Welcome to Litsy!

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.

4 ⭐This book in under 40 pages taught me more about this fascinating black man than I ever learned in school. This book covers the first part of his life how he became free and what he did with his freedom. It's superbly illustrated, the story is well written, and altogether paints a beautiful illustration of a man all kids should learn about.

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 lovely reminder at dinner, [sic] notwithstanding 💖

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.

The only bookish bit of the trip was the Douglass memorial.... (I timed my visit to the bookshop well/poorly depending on whether the goal was to save money - or to buy books).

#Edinburgh

#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.👇🏽

Brian Kilmeade's work on Lincoln and Frederick Douglass is timely, balanced, and concise. I highly recommend it.

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.”👇🏽