The value of education.

“Whilst I was saddened by the thought of losing the aid of my kind mistress, I was gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I had gained from my master. Though conscious of the difficulty of learning without a teacher, I set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read” (chapter 6).

In his narrative, Douglass stresses education with utmost importance. Ignorance is one of the main methods whites used to oppress slaves and keep them in submission for so long. This is no accident on the white slaveholders’ part: education grants intellectual freedom. That’s half the battle to obtaining whole freedom, something slaveholders obviously did not want.

“The very decided manner with which he spoke, and strove to impress his wife with the evil consequences of giving me instruction, served to convince me that he was deeply sensible of the truths he was uttering. It gave me the best assurance that I might rely with the utmost confidence on the results which, he said, would flow from teaching me to read” (chapter 6).

There is a famous saying that my mother always told me when I was going through middle and high school; I forget the actual words, but the message essentially was that no one can ever take away your education. Everything else in your life (i.e. your car, house, job, etc) can be stolen or lost, but you can never lose a good education. It is something you can always fall back on and keep with you throughout your life. Douglass realizes this and dedicates his life to gaining a decent education. With such an education, he can free himself of the oppressive techniques used to entrap slaves.

Learning to read and write gives slaves strength of mind and will, as seen in this novel and Jacobs’ novel. This is no coincidence; education was (and still is) the ultimate key to giving a person true freedom. Douglass’ high value of education really spoke to me as I have always appreciated my good fortune to have a wonderful education throughout my life. I went to a private, all-girl high school that was rigorous and had many classes taught at a college-level. Although it was stressful at times, I am so grateful that I went there and was able to learn so much, when others don’t have such an opportunity. I am more grateful that my high school prepared me for a great college education, another opportunity most do not receive in their lifetimes.

As Epictetus said in Discourses, “Only the educated are free.”