Analysis of acts of resistance: 12 Years a Slave and the Life of Frederick Douglass
Throughout history, there have been numerous acts of resistance from slaves who demanded a better life for themselves and their fellow brethren. Some of these incidents were well documented, such as in “The Underground Railroad,” and some tales of heroic resistance were never spoken of, unfortunately, dying with the colored men and women who fought so diligently to abolish slavery (Staff). But two of the most heart wrenching tales to ever be told are those of Solomon Northup in his memoir, “12 Years a Slave,” and Frederick Douglass in “The Narrative of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave.” Both these men endured the horrors of slavery from two different points of view, and if you read closely, some obvious, and some not so obvious details of resistance are riddled throughout the narratives of each man.
Solomon Northup, unlike Frederick Douglass, was born a freeman and enjoyed his freedom for 30 years with his wife, and children. It is not until two men posing as circus employees, offer Mr. Northup a job under false pretenses that his freedom is stolen away from him. He wakes up in Washington, D.C. shackled with chains in a slave pen, and his free papers missing (Northup). This is the very first time in the book that Solomon shows resistance when he is awakened by James H. Burch, a well-known slave dealer.
Solomon demands to know the reason for his imprisonment, in which Burch replies, “You are my slave, and I bought you.” Upon hearing these words, Solomon, having never been a slave, and showing a great deal of pride, asserts himself most properly: “I asserted, aloud and boldly, that I was a freeman — a resident of Saratoga, where I had a wife and children, who were also free, and that my name was Northup. I complained bitterly of the strange treatment I had received, and threatened, upon my liberation, to have satisfaction for the wrong” (Northup, 12 Years a Slave).
The word “threatened” tells the reader that Solomon is a man who knows his rights as a freeman, and for him to threaten a white man during those times, shows a great level of bravery and resistance. Although Solomon’s words fell upon deaf ears, this took great strength in defiance in which a colored man could be hung for much lesser crimes. Many slaves were looked at as inferior to whites, and thus not allowed to own literature of any kind or have knowledge of words and meanings. Solomon, having been a free man, could not only read, but was an accomplished musician. Solomon used his intelligence to help his fellow brothers read and understand the words of The Bible. This was looked at as an act of defiance, because a slave who knew how to read and write was considered a threat to the slave establishment. Fears that slaves would falsify their own freedom papers or outsmart their master’s were always in the back of owner’s minds.
“One of the main reasons why masters did not want their slaves to become Christians involved the Bible. They feared that slaves might interpret the teachings of Jesus Christ as being in favor of equality. This was one of the main reasons why most plantation owners did what they could to stop their slaves from learning to read” (Simkin). In my opinion, therefore, many slaves spoke of Christianity and used it as a way to falter the doings of the slave owners. To each slave owner who preached of the teachings of the bible as a tool of obedience, another can also say it contradicts everything that the master’s preached about.
One of the more memorable acts of defiance by Solomon Northup was when he was entitled with the job of slave driver, which was his duty to whip the slaves if one were lacking in their daily obligations. It was genius how Solomon perfected the whip and in his own words “with marvelous dexterity and precision, throwing the lash within a hair’s breadth of the back, however, without touching skin.” The sheer complexity it must have taken to master such an instrument used for brutality against the slaves, and to not only outsmart the master’s, but to lessen the destruction of his fellow peers. Surely, if Solomon was caught not punishing those that was ordered to be punished; Solomon would have probably received unspeakable actions of violence himself.
Another instance of defiance comes at a time when Master Epps is looking for Patsey, undoubtedly, to do some sort of harm to the poor girl. Solomon tells the girl to get back to work and must answer to his master Epps, who is belligerent, and drunk. Solomon, once again shows the spirit of a free man as he dances around the plantation in a game of cat and mouse with master, Epps. This scene in which Mr. Epps furiously chases Solomon with a knife could have easily ended in tragedy for the slave, but Solomon shows perseverance, and outwits the drunken Epps.
Finally, in one of 12 Years a Slave’s most brutal scenes; Solomon is forced by master Epps to whip Patsey for disobedience. He complies with the demand, out of fear of being beaten himself, but does so more gently than that of the slave owner, Epps. When Solomon finally reaches his breaking point and refuses to whip Patsey anymore; Solomon throws down the whip and refuses to comply to any more violence. Although some might argue that Solomon should have never complied to master Epp’s demands to whip Patsey at all. One can only imagine the fear that overwhelmed Solomon’s thoughts about disobeying a man such as Epp’s. After all, master Epp’s would have beaten Patsey regardless of Solomon’s compliance or not.
