Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass is the self written story of a slave’s life who lived around mid 1800s’ in America. The copy I am reading is 188 pages that has attached related documents and is edited with an introduction by David W. Blight. From the time you read the introduction and document pages until you read Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, which is written by him, its purpose is to tell you about the slavery, and every possible aspect of it, like: moral, economic, master-slave relationship, psychology of slaveholders and the arguments of abolitionists. As an example I will quote a portion of a paragraph from the introduction part which says “Close readings of the Narrative uncover not only Douglass’s rhetorical strategies but also a good deal about the moral and economic nature of slavery, the master-slave relationship, the psychology of slaveholders, the aims and arguments of abolitionists, and the impending political crisis between North and South that would lead to the Civil War.”
In my opinion the accomplishment of the book is more than the intention of Douglass himself. Surely, he wrote about his life to make people aware of what it was like to be a slave and stop slavery. But, I don’t think he even knew that one day the book would not only be used as part of American and especially slavery history, but, as part of America’s oldest literary traditions as well. This is evident in the introduction part where it states “Douglass’s Narrative, like much of his oratory, also fits squarely into one of America’s oldest literary traditions: the jeremiad.”
As a matter of fact, it’s the facts, incidents and struggles of Douglass’s life that is the strategy and tool for achieving his goals in his life which creates tools for achieving his goals in the book. He starts the book by mentioning about his life’s beginning "The whisper that my master was my father, may or may not be true; and, true or false, it is of but little consequence to my purpose whilst the fact remains, in all its glaring odiousness, that slaveholders have ordained, and by law established, that the children of slave women shall in all cases follow the condition of their mothers; and this is done too obviously to administer to their own lusts, and make a gratification of their wicked desires profitable as well as pleasurable; for by this cunning arrangement, the slaveholder, in cases not a few, sustains to his slave the double relation of master and father." What an incident! Everyone knows that a slave’s son was considered a slave. But, in case of Fredrick’s life there is a whisper that his master might have been his father. So, his master being his father in life becomes the tool to teach us about the situation of a slave whose father would be his master. It shows how they would make laws to administer their lusts in anyway possible. Here is where a question arises in my mind, if a slave woman is so bad that her blood is a slave no matter what, then, why would you sleep with her? The main beauty of the book is that it gives you a general idea of what slavery truly was, through telling only a single persons life story. What I mean is, most parts do not only apply to Frederick’s life but, all other slaves directly share the same history as well. "It was considered as being bad enough to be a slave; but to be a poor man's slave was deemed a disgrace indeed!" Chapter 3, It shows how disgraceful it was to be a poor man’s slave. "'It is better that a dozen slaves suffer under the lash, than that the overseer should be convicted, in the presence of the slaves, of having been at fault.'" Chapter 4, again he talks about value of all slaves in normal people’s eye, not only himself. "It was worth a half-cent to kill a 'nigger,' and a half-cent to bury one." Chapter 4, once more it talks about all slavery. Slaves were treated as property and in this specific example they worth a cent.
One of the interesting tools the writer used to not only inform me about the slavery but, made it easier for me to understand most of the parts is the way he defines things and gives you words to help you imagine the situation. Like: “Everything looked clean, new and beautiful. I saw few or no dilapidated houses, with poverty-stricken inmates; no half-naked children and bare-footed women, such as I had been accustomed to see in Hillsborough, Easton, St. Michael’s, and Baltimore. The people looked more able, stronger, healthier, and happier, than those of Maryland.” Chapter 11, he could have easily said that: “people seemed to live a better life than Hillsborough, Easton, St. Michael’s or Baltimore.” But, instead he gives you more definitive words to help you understand better.
In my opinion the writer is very successful in achieving his goals. Just us, using his book as a way to learn an aspect of American history is a big achievement for him. Plus I want to add a quote from the document part of the book that shows how this book is honored through history again and again. “America has the mournful honor of adding a new department to the literature of civilization, - the autobiographies of escaped slaves… The subjects of two of these narratives, Frederick Douglass and Josiah Henson, we have known personally, and, apart from the internal evidence of truth which their stories afford, we have every reason to put confidence in them as men of veracity.” page 135.
