Maria Gianna Gasparovich

English 101 - 104

Professor Harper
22 February 2015
The Power of Knowledge
Although I haven't lived on the Eastern Shore very long, I have had the chance to learn
plenty about its gruesome role in the southern slave
trade while attending high school in Queen Anne's
County. Yet even with all of the chances given to me, I
had never given the topic much thought or tried to put
myself in a slaves shoes. By traveling out in the bitter
weather and closely reading Douglass' narrative I
gained an entirely new perspective of life on the eastern
shore of Maryland other than my own. Not only did
Douglass persevere he did so through the power of
knowledge; a feat that I greatly admire. I left Easton
that day with knowledge about Douglass early life ,that I had previously not known about, as
well as an inspiring message about self empowerment during trying times that I now can reflect
into my own life.
As nasty as the roads were, I made my way from Centreville to Easton in the comfort of
my boyfriends car, a luxury transportation I knew people didnt have during Douglass time.
Douglass didnt have nice, paved roads to navigate him through the seemingly endless
countryside as I did , and his only form of transportation at my age was his own two feet. It

would take at least a day to travel in those conditions given one was also properly dressed to
keep warm and avoid hypothermia. Once entering Easton the streets were cold and not a single
soul could be spotted walking the sidewalks. But as I walked to the front of the courthouse I felt
the statues overwhelming presence and chuckled when I noticed a variety of footprints in front
of the statue from classmates who had come previously to complete their own academic mission.
Awkwardly, I sifted through the printed pages and began reading in front of the deserted
courthouse in hopes to once and for all put myself in
Douglass shoes.
With great force I willed myself in Douglass past as I
attempted to feel the emotions as he once felt. The most
impactful of his words being from chapter VII. when he
struggled to live with the knowledge of his own
enslavement. Powerfully he put, In moments of agony, I
envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity. I have often
wished myself a beast It was this everlasting condition
that tormented me. This passage alone made my heart weak
for Douglass. In a time where reading was a privilage and a rare achievment among his people he
could not celebrate. Instead he had to face the reality of his condition and wept knowing he, like
many, were the result of generations blood, tears, and agony. With this perspective I admired
Douglass even more for his strength and ability to advocate for the slaves that couldnt defend
themselves.
Gaining the ability to read was Douglass first step in becoming a free man. Reading
opened up new opportunities for Douglass to think for himself and in a sense this achievement

made him free. That power alone later helped to finally overthrow slavery in the South. I can no
longer think of the eastern shore as being a place with no history. By stepping into Douglass
shoes Ive come to realize that it is a place where knowledge was fought for the few, and with
that knowledge came great power and changes in American culture. Its the birthplace of a man
who changed his unfortunate condition to
help and advocate for those who couldnt.
After taking the time to reflect and closely
read his work, Ive come to understand why
Douglass is so significant in history and
idolized by so many. In his short life time he
paved the road for civil rights and even
decades after his death his message that
knowledge is power still resonates with
the youth of today.