Frederick Douglass is one of those Americans who overcame the most depraved beginnings to achieve a status unequaled by any other member of of those born into slavery. His simple story, told long after his beginnings shed light on that most American of social problems that arrived long before the country gained its independence. Douglass was born around 1812 or1813, son of another slave. His early years were spent waiting until he was of useful worker age, around 10 years old. During these years he was cared for by those women too old to work in the fields. At around 7 years old, he was sent to Baltimore, Maryland, where he began to see directly how the "other" half lived.
Here he was exposed to white people who treated him differently that the plantation owner and his staff overseer. In time, he learned to read, and then, by grit and determination, learned to write. Despite his advancement in learning, he still had to contend with his status as a slave: the property of another human being. As he aged, he became more aware of the role he had been assigned at birth and decided he would no longer live as a slave; and he became focused on freedom and the desire to escape became overwhelming. After learning the shipwright's trade of calking ships, he had a marketable skill, and soon was able to work as he could. But the owner no longer wanted this level of independence. The contest boiled over, but Frederick would not be swayed from his goal of escape to freedom. Following a known route, he made his way to New York City, located in a "free" state. Now his life could begin again. He married, and started to become the educated advocate of his enslaved brethren in the South.
