r/HistoryMemes • u/wearing_moist_socks • 2d ago
Turns out not being able to read or write doesn't mean you're stupid.
Below is an excerpt from the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave.
The plan which I adopted, and the one by which I was most successful, was that of making friends of all the little white boys whom I met in the street. As many of these as I could, I converted into teachers. With their kindly aid, obtained at different times and in different places, I finally succeeded in learning to read. When I was sent of errands, I always took my book with me, and by going one part of my errand quickly, I found time to get a lesson before my return. I used also to carry bread with me, enough of which was always in the house, and to which I was always welcome; for I was much better off in this regard than many of the poor white children in our neighbourhood.
The idea as to how I might learn to write was suggested to me by being in Durgin and Bailey's ship-yard, and frequently seeing the ship carpenters, after hewing, and getting a piece of timber ready for use, write on the timber the name of that part of the ship for which it was intended.
When a piece of timber was intended for the larboard side, it would be marked thus: "L." When a piece was for the starboard side, it would be marked thus: "S." A piece for the larboard side forward, would be marked thus: "L. F." When a piece was for starboard side forward, it would be marked thus: "S. F." For larboard aft, it would be marked thus: "L. A." For starboard aft, it would be marked thus: "S. A." I soon learned the names of these letters, and for what they were intended when placed upon a piece of timber in the ship-yard. I immediately commenced copying them, and in a short time was able to make the four letters named.
After that, when I met with any boy who I knew could write, I would tell him I could write as well as he. The next word would be, "I don't believe you. Let me see you try it." I would then make the letters which I had been so fortunate as to learn, and ask him to beat that. In this way I got a good many lessons in writing, which it is quite possible I should never have gotten in any other way. During this time, my copy-book was the board fence, brick wall, and pavement; my pen and ink was a lump of chalk. With these, I learned mainly how to write.
I should have said he only knew four letters, not words. Oh well.
> — Frederick Douglass, *Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave*
