and Slaveholders Alike Unhappy	p. 82
Fretfulness and Capriciousness of Slaveholders	p. 82
Whipping of Old Barney by Col. Lloyd	p. 83
William Wilks, a Supposed Son of Col. Lloyd	p. 84
Curious Incident--Penalty of Telling the Truth	p. 86
Preference of Slaves for Rich Masters	p. 87
A Chapter of Horrors
Austin Gore--Sketch of His Character	p. 89
Absolute Power of Overseers	p. 90
Murder of Denby--How It Occurred	p. 91
How Gore Made Peace with Col. Lloyd	p. 92
Murder of a Slave-Girl by Mrs. Hicks	p. 93
No Laws for the Protection of Slaves Can Be Enforced	p. 95
Personal Treatment of the Author
Miss Lucretia Auld--Her Kindness	p. 97
A Battle with "Ike," and Its Consequences	p. 98
Beams of Sunlight	p. 99
Suffering from Cold--How We Took Our Meals	p. 99
Orders to Prepare to Go to Baltimore--Extraordinary Cleansing	p. 100
Cousin Tom's Description of Baltimore	p. 101
The Journey	p. 102
Arrival at Baltimore	p. 103
Kindness of My New Mistress--Little Tommy	p. 103
A Turning Point in My History	p. 104
Life in Baltimore
City Annoyances--Plantation Regrets	p. 105
My Improved Condition	p. 105
Character of My New Master, Hugh Auld	p. 106
My Occupation--Increased Sensitiveness	p. 107
Commencement of Learning to Read--Why Discontinued	p. 108
Master Hugh's Exposition of the True Philosophy of Slavery	p. 108
Increased Determination to Learn	p. 109
Contrast between City and Plantation Slaves	p. 110
Mrs. Hamilton's Brutal Treatment of Her Slaves	p. 110
"A Change Came o'er the Spirit of my Dream."
Knowledge Acquired by Stealth	p. 113
My Mistress--Her Slaveholding Duties	p. 113
Deplorable Effects on Her Character	p. 114
How I Pursued My Education--My Tutors	p. 116
My Deliberations on the Character of Slavery	p. 116
The Columbian Orator and Its Lessons	p. 117
Speeches of Chatham, Sheridan, Pitt, and Fox	p. 118
Knowledge Ever Increasing--My Eyes Opened	p. 119
How I Pined for Liberty	p. 120
Dissatisfaction of My Poor Mistress	p. 120
Religious Nature Awakened
Abolitionists Spoken of	p. 123
Eagerness to Know What the Word Meant	p. 123
The Enigma Solved--Turner's Insurrection	p. 125
First Awakened on the Subject of Religion	p. 125
My Friend Lawson--His Character and Occupation	p. 126
Comfort Derived from His Teaching	p. 126
New Hopes and Aspirations	p. 127
The Irishmen on the Wharf--Their Sympathy	p. 128
How I Learned to Write	p. 128
The Vicissitudes of Slave Life
Death of Young Master Richard	p. 131
Author's Presence Required at the Division of Old Master's Property	p. 132
Attachment of Slaves to Their Homes	p. 133
Sad Prospects and Grief	p. 133
General Dread of Master Andrew--His Cruelty	p. 134
Return to Baltimore--Death of Mistress Lucretia	p. 135
My Poor Old Grandmother--Her Sad Fate	p. 136
Second Marriage of Master Thomas	p. 137
Again Removed from Master Hugh's	p. 137
Regrets at Leaving Baltimore	p. 138
A Plan of Escape Entertained	p. 139
Experience in St. Michael's
The Village and Its Inhabitants	p. 141
Meteoric Phenomena--Author's Impressions	p. 141
Character of My New Master and Mistress	p. 142
Allowance of Food--Sufferings from Hunger	p. 143
Stealing and Its Vindication	p. 144
A New Profession of Faith	p. 145
Morality of Free Society Has No Application to Slave Society	p. 145
Southern Camp-Meeting--Master Thomas Professes Conversion	p. 147
Hopes and Suspicions	p. 148
The Result--Faith and Works Entirely at Variance	p. 148
No More Meal Brought from the Mill--Methodist Preachers	p. 149
Their Utter Disregard of the Slaves--An Exception	p. 150
A Sabbath School Instituted	p. 151
How Broken Up and by Whom	p. 152
Cruel Treatment of Cousin Henny by Master Thomas	p. 152
Differences with Master Thomas, and the Consequences	p. 153
Edward Covey--His Character	p. 154
Covey, the Negro Breaker
Journey to My New Master's	p. 155
Meditations by the Way	p. 155
View of Covey's Residence--The Family	p. 156
Awkwardness as a Field Hand	p. 157
