The mind is where slavery starts and where freedom begins. In the end you are the ultimate arbiter of what your life should be. Tonight we look at someone who broke free from constraints we would consider insurmountable.
An Amazing Admission
Self Doubt Can Become Tyranny of The Mind
In Severed Conscience we described what techniques the British East India Company promoted in order to “make a slave”.
It begins with trauma – take the strongest and make an example, then threaten the mothers. They will raise their children to conform.
We described this process in Severed Conscience – History of Manipulation
Frederick Douglas Is An Example of How to Combat Tyranny of the Mind
Frederick Douglas, born a slave, beaten and take from his mother at the age of one year, taught himself how to read. This should not have been possible, but it shows a spirit that we celebrate with our honor and awe of the founding fathers. This is an American story as well we should promote. It should tell us how much we already possess that is in our favor.
The plan which I adopted, and the one by which I was most successful, was that of making friends of all the little white boys whom I met in the street. As many of these as I could, I converted into teachers. With their kindly aid, obtained at different times and in different places, I finally succeeded in learning to read. When I was sent of errands, I always took my book with me, and by going one part of my errand quickly, I found time to get a lesson before my return. I used also to carry bread with me, enough of which was always in the house, and to which I was always welcome; for I was much better off in this regard than many of the poor white children in our neighborhood. This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give me that more valuable bread of knowledge. I am strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, as a testimonial of the gratitude and affection I bear them; but prudence forbids: not that it would injure me, but it might embarrass them; for it is almost an unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this Christian country. It is enough to say of the dear little fellows, that they lived on Philpot Street, very near Durgin and Bailey’s ship-yard. I used to talk this matter of slavery over with them. I would sometimes say to them, I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. “You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?” These words used to trouble them; they would express for me the liveliest sympathy, and console me with the hope that something would occur by which I might be free.