Solomon eventually got word to his family in New York that he was being held as a slave, and eventually he was set free. He trusted a man that could have easily turned him in but did the right thing and sent his letters to his people who eventually secured his freedom. Solomon Northup was a man who will be remembered for writing about the hardships he endured over those twelve years as a slave, and the risk of being persecuted by publishing his stories which spoke out against the horrors of slavery. Solomon Northup continued his rebelliousness by speaking out against slavery, and some believe he had participated in helping other slaves escape in the Underground Railroad (Solomon Northup Biography).
Whereas Solomon Northup was born a free man; Frederick Douglass was born into slavery. His defiance and resistance are well documented and continue to amaze scholars’ and students to this day. The sheer horrific detail in which Frederick Douglass retells the story of his aunt’s savage beating, obviously, had a lasting impact on him as a youth, that in my opinion, accounted for as he states, “his restless spirit.” It wasn’t until young Frederick Douglass learned how to spell from his slave masters wife, Mrs. Auld, that he understood the power of knowledge. This is when Frederick Douglass really starts his revolt, because of what Mr. Auld says when he finds out that his wife has been teaching the young slave to read. Mr. Auld states, “A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master — -to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world. If you teach that nigger how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave” (Douglas).
The words that master Auld spoke about the power of knowledge stirred an emotion of excitement in young Frederick. In Frederick Douglass’ own words: “These words sank deep into my heart, stirred up sentiments within that lay slumbering, and called into existence an entirely new train of thought. It was a new and special revelation, explaining dark and mysterious things, with which my youthful understanding had struggled, but struggled in vain. I now understood what had been to me a most perplexing difficulty — to wit, the white man’s power to enslave the black man. It was a grand achievement, and I prized it highly. From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom” (Douglass). This was a turning point in Frederick Douglass’ life, and would start a chain reaction of resistance from the young slave. His time was spent gathering knowledge wherever he could find it. He would offer the poor white school children of the neighborhood morsels of food, and in return, would receive knowledge. He also tricked some of the children into teaching him words, and how to write which I find to be very genius. Frederick risked a great deal if he was found to be reading or writing, but knowledge was worth the risk to him, because he knew that it would lead to his freedom.
The thirst for knowledge was just the beginning for Frederick Douglass as he endured many more years of abuse. While out collecting wood one cold January morning, Frederick had an accident with a cart and some oxen. He was ordered to strip by slave breaker, Mr. Covey in the frigid woods, but Frederick ignored his demands. The fright of what was to become of him for ignoring Mr. Covey’s demands must have been running rampant in his mind. This defiant act by Frederick was a strong statement to Mr. Covey, that although you may beat me, you will never break me. I think if I were in Frederick’s shoes I would have caved and taken the whip, praying that it would be over with quickly. But Frederick Douglas stood there, refusing to remove his articles of clothing, and expecting to be whipped, probably harder than he ever had before, but still, defiant.
Although, Mr. Covey eventually broke Frederick’s spirit, it wasn’t long before Mr. Douglass fought back. You can only corner a dog for so long before it bites back, and that is exactly what Frederick Douglass did. He fought back against Mr. Covey at a time when doing so might have cost him his life, but he did what he felt he needed to do. Mr. Covey never laid his hands on Frederick again, and thus was the beginning of a resistance that would eventually lead to his freedom.
Frederick Douglas has so many stories in his lifespan that it would require pages upon pages to describe in detail everything he did for his people. He escaped from slavery, published a book, joined the abolitionist movement, and continued to fight for equal rights while helping to enlist his two sons to fight in the Civil War. He was a role model for his people and will be forever known as a pioneer.
Works Cited
Douglas, Fredrick. “Narrative Of The Life Of Fredrick Douglas.” Douglas, Fredrick. The Norton Anthology Of African American Literature. 3. Vol. 1. NEW YORK * LONDON: W.W. Norton, 2014. 2 vols. 351. Book. 7 Feb 2018.
Douglass, Frederick. THE NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS: AN AMERICAN SLAVE (Webster’s German Thesaurus Edition ). San Diego: ICON CLASSICS, 2005. E-book. 6 Feb 2018.
Northup, Solomon. “12 Years a Slave.” Northup, Solomon. Norton Anthology Of African American Literature. 3rd. Vol. 1. New York/ London: W.W. Norton, 2013. 2 vols. 188. Book Anthology. 3 Feb 2018.
— . 12 Years a Slave. 1853. book. 5 Feb 2018.
Simkin, John. Religion and Slavery. August 2014. Web. 6 Feb 2018.
“Solomon Northup Biography.” 2 March 2016. The Biography.com website. WEB. 17 Feb 2018.
Staff, History.com. “Underground Railroad.” 2009. History.Com. WEB. 4 Feb 2018.