First Adventure at Ox Driving	p. 157
Unruly Animals--Hair-Breadth Escapes	p. 159
Oxen and Men--Points of Similarity	p. 160
Sent Back to the Woods	p. 161
Covey's Manner of Proceeding to Whip	p. 161
His Cunning and Trickery--Severe Labor	p. 162
Family Worship	p. 163
Shocking Contempt for Chastity--An Illustration	p. 164
Author Broken Down--His Only Leisure Time	p. 165
Freedom of the Ships and His Own Slavery Contrasted	p. 165
Anguish beyond Description	p. 167
Another Pressure of the Tyrant's Vice
Experience at Covey's Summed Up	p. 169
Scene in the Treading Yard	p. 170
Author Taken Ill	p. 170
Unusual Brutality of Covey	p. 171
Escape to St. Michael's--Suffering in the Woods	p. 172
The Case Prejudged--Driven Back to Covey's	p. 174
Circumstances Narrated to Master Thomas--His Bearing	p. 175
The Last Flogging
A Sleepless Night--Return to Covey's	p. 177
His Conduct--Again Escape to the Woods	p. 178
Deplorable Spectacle--Night in the Woods	p. 178
An Alarm--A Friend, Not an Enemy	p. 179
Sandy's Hospitality--The Ash Cake Supper	p. 180
A Conjuror--His Advice--The Magic Root	p. 180
Want of Faith--The Talisman Accepted	p. 181
Meeting with Covey--His Sunday Face	p. 182
His Manner on Monday--A Defensive Resolve	p. 182
A Rough and Tumble Fight	p. 183
Unexpected Resistance	p. 184
Covey's Ineffectual Commands for Assistance	p. 184
The Victory and its Results	p. 186
Effects upon My Own Character	p. 186
New Relations and Duties
Change of Masters--Resolve to Fight My Way	p. 189
Ability to Read a Cause of Prejudice	p. 190
Manner of Spending the Holidays	p. 190
The Effects--Sharp Hit at Slavery	p. 191
A Device of Slavery	p. 192
Difference between Master Freeland and Covey	p. 194
An Irreligious Master Preferred--The Reasons Why	p. 195
The Reverend Rigby Hopkins	p. 195
Catalogue of Floggable Offenses	p. 196
Rivalry among Slaves Encouraged	p. 197
Improved Condition at Freeland's	p. 198
Reasons for Continued Discontent	p. 198
Congenial Society--The Sabbath School	p. 199
Its Members--Necessity for Secrecy	p. 200
Affectionate Relations of Master and Pupils	p. 202
Confidence and Friendship among Slaves	p. 202
Slavery the Inviter of Vengeance	p. 202
The Run-Away Plot
New Year's Thoughts and Reflections	p. 205
Again Hired by Freeland	p. 206
Still Devising Plans for Gaining Freedom	p. 206
A Solemn Vow--Plan Divulged to the Slaves	p. 207
Arguments in Its Support--The Scheme Gains Favor	p. 208
Danger of Discovery--Difficulty of Concealment	p. 209
Skill of Slaveholders--Suspicion and Coercion	p. 209
Hymns with a Double Meaning	p. 210
Author's Confederates--His Influence over Them	p. 211
Preliminary Consultations--Pass-Words	p. 212
Conflict of Hopes and Fears--Ignorance of Geography	p. 212
Survey of Imaginary Difficulties	p. 213
Effect upon Our Minds	p. 213
Sandy Becomes a Dreamer	p. 215
Route to the North Laid Out--Objections Considered	p. 215
Frauds Practiced on Freeman--Passes Written	p. 216
Anxieties as the Time Drew Near	p. 217
Appeals to Comrades--A Presentiment	p. 218
The Betrayal Discovered	p. 218
Manner of Arresting Us	p. 219
Resistance Made by Henry Harris--Its Effects	p. 220
Unique Speech of Mrs. Freeland	p. 222
Our Sad Procession to Easton	p. 222
Passes Eaten--The Examination at St. Michael's	p. 223
No Evidence Produced--Who Was the Betrayer?	p. 224
Dragged Behind Horses--The Jail a Relief	p. 224
A New Set of Tormentors	p. 225
Release of My Companions	p. 226
Author Taken Out of Prison and Sent to Baltimore	p. 227
Apprenticeship Life
Nothing Lost by the Attempt to Run Away	p. 229
Reasons for Sending the Author Away	p. 230
Unlooked for Clemency in Master Thomas	p. 230
Return to Baltimore--Change in Little Tommy	p. 231
Trials in Gardiner's Ship Yard	p. 231
Desperate Fight with the White Apprentices	p. 233
Conflict between White and Black Labor	p. 233
Description of the Outrage	p. 235
