LITR 4232:
American Renaissance
Student Presentation Summary
“Narrative
of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”
Reader:
Jennifer Davis
Recorder: Kathy Martin
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Objective 3:
To use literature as a basis for discussing representative problems
and subjects of American culture, such as equality; race,
gender, class; modernization and tradition; the family; the individual
and the community; nature; the writer’s conflicted presence in an
anti-intellectual society.
In a previous presentation on this
reading Lacy Lakner (2001) said: “[S]lavery’s effect on the slave owner; […] causes the
one in power to become desensitized to the slave condition, and develop a
hardened heart. He loses his
ability to sympathize and feel neither emotion or remorse.”
1842
– “I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than
a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the
remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to
get out.”
1858
– “I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the south is a mere
covering for the most horrid crimes,--a justifier of the most appalling
barbarity,--a sanctifier of the most hateful frauds,--and a dark shelter under,
which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds of slaveholders
find the strongest protection.”
1859
- “It was necessary to keep our religious masters at St. Michael’s
unacquainted with the fact, that, instead of spending the Sabbath in wrestling,
boxing, and drinking whisky, we were trying to learn how to read the will of
God; for they had much rather see us engaged in those degrading sports, than to
see us behaving like intellectual, moral, and accountable beings.”
1876
– “He who proclaims it is a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the
right of learning to read the name of God who made me.”
“[B]etween the Christianity of the
land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible
difference—so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of
necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked.”
Douglass goes on to say that the
Christianity of this land is hypocritical, while the Christianity of Christ is
impartial.
Class Discussion:
Question 1:
In what ways can Douglass’s narrative teach us the value of education?
Deterrean:
“Knowledge is Power”. You
can see connections between situations.
Jennifer:
What about slaves and slaveholders?
Sandra:
Knowledge was valued because the slave wasn’t supposed to have it.
Jacqueline:
Slaveholders didn’t want salves to have an education.
Deterrean:
The greatest danger for slaves is to know his own history.
Once he became aware, he would want to change his position.
There was no communal experience amongst the slaves.
Question 2:
If what Douglass says about slavery in his narrative is at all true, can being a
Christian slaveholder be justified in any way?
Deterrean:
People believed that having black skin was a curse, which was in
correlation with the Bible, so the slaveholders justified their actions.
Doug:
Being a Christian and slaveholder cannot be justified by Douglas.
Jennifer:
This connects with the Mormons. There
is a possibility of slaveholders treating slaves well, but the slaves were still
owned.
White:
What you read can shape the justification of slavery.
Deterrean:
There is the possibility for slaveholders to see himself as the only
benefactor.
Jennifer:
I can understand why people need to own slaves due to the work on the
plantations, but I still can’t find justification.
Claire: There
is no real justification unless you see them as soul-less.
Lydia:
It’s difficult to grasp the cruelty.
Corrie:
Slaveholders said slaves need to know the Bible.
Deterrean:
We can talk about race, but not class.
Not all white people were slave owners, but even the poor white could say
“at least I’m not black”.
Question 3:
Do you believe that Douglass’s statement concerning the difference
between the “Christianity of Christ” and the “Christianity of this land”
still applies to the times in which we live?
White:
I read in Luke “Woe unto you who are rich”.
You don’t hear that very often.
Deterrean:
People tell you that they’re rich because they’re blessed.
Jennifer:
You can compare it to TBN.
Laurie:
If you don’t have baggage, you don’t have much to lose.
How can Christians be slave owners?
Consider socialization versus people who make choices.
Can a Christian capitalist be justified?
White:
The anti-SUV campaign said “What would Jesus drive?”
This is legitimate in terms of what Laurie said.
Doug:
The third questions is pertinent to other religions, but not necessarily
Christianity. For example, Islam.
Corrie:
A modern form of slavery is Saudi Arabia.
Deterrean:
Jesus says “did you feed my sheep?
When you feed my sheep you feed me.”
We are taught to help others to glorify Christ.
Corrie:
You have to ask if you are hypocritical to the text.
Jennifer closed
with discussion of “talk of thy glorious liberty, and then bolt hard the
captives door.”