In conclusion, I learned an abundance of information about the history of slavery in America. The way masters would treat their slaves was very harsh. Free people were trading human beings and would use them as property. To keep them as property they believed they should keep them away from education. “Just at this point of my progress, Mr. Auld found out what was going on, and at once forbade Mrs. Auld to instruct me further, telling her, among other things, that it was unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read. To his own words, further, he said, “If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell.” Chapter 6
The only thing I would say some times stopped me from reading the book would be some sad points in his life. It was making me so sad that I wouldn’t want to read more. I sometimes thought that by my stopping to read, their sufferings might end. “Master would keep his lacerated young woman tied up in this horrid situation four or five hours at a time. I have known him to tie her up early in the morning, and whip her before breakfast; leave her, to his store, return at dinner, and whip her again, cutting her in the places already made raw with his cruel lash.” Chapter 9, page 78. And as you read further it talks about how the girl being whipped over and over was burned in her early life time, it talks more and more about suffers and sorrows that you don’t want to continue reading that portion. You just want to skip those sorrows in illusion of stopping the sorrows by stopping to read.
I think it is a really great book to start history of slavery with. It gives you a real life story of someone who is directly related to history of America. I definitely can connect some parts of the book to my country, where my countries history was my life once, and that part is education. I believe, that everything my country goes through right now is because of a low level of education. The way they used to keep slaves illiterate in order to use them as property and ignore their rights. A high percentage of illiteracy is the cause of almost all problems in my country too. I learnt how Douglass taught himself in anyways possible to read. He even used his friendship with street boys to learn. That is what my country needs, Education. At the end I recommend all history seven students to read this book. By reading this book they will learn a lot about a big portion of history seven, which is slavery. But, my recommendation would not be limited to just people who take history seven class. Any one interested in learning about slavery can read the book and find the specific information that he or she needs, while people even use it as a part of literature as mentioned before.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Critique
Outside Speaker Critique
Speakers Name: Abdur Raheem
Speaking Occasion: Friday Prayers Speech.
Location: Tracy Islamic Center
“Scientific facts In Quran” was one of the clearest thesis’s I have heard in our mosque in a long time. Sheikh speaks about facts and precise verses of Holly Quran which is confirmed by today’s science. By mentioning the facts that were not invented until late 1900s, but, have been found in the text of Holly Quran that was descended to Mohammad from Allah by Gabriel 1400 years ago, he proofs that Holly Quran can only be words of the great Lord.
His speech was well organized. I can say that he had spent a good amount of time to research and prepare for his persuasive speech. He started from Strong important facts and went to the weakest and those facts that might need some more time until science develops more and they become clearer for our limited senses. I can not remember of a specific connective sentence he said. But, I never felt annoyed between the times he was moving to next facts.
I think his delivery skills were amazing. One of his skills I liked was his voice and the way he spoke. He was speaking very clear and slow. He would raise his voice very little when he wanted to emphasis something but, it wasn’t noticeable at all. May be I noticed it because I knew I am writing about it. He would utter the complex sentences word by word so that everyone gets it.
Overall I think he did a great job. I would give him an A plus if he was my student. But, I would add some visual aid to my speech if I was supposed to do the same speech again.
Speakers Name: Abdur Raheem
Speaking Occasion: Friday Prayers Speech.
Location: Tracy Islamic Center
“Scientific facts In Quran” was one of the clearest thesis’s I have heard in our mosque in a long time. Sheikh speaks about facts and precise verses of Holly Quran which is confirmed by today’s science. By mentioning the facts that were not invented until late 1900s, but, have been found in the text of Holly Quran that was descended to Mohammad from Allah by Gabriel 1400 years ago, he proofs that Holly Quran can only be words of the great Lord.
His speech was well organized. I can say that he had spent a good amount of time to research and prepare for his persuasive speech. He started from Strong important facts and went to the weakest and those facts that might need some more time until science develops more and they become clearer for our limited senses. I can not remember of a specific connective sentence he said. But, I never felt annoyed between the times he was moving to next facts.
I think his delivery skills were amazing. One of his skills I liked was his voice and the way he spoke. He was speaking very clear and slow. He would raise his voice very little when he wanted to emphasis something but, it wasn’t noticeable at all. May be I noticed it because I knew I am writing about it. He would utter the complex sentences word by word so that everyone gets it.
