Keys to Freedom: Lessons from Frederick Douglass

By Leticia A. Fitts -Guest Columnist- | Last updated: Jul 27, 2015 - 9:00:30 PM

Freedom is like a regal eagle soaring through clear blue skies. It is the roaring waves of the vast ocean cascading gracefully to shore. Freedom is like the rising sun with its magnificent rays that brilliantly illuminate the earth. Its existence is both tangible and intangible.

The concept of freedom can be defined as the power and right to freely think, exist, act, and speak as one chooses without external restraints and oppression.

The United States recently celebrated its independence and freedom. It was also around this time of the year that one of our most poignant and powerful freedom fighters and statesmen, Frederick Douglass, delivered his speech, “What to the Slave is Fourth of July?” which presented the dichotomy of freedom that exists in America. Reflecting on his speech generates many questions. Does this dichotomy still exist? Are the masses of our people truly free? Are we still enslaved without the ability to freely think, exist, act, and choose without restraint and domination?

This question can best be answered if we examine the enslavement and conditioning process as presented by Willie Lynch, a British plantation owner in the West Indies. According to Lynch, the effects from conditioning a slave would last from hundreds to thousands of years. As outlined in his plan, the essential components of this process include: (1) Studying and understanding human nature; (2) Separating and dividing slaves by differences, such as age, sex, gender, status, intelligence, strength, etc.; (3) Implementing the powerful weapons of fear, distrust, and jealousy to establish and maintain division; (4) Creating an atmosphere of distrust or hate for anything Black while loving everything White; (5) Destroying the natural human and parental instincts, as well as the ability to remain independent; (6) Implementing seasoning which forces disconnection from one’s own culture and connection with a foreign one; (8) Breaking the spirit of the man by degrading him in front of his woman and children; (9) Most importantly, breaking the spirit of the mother. A mother with a broken spirit will break the spirit of her children and willingly deliver them as slaves to her oppressors. Lynch stated that, “Black slaves after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self-fueling and self-generating … .”

After contemplating on the “Willie Lynch Letter,” it becomes painfully clear that we may be free on paper according to the Emancipation Proclamation, but in reality the masses of our people aren’t really free. Yet, all is not lost, we can break free and reverse the detrimental psychological and sociological “seasoning” process of slavery by first consciously recognizing the prevalence of its existence historically and in our present behaviors. Then, we must study and pass onto our young the lessons taught from the lives of our ancestors such as Frederick Douglass.

Being born into slavery, Douglass discovered and implemented the keys to freedom to counteract the detrimental realities and ramifications of slavery.

The first key to freedom that Douglass teaches us is the importance of education. Word education is derived from the Latin word “educatio,” which means to build or bring up. Douglass stated, “Once you learn to read, you will forever be free.” Douglass understood that when you build up or bring yourself up internally, you will no longer be content or able to be enslaved externally. An oppressor can only maintain control if he keeps the oppressed illiterate and dependent.

As a result, our ancestors sought out knowledge as one of the most powerful keys to freedom. They pursued it while understanding that if caught they would risk serious physical punishment or even death. An independent and educated thinker will continuously pursue the path of freedom regardless of possible consequences.

The second key to freedom is being true to yourself. “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of the ridicule of others, rather than to incur my own abhorrence,” said Douglass.

When a person surrenders his thoughts and actions or allows them to be dictated by others, he is surrendering his power and freedom. Once they have surrendered their power and freedom, their internal fire is extinguished which leads to a charred and barren internal field.

What is not present internally, cannot be exhibited externally.

The third key to freedom is understanding that nothing in life worth having will come easy. Douglass observed, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

If you really want to obtain anything in life, you must continuously persevere, especially during the hardest moments. This is evidenced by the numerous occasions that Douglass sought to gain his freedom. After several attempts, struggles, and immense pain, his freedom was finally realized.

The final key to freedom is demonstrating unity and love for the whole community. “No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened to his own neck,” Douglass noted. Even though this quote is directly related to our oppressors, some of us have taken on the negative behaviors of our oppressors by trying to hold each other back. It is imperative to teach our young people that they can’t expect to get far in life if they attempt to hold or bring one another down. Any behavior derived from negative energy will prevent us from moving to our greatest potential.

In conclusion, we must heed Douglass’ strong warning that, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

It is essential that we learn from and teach our young people about the struggles, achievements, and the lessons passed on from our ancestors, such as Douglass.

As an African proverb reminds us, “If we stand tall, it is because we stand on the shoulders of many ancestors.”

Passing on these keys to freedom to our future generations will not only enable them to discover true freedom and “stand tall,” but will also equip them to ascend beyond levels of achievement previously accomplished.

Leticia A. Fitts, a Baltimore native and graduate of Morgan State University and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, is a former educator and creator of Black-centered literacy curriculums. She is the author of “The Black Legacy Learning Series: Telling Our Tale.”

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