Welcome to Litsy!

Genre change. Always ready for history… and he‘s one amazing man!

My son is a freshman in high school & had to read this book for English class. We listened to it over YouTube recording from 4 years ago by the American Writers Museum. It was very powerful listening to so many amazing authors & scholars to read this story. I think I read this in college (but sadly couldn‘t remember). I‘m happy that this was required reading because it‘s such an important story in America‘s history & story.

A gripping book, understated & potent, this has none of the overwrought prose typical of antebellum American non-fiction. The bravery of F.D. & all those who suffered under slavery‘s grip astonishes me. He wrote of those planning escape, “We did more than Patrick Henry, when he resolved on liberty or death.” He‘s right. F.D. trenchantly noted of a once-kindly white woman turned cruel, “Slavery proved as injurious to her as to me.” Read his truths.

A marvelous book of literature that gives slavery the notoriety it deserves by telling what he had experienced and witnessed. The epidemic of treachery by he hands of white people is a giant scar on the skin of our nation. It made the lives of millions a painful hell. We read this in High school, and it should be required reading.

#NonFiction2022 Bingo Board: Box - I‘m a Dream:

Freedom for the slave must have seemed the elusive dream. To charter your own course across the hills & valleys of any chosen landscape, to walk unshackled, to talk unhindered, to think out loud & entertain the musings of a carefree created life, to fear not another man‘s control, anger, cruelty and whims must have felt a thing unattainable, a slippery reality beyond reach of brown-hued hands.👇🏽

Frederick Douglass has made many quote-worthy statements and I often come across the well-known one regarding literacy, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” I can‘t imagine a life without the joy of knowing how to read and the happiness of pursuing literature. However, today, my attention was drawn by this quote, “My hopes were never brighter than now.”👇🏽

This needs to be required reading in schools for so many reasons. And yet it never will be because of those same reasons. Truth is just too damn inconvenient for some people.

I read this before 20, but a reread with my son finds it not only excellent, but one of the best things I‘ve read in years. Douglass is an absolute master of his craft. My son was so caught he listened to it twice.

Although much shorter than I expected (half the book was preface/intro/annotation), a good read. Douglass‘ narrative follows his childhood and adolescence in slavery, along with his growing determination to be free or die in the effort. It‘s an honest and direct criticism, not only of slavery, but of the bastardized Christianity that upheld the institution. I have no doubt he‘d feel the same about modern Christianity that upholds racism and hate.

Frederick Douglass (1818 – 1895) was a Republican social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. Written as a memoir by Douglass in 1845 #12yearsaslave #remembernovember @Klou

Finally read it. For Jim Brewster's church book club. Felt more passion than I expected. Important work.

Douglass‘s strength and resilience are evident in his recounting of the brutality he was subjected to as a slave.

should be required reading

• If you've read "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," please leave your comments below ⬇️⬇️ •

#TBR #MountTBR #AfricanAmerican #history #Americanhistory #antislavery #abolition #historicalmovements #autobiography #memoir #lifestory

With this one little book, our school systems could provide a clear and concise example of what it meant to be enslaved. The writing is simple yet beautiful and tells of the traumas of slavery in a stark way without the glorification of violence. I repeat, this would be the perfect way to teach pupils about slavery by a gentleman who lived it.

I listened to the audiobook for this. What a fascinating story. Douglass' life seems unfathomable to me now. It's hard to even wrap my head around such cruelty.

First buddy read of the school year. Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass is an autobiography of a slave who escaped and lived to tell his story. Fredrick gets sent to a home in Maryland in which his new mistress teaches him to read the alphabet until she is warned by her husband not to teach the slaves. Fredrick continues his studies in secrecy and teaches himself to read and write. Douglass lives on to do great things. #1001books

Saturday's Audiobook: Narrative of the Life of Frederi Douglass.
#FrederickDouglass #Audiobook

#24in48 Going on 6.5 hours and four books down!

#QuotsyJuly19

(Day 2 - #Thunder)

Thanks to the excellent (but oh so hard to watch) PBS documentary on Reconstruction, I‘ve gone down a bit of a rabbit hole in my non-fiction reading. This is part of that, and my pick for a book published before I was born for the #MMDchallenge

Frederick Douglass was a hero to millions and is now an American icon. His story is the stuff of legends, and now that I‘ve finally read this, I understand why.

#riotgrams

Every 4th of July I read or listen to this speech. It‘s just as important today as it was in 1852 when it was Delivered by Douglas. #fredrickdouglass #books #reader #reading

Attending a graduation ceremony tonight and giving these cards with a bookmark to a few students I‘ve worked with since they were freshmen.

Love these postcards from Obvious State, and I often include one with gifts to friends.

Read this for a book discussion for my internship. I found it "enjoyable" (if you can really enjoy a book about a slave narrative). The thing that struck me the most though was that it was set in my county. I live in Talbot County Maryland where Douglass was born and spent a major part of his life. I recognize the names of the towns and even some of the people. It just made his story all the more reason for me.

Powerful and heartbreaking.

Some reading for school.

#college

Turns out Amazon Classics Editions are free these days. I may have overdone it a bit with +30 titles.. but it'll be a while before I'm out of reading material. 😂 😂

This is a must read for everyone. While I have read fiction and non-fiction about the horrors of slavery, hearing it from someone's first-hand exoerience makes it even more real. It is so hard to believe that this cruelty existed, was accepted, was the norm. Frederick Douglass himself was an extraordinarily bright and strong man with great leadership qualities. Read it - it is short, powerful and well written. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Slaves #sing most when they are most unhappy."
My #currentread is devastating.
#quotsydec17

“ what I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference…”

Re-read of this one. A difficult, emotional true story about one man's will to freedom in spite of his (our) nation. Douglass' story serves as a lesson in history, rhetoric, and humanity.

Here is the third book I am reading on Serial Reader. It is a grim look at slavery but so important to know about this time. I just finished Issue 1 of 16, a much shorter read than the first two. I am not sure how many descriptions of brutal whippings and the rape of female slaves I can take, but I am determined to read the entire autobiography, no matter how uncomfortable it makes me.

Finally got myself set up @NCNY ! Perched atop my mound of papers to grade - thank you again!! it inspires wonder in 7th graders who pretend to be jaded.

This should be read in our public schools.

I've read a few #TrueStories but these two are my absolute favorite. Neither as happy (Peltier's who's still in prison), but they are truly inspiring

#Riotgrams

I have found that, to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken his moral and mental vision, and, as far as possible, to annihilate the power of reason.

Third book finished on @SerialReader. Very powerful read.

Got a new badge today😀

I will not buy more books. I will not buy more books. #bookwormproblems

Serial reader has biography and nonfic! I'm really enjoying the experience of reading Frederick Douglass's memoir using this app. Next up will be Sojourner Truth.

#todayinsj today is the date Frederick Douglass chose to celebrate his birthday.

I'm also reading the book tagged currently through serial reader! So happy I decided to check that app out. There is a nice selection of historical non fiction there for me to read.

Starting this on @SerialReader today!

#17booklove how about a book and a snack? Didn't have to chance to have a meal I loved today.

books I found for #BlackHistory month. i'm embarrassed that i've only read the MLK speeches and one of the James Baldwin books. maybe i can use the Frederick Douglass book for #LRC23 (takes place over 150 years ago) in my reading challenge? i hear he's "somebody who's done an amazing job." ??#RiotGrams

#riotgrams Black History: I will be reading this today. I've never read it before.