Conduct of Master Hugh	p. 237
Testimony of a Colored Man Nothing	p. 238
Spirit of Slavery in Baltimore	p. 238
Author's Condition Improves	p. 239
New Associates--Benefits Derived Therefrom	p. 240
How to Make a Contented Slave	p. 240
My Escape from Slavery
Manner of Escape Not Given--Reasons why	p. 243
Craftiness and Malice of Slaveholders	p. 243
Want of Wisdom in Publishing Details of Escape	p. 244
Suspicions Implied by Master Hugh's Manner	p. 246
Difficulty of Escape--Discontent	p. 247
Author Allowed to Hire His Time	p. 247
A Gleam of Hope--Hard Terms	p. 248
Author Attends Camp Meeting without Permission	p. 249
Anger of Master Hugh Thereat	p. 249
Plans of Escape Accelerated Thereby	p. 250
Painful Thoughts of Separation from Friends	p. 252
The Attempt Made--Its Success	p. 252
Life as a Freeman
Liberty Attained
Author a Wanderer in New York--Feelings on Reaching That City	p. 253
An Old Acquaintance Met	p. 254
Unfavorable Impressions--Loneliness and Insecurity	p. 255
Apology for Slaves Who Return to Their Masters	p. 255
Make Known My Condition--David Ruggles	p. 257
Author's Marriage--Removal to New Bedford	p. 257
Kindness of Nathan Johnson--Change of Name	p. 257
Dark Notions of Northern Civilization Enlightened	p. 259
Contrast between the North and the South	p. 260
Colored People in New Bedford	p. 261
An Incident Illustrating Their Spirit	p. 261
The Author Finds Employment	p. 262
Denied Work at His Trade	p. 263
The First Winter at the North	p. 263
Proscription in the Church	p. 264
An Incident at the Communion Table	p. 265
First Acquaintance with the Liberator	p. 266
Character of Its Editor	p. 267
Prompt Attendance at Anti-Slavery Meetings	p. 267
Introduced to the Abolitionists
Anti-Slavery Convention at Nantucket	p. 269
Author's First Speech	p. 269
Becomes a Public Lecturer	p. 270
Youthful Enthusiasm	p. 271
Difficulties in His Position	p. 271
His Fugitive Slaveship Doubted	p. 272
Publishes His Narrative--Danger of Recapture	p. 273
Advised Not to Publish His Story	p. 274
Twenty-one Months in Great Britain
Good Arising Out of Unpropitious Events	p. 275
Embarks for England--Denied Cabin Passage	p. 275
Mob on Board the Cambria--Happy Introduction to the British Public	p. 276
Letter to Mr. Garrison	p. 277
"We Don't Allow Niggers in Here"	p. 280
Time and Labors Abroad	p. 282
Freedom Purchased--Free Papers	p. 283
Abolitionists Displeased with the Ransom	p. 283
How the Author's Energies Were Directed in Great Britain	p. 284
Reception Speech in Finsbury Chapel, London	p. 284
Character of the Speech Defended	p. 285
Causes Contributing to My Success	p. 286
The Free Church of Scotland--Its Position	p. 287
Agitation of the Slavery Question	p. 288
Debates in the General Assembly--"Send Back the Money"	p. 288
Dr. Cunningham's Speech--A Striking Incident	p. 290
The World's Temperance Convention--Collision with Dr. Cox	p. 292
Proposed Testimonial to the Author	p. 292
Project of Establishing a Newspaper	p. 293
Return to America--Again Denied Cabin Passage	p. 294
Various Incidents
Unexpected Opposition to My Newspaper Enterprise	p. 298
The Objections to It--Their Plausibility Admitted	p. 298
Motives for Going to Rochester	p. 299
A Change of Opinions--Causes Leading to It	p. 300
Prejudice Against Color--The "Jim Crow Car"	p. 302
An Amusing Domestic Scene	p. 303
The Author in High Company	p. 305
Elevation of the Free People of Color--Pledge for the Future	p. 306
Containing Extracts from Speeches, Etc.
Reception Speech at Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, England	p. 309
Dr. Campbell's Reply	p. 321
Letter to His Old Master	p. 323
The Nature of Slavery	p. 331
Inhumanity of Slavery	p. 337
What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?	p. 343
The Internal Slave Trade	p. 348
The Slavery Party	p. 353
The Anti-Slavery Movement	p. 359
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