Frederick Douglas the Debate About Term Paper

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In Chapter III, Douglass explains how some of the positive paternal thoughts have come about: Fear of retaliation. Slaves know that acting in any negative manner can possibly bring beatings or even death. Therefore, it is not surprising that "slaves, when inquired of as to their condition and the character of their masters, almost universally say they are contented, and that their masters are kind." Further, many swayed by this prejudice, actually begin to believe that their masters are better than others. Sadly, added Douglass, this often leads to slave against slave, where each thinks he is the better because he has the "better" and kinder master.

Douglass condemns those blacks who foolishly believe they are better because of their master's status. While there is mostly natural connection among slaves, he notes, the system leads to disagreement among slaves. Masters promote one slave to betray another: For example, a traitor even tricks Douglass and prevents his first escape attempt.

Nor, are slaves going to act out in any way that will call attention to themselves. This lends much credence to the above stated belief that no rebellion occurrs due to fear of retaliation and force. Mr. Gore argued: "...if one slave refused to be corrected, and escaped with his life, the other slaves would soon copy the example."

When Douglass went to Baltimore (Chapter VI), his mistress begins to teach him reading and writing. However, her husband will not agree to this. He says, it is in the best interests for a slave not to be educated. After all, a slave will only be frustrated because it is useless information! Even Douglass admits that he "envied my fellow slaves for their stupidity," for they do not believe themselves capable of freedom nor know nothing of being treated kindly.

Mr. Auld is indicative of many of the other masters in Baltimore, who treat their slaves much differently than those in the country. In this city, most slaves are better clothed and fed, since "Every city slave-holder is anxious to have it known of him, that he feeds his slaves well; and it is due to them to say, that most of them do give their slaves enough to eat." This provides an example of the first type of paternalism, where the maters are supposedly thinking of the "best interests" of their slaves.

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One cannot write about Douglass' autobiography without mention of his comments on religion. Those who most closely follow such Scripture as "He that knoweth his master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes" or the likes of Master Thomas who "was one of the many pious slaveholders who hold slaves for the very charitable purpose of taking care of them" (Chapter IX) believe that they are indeed doing something "in the best interests" of their slaves. The greatest fraud of positive paternalism notes Douglass are the religious holidays. "They do not give the slaves this time because they would not like to have their work during its continuance, but because they know it would be unsafe to deprive them of it" (Chapter 10).

Based on Douglass' book, it does not appear that there is much difference between the two forms of paternalism. Some people may see that one is more positive than the other -- that one type of paternalism is acting on behalf of the slaves or, as it is said, in their best interests. However, it does not seem that either of these forms of paternalism is right. They both see slaves as second-class citizens who cannot form their own opinions or live without the support of others. Why bother to debate which approach is better, when paternalism is not wrong, regardless of how it is defined?

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Berkley SunSite. Retrieved from website June 16, 2006. http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Literature/Douglass.....

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