Overall I think he did a great job. I would give him an A plus if he was my student. But, I would add some visual aid to my speech if I was supposed to do the same speech again.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Forgotten Americans
Forgotten Americans, footnote figures who changed American history, is a book written by Willard Sterna Randall and Nancy Naira. The copy I am holding is published by ad capo press in 06 July 2010; the book has 257 pages that include the legend of 15 Americans who lived from the early 1600’s till late 1800’s. The book talks about the American’s who were deeply involved in the struggles, sorrows, victories and hardships of their times.
The beauty of this book is that you read about different people from different times. Good or bad, from Virginia or New York, politician or farmer, poor or rich. At the end all are a part of American history and related to each other in one way or another. It gives you a comprehensive idea of so many aspects of American history. You read about smart, patriot and handsome Tecumseh, a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy that opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812 who didn’t want to trade his land in any way. Yet, you get the chance to read about hard working Thomas Jefferson who was secretary of state and he “…was designing the new nation’s mint, establishing a system of weights and measures, and helping to choose the site and supervise the design of a permanent United States capital…” and Tom Quick that killed so many innocent Indians in revenge of his father’s blood. Because of my zero knowledge about history of America, this class looked boring and hard to me. I found the book “forgotten Americans” an easy and more understandable way to find interest in the subject, History 7. In Forgotten Americans I find almost all the important parts of the main course study, illustrated and shown as an example in one’s life.
In my opinion the authors want to show the chronological order of American history from 1600’s to 1800’s by mentioning the stories of different people from the different parts of America, involved in different aspects of America. For example: the authors starts the book with the story of Anne Marbury Hutchinson, a woman who left England with her husband and seven children to become a pioneers of New England in early 1600’s. Anne’s story points out one of the main reasons why people left England (conflict of government to their religious beliefs). In addition, her story shows how American history is connected to Europe. There were people living in America before arrival of Europeans and America already had its history. But, this is the point where the history of America gets connected to the rest of the world and becomes more interesting. It shows how America interacts with the rest of the world, how people from different parts of the world came to America. Some come for gold like the Spanish, some come for trade and making money like the French, some come escaping the unfairness of their government, some come to spread their religious beliefs and some were forced to come here to work for their lords and make money for them.
As you further read the book the authors write the story of Brother Gideon, where you read about times when more whites were coming to settle in America and that Indian tribes already here, were forced to take sides. Day by day conflicts were emerging between tribes who were already living in this land and those who were new settlers. when Tom Quick’s father was killed by the Delaware’s his thirsty for revenge killed hundreds of Indians, which shows how in some cases Indians and new settlers had conflicts with each other.
The authors go deep into late 1700’s history of America by mentioning some aspect of Thomas Jefferson’s life. It shows corners and parts of America’s politics and those who were so into making a good base for the system of this country and those who were devoted in all aspects of this country. You learn how those people were politician officials in office and while on research and tour they didn’t even met governor George Clinton. The Albany register of may 30 recorded:
“on Thursday last, this city was honored with the presence of Mr. Jefferson, secretary of state, accompanied by… the celebrated Madison…. It is to be regretted that their short stay in this city deprived our principal characters from paying that respectful attention due to their distinguished merit. “
In addition you learn about church’s in early 1800’s . I learnt how Charles Grandson Finney, who was a Presbyterian and Congregationalist figure in the Second Great Awakening. He was known for his innovations in preaching and religious meetings such as having women pray in public meetings of mixed gender, development of the "anxious seat", a place where those considering becoming Christians could come to receive prayer, for public censure of individuals by name in sermons and prayers.
As you read more and more you get the connection of the stories to each other as I did get. When I studied the pages about Myra Colby Bradwell, ESQ I realized how being free and having opportunities in life makes you something better in life. Not just good for yourself but good for community at the same time. In early chapters of the book you read how it was hard for the women to do anything or even having their natural rights. And when community develops and paths to opportunity are paved, figures such as Myra the publisher and political activist arises, she was the first woman to be admitted to the Illinois bar to become the first female lawyer. As I mentioned before I think the authors goal is to write about important figures of American history, and through their biographies teach us history of America. And I think they have done such a good job. They way the biographies are organized has a time flow, you read about a different person in each chapter who lived in a different time and place in Americas. Yet, you feel a connection between these biographies. By starting a new chapter you don’t feel like you are starting a new book but you see the development and change related to biographies before to the ones you are reading now. For example: in first biography i read about Anne Marbury Hutchinson which shows one of the ways Europeans came to amerce: “the last European power to enter the race for new world territories and riches was England.” In second biography you read about Teedyuscung which teaches me that there were people before them coming to America. And as you move on you read about the conflicts arising between new settlers and Indians. Look how the connection flows. It shows when you go to other peoples land and you not belong their conflicts arise. Just this matter is learned from three different biographies of different people, but, well organized.
