Scan barcode
beigemoose's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Both brilliant and exceptional “story” tellers, I am awestruck by Douglass’a eloquent temper, and cried to Jacobs’s haunting maternal narratives. Dearest authors, I sincerely thank you, and I am blessed by Providence to have read your gift of truth, to learn through your kind eyes, and in turn, have opportunity to be kinder.
qgg's review against another edition
5.0
The book itself was excellent. I had read a children’s biography of Frederick Douglass with my son, but I wanted to learn more of his story. This autobiography covers Douglass' childhood through the time he first spoke at a meeting of white abolitionists.
He wrote most forcefully on the evil character of every enslaver he met; how the the practice of slavery turned the hearts of once good people; the everyday brutality of denying warmth, food, sleep and connection to family; and the dangers of sharing details that other enslaved people might be caught. He also wrote in detail about the frequent whippings, beatings and the overwhelming threat of being whipped or beaten at any moment. Douglass' fortitude to learn to read and write, encourage his fellow people to learn to read, survive the cruelest enslavers and escape despite insurmountable barriers will never cease to amaze me.
I must say that I did not enjoy the reading by Jim Hodges. I strongly feel that Black voice actors should be chosen for reading the story of the Black experience in America. White people should not be profiting off of Frederick Douglass' story.
He wrote most forcefully on the evil character of every enslaver he met; how the the practice of slavery turned the hearts of once good people; the everyday brutality of denying warmth, food, sleep and connection to family; and the dangers of sharing details that other enslaved people might be caught. He also wrote in detail about the frequent whippings, beatings and the overwhelming threat of being whipped or beaten at any moment. Douglass' fortitude to learn to read and write, encourage his fellow people to learn to read, survive the cruelest enslavers and escape despite insurmountable barriers will never cease to amaze me.
I must say that I did not enjoy the reading by Jim Hodges. I strongly feel that Black voice actors should be chosen for reading the story of the Black experience in America. White people should not be profiting off of Frederick Douglass' story.
More...