FAQ About Frederick Douglass
How did Frederick Douglass learn to read and write?
Frederick Douglass learned to read and write largely through his own initiative and determination. While enslaved as a child in Baltimore, he received some informal instruction from his owner's wife, Sophia Auld. However, when this was discouraged, Douglass took it upon himself to learn by observing the writings of others, practicing reading and writing in secret, and networking with literate individuals.