As a conclusion it’s a good book to be studied if possible while you are trying to learn about history of America from 1600-1800. I learned how people change through time and they leave their good or bad in inheritance for their children and generations below. I learned how people are encouraged to do something when they are consistently prohibited from. It strengthened my belief that people are born free with equal rights. It strengthened my belief that people are equal wither they are black, white, from east, west, or etc. Every page of the book is definitely connected to my life. I was born and raised in a country with war. Invaded by USSR of the time when I was born and destroyed more by America and its ISAF member countries when I left. I see my self in every page of the book. I want to be a patriot politician when I read about Thomas Jefferson, defend my countries freedom when I read about Tecumseh: “sell a country. Why not sell the air, the clouds and the great sea, as well as the earth?”, religious scholar when I read about Charles grandson Finney, I want to represent my countries teams in major international leagues when I read about Louis sock Alexis, and on and on.
The beauty of this book is that you read about different people from different times. Good or bad, from Virginia or New York, politician or farmer, poor or rich. At the end all are a part of American history and related to each other in one way or another. It gives you a comprehensive idea of so many aspects of American history. You read about smart, patriot and handsome Tecumseh, a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy that opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812 who didn’t want to trade his land in any way. Yet, you get the chance to read about hard working Thomas Jefferson who was secretary of state and he “…was designing the new nation’s mint, establishing a system of weights and measures, and helping to choose the site and supervise the design of a permanent United States capital…” and Tom Quick that killed so many innocent Indians in revenge of his father’s blood. Because of my zero knowledge about history of America, this class looked boring and hard to me. I found the book “forgotten Americans” an easy and more understandable way to find interest in the subject, History 7. In Forgotten Americans I find almost all the important parts of the main course study, illustrated and shown as an example in one’s life.
In my opinion the authors want to show the chronological order of American history from 1600’s to 1800’s by mentioning the stories of different people from the different parts of America, involved in different aspects of America. For example: the authors starts the book with the story of Anne Marbury Hutchinson, a woman who left England with her husband and seven children to become a pioneers of New England in early 1600’s. Anne’s story points out one of the main reasons why people left England (conflict of government to their religious beliefs). In addition, her story shows how American history is connected to Europe. There were people living in America before arrival of Europeans and America already had its history. But, this is the point where the history of America gets connected to the rest of the world and becomes more interesting. It shows how America interacts with the rest of the world, how people from different parts of the world came to America. Some come for gold like the Spanish, some come for trade and making money like the French, some come escaping the unfairness of their government, some come to spread their religious beliefs and some were forced to come here to work for their lords and make money for them.
As you further read the book the authors write the story of Brother Gideon, where you read about times when more whites were coming to settle in America and that Indian tribes already here, were forced to take sides. Day by day conflicts were emerging between tribes who were already living in this land and those who were new settlers. when Tom Quick’s father was killed by the Delaware’s his thirsty for revenge killed hundreds of Indians, which shows how in some cases Indians and new settlers had conflicts with each other.
The authors go deep into late 1700’s history of America by mentioning some aspect of Thomas Jefferson’s life. It shows corners and parts of America’s politics and those who were so into making a good base for the system of this country and those who were devoted in all aspects of this country. You learn how those people were politician officials in office and while on research and tour they didn’t even met governor George Clinton. The Albany register of may 30 recorded:
“on Thursday last, this city was honored with the presence of Mr. Jefferson, secretary of state, accompanied by… the celebrated Madison…. It is to be regretted that their short stay in this city deprived our principal characters from paying that respectful attention due to their distinguished merit. “
In addition you learn about church’s in early 1800’s . I learnt how Charles Grandson Finney, who was a Presbyterian and Congregationalist figure in the Second Great Awakening. He was known for his innovations in preaching and religious meetings such as having women pray in public meetings of mixed gender, development of the "anxious seat", a place where those considering becoming Christians could come to receive prayer, for public censure of individuals by name in sermons and prayers.
