FREDERICK DOUGLASS AMERICAN HERO 2
Frederick Douglass American Hero
Heroes often encompass individuals that serve as an inspiration to others. The heroes
further depict characteristics that include bravery and ability to overcome their fears towards
doing something that is critical for the well-being of other members of the society. However,
some individuals often argue that heroism often encompasses saving someone’s life or doing
something extraordinary that include solving issues such as global warming. Fredrick Douglass
did not exactly do that. Douglass remains a hero in another way that arose from his
dissatisfaction with overcoming the task that seemed impossible initially. The heroic nature of
Douglass arose from the fact that he managed to escape from slavery and rather than sitting back
and enjoying his freedom, he decided on moving towards helping other slaves. He went the extra
mile on reaching his ultimate goal of ending slavery through continual fighting for equality.
Douglass gained popularity through public speaking and served as an inspiration to others and a
leader exhibiting dedication towards fighting for what he believed in. As such, the dedication of
Douglass throughout his life on fighting the societal injustices depict his heroic nature.
Douglass was born a slave. He realized the significance of reading and writing to his
pathway to freedom and success at an earlier age. “I now understood what had been to me a most
perplexing difficulty--to wit, the white man's power to enslave the black man.” (Douglass 6.3).
The quote shows Douglass’ realization of the significance of becoming literate in the fight for his
freedom. He thus strived towards learning to read and write on his own daily. At times, he
sacrificed his food to the poor white children for their assistance on how to read. “With their
kindly aid, obtained at different times and in different places, I finally succeeded in learning to
read.” (Douglass, 7.4) The statement depicts the act of seeking assistance from the young white
children towards learning to read and write. The knowledge he acquired from the reading and
