Growing up as a   boy, Douglass never knew personal information such as: his birthday, how old   he was, and who was his father.❶ His owner at the time did not feel the   need to tell Douglass this information for fear of having Douglass talking to   other slaves and creating an alliance of knowledge. Douglass always wanted   to know how to read and write.❸ It’s as though his wish was granted. Douglass   moved to a different plantation owned by Mr. Auld.❺ There, Mrs. Auld taught   him how to read and write. He also deceived the white boys in Baltimore to   teach him as well.❼ He immediately became a threat to the white community   but a symbol of faith to the black. He became one of the most intelligent slaves   with the help from Mrs. Auld and the Baltimore white boys who created his   basis. ❾

The Narrative Life of Fredrick Douglas by Himself

When a man starts out with nothing❷

First in the heart is the dream❹

When a man starts to build a world❻

The eyes see the materials for building, see the   difficulties, too, and the obstacles.❽

Out of labor-white hands and black hands-came the   dream, the strength, the will❿

Freedom’s Plow by Langston Hughes

Growing up as a boy, Douglass never knew personal information such as:

 his birthday, how old he was, and who was his father.

When a man starts out with nothing

Douglass always wanted to know how to read and write.

First in the heart is the dream

Douglass moved to a different plantation owned by Mr. Auld.

When a man starts to build a world

He also deceived the white boys in Baltimore to teach him as well.

The eyes see the materials for building, see the difficulties, too, and the obstacles.

He became one of the most intelligent slaves with the help from Mrs. Auld

and the Baltimore white boys who created his basis.

Out of labor-white hands and black hands-came the dream, the strength, the will