As you read more and more you get the connection of the stories to each other as I did get. When I studied the pages about Myra Colby Bradwell, ESQ I realized how being free and having opportunities in life makes you something better in life. Not just good for yourself but good for community at the same time. In early chapters of the book you read how it was hard for the women to do anything or even having their natural rights. And when community develops and paths to opportunity are paved, figures such as Myra the publisher and political activist arises, she was the first woman to be admitted to the Illinois bar to become the first female lawyer. As I mentioned before I think the authors goal is to write about important figures of American history, and through their biographies teach us history of America. And I think they have done such a good job. They way the biographies are organized has a time flow, you read about a different person in each chapter who lived in a different time and place in Americas. Yet, you feel a connection between these biographies. By starting a new chapter you don’t feel like you are starting a new book but you see the development and change related to biographies before to the ones you are reading now. For example: in first biography i read about Anne Marbury Hutchinson which shows one of the ways Europeans came to amerce: “the last European power to enter the race for new world territories and riches was England.” In second biography you read about Teedyuscung which teaches me that there were people before them coming to America. And as you move on you read about the conflicts arising between new settlers and Indians. Look how the connection flows. It shows when you go to other peoples land and you not belong their conflicts arise. Just this matter is learned from three different biographies of different people, but, well organized.
As a conclusion it’s a good book to be studied if possible while you are trying to learn about history of America from 1600-1800. I learned how people change through time and they leave their good or bad in inheritance for their children and generations below. I learned how people are encouraged to do something when they are consistently prohibited from. It strengthened my belief that people are born free with equal rights. It strengthened my belief that people are equal wither they are black, white, from east, west, or etc. Every page of the book is definitely connected to my life. I was born and raised in a country with war. Invaded by USSR of the time when I was born and destroyed more by America and its ISAF member countries when I left. I see my self in every page of the book. I want to be a patriot politician when I read about Thomas Jefferson, defend my countries freedom when I read about Tecumseh: “sell a country. Why not sell the air, the clouds and the great sea, as well as the earth?”, religious scholar when I read about Charles grandson Finney, I want to represent my countries teams in major international leagues when I read about Louis sock Alexis, and on and on.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Mohammad (SAW)
Mohammad (saw) was born on Monday April 571 in Mecca. Arabs used to gave their new born babies to fosters. they wanted their new born babies to be far from town diseases and grow in a calm place. Mohammad (saw) was given to Halima (his foster) to be taken care of. after taking care of Mohammad and seeing his blessings for two years, Halima insisted to extend the amount of time and keep Mohammad (saw) for two or three more years. Mohammad (saw) was with Halima till the incident of Shaq-u-ssader. After that incident Mohammad (saw) was returned to his mother Amena. Amena toke Mohammad (saw) to a 500 km trip to his fathers shrine. On the way back Amena got sick and died in a place between Mecca and Madina called Abwa. Abdul Mutalib his grand father toke him back to Mecca and was taking care of Mohammad (saw) till he died while Mohammad (saw) was only 8 years old. after Abdul Mutalibs death Abu Talib, Mohammad (saw) uncle toke him and supported him all his life.Mohammad (saw) was granted prophecy when he was 40 years old. the first time angel of revelation came to Mohammad (saw) was when he was in "Ghar Hera".after instructing all the Muslims to the right path and completing his holly mission Mohammad (saw) left this world and joined the permanent life. people were all sad. their eyes were full of tears and their hearts were full of sorrows. some of them were not ready to accept that Mohammad (saw) is not among them no more. till Abubakr came to mosque and addressed Muslims: Those who worship Mohammad (saw), know that Mohammad (saw) is dead. those who worship Allah, know that Allah is always alive and will never die. He continued his speech by reading a verse from holly Quran: Mohammad (saw) is nothing more than a messenger like those messengers who were before him and died.so, if he dies or been killed, will you (all) return to your first state (ignorance state)? those who return, it never harms Allah (your return). and Allah will soon reward those who are thanks-full. Aal Imran:44.
Ibn Abas says: when Abubakr read this verse people noticed the importance of the verse and accepted that Mohammad saw is really not among them after this in this life. and they were repeating and repeating the verse.
Source: Al Rahiqul Makhtoom.
Ibn Abas says: when Abubakr read this verse people noticed the importance of the verse and accepted that Mohammad saw is really not among them after this in this life. and they were repeating and repeating the verse.
Source: Al Rahiqul Makhtoom.
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