Who Dares to Compare Essay Example

books. Newspapers, recipes…” Seeing this could make a person wonder what the real purpose of reading is.

Rodriguez goes on to say, “… at home I would hear my mother wondering, (What do you see in your books? ” Now in Douglass’ case his mistress began teaching but things changed very quickly. His mistress was instructed by her husband not to teach the slaves this is proven by Douglass stating, “incompliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. ” Even though the support system wasn’t there that didn’t deter either of these men from pursuing an education.

The fire was lit as some would say and could be put out; for the plan has been set and the learning process began. Douglass states, “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 as I could I converted into teachers. ” In this day and time one could say, “Wow” for the simple fact, who would’ve thought of a young slave coming up with a smart but devious plan as he did. Rodriguez too had teachers but not in the same aspect as Douglass.

From the first day of school Rodriguez paid attention the signs hanging in the classrooms, which sparked an interest to him. One of the signs read, “READ TO LEARN,” which caused him to wonder, “What was the connection between reading and learning? ” as Rodriguez states. Rodriguez didn’t like the isolated reading

that was required in his courses. Rodriguez goes on to say, “To console myself for the loneliness I’d feel when I read, I tried reading in a very soft voice. ” Now is remedial reading a good or bad thing?

It seems that Rodriguez devised his plan in remedial class which is not bad at all. After listening but not really listening to the nun in class if you can fathom that; Rodriguez states, “I was thinking then another consequence of literacy, one I was too shy to admit but nonetheless trusted. Books were going to make me [educated]. ” Both Douglass and Rodriguez proceeded to grasp the reading concept and instantly moved passed the elementary of it all. Over the years a young man continues to learn by constantly trying to find ways to better himself.

Douglass wrote that he was about twelve years old when he came across a book entitled “The Columbian Orator” which was an inspiring book for him. Now one over time may come across a book or series of books that stand out. Rodriguez read many of books throughout his life which he states, “My habit of reading made me a confident speaker and writer of English. ” Reading makes the mind wonder at times and sometimes causes deep concentration. It is apparent that both these men took a great pride in learning to read and write.

Again Douglass was smart about learning to write by using the same plan he used in learning to read. Finally Douglass states, “Thus, after a long, tedious effort for years, I finally succeeded in learning how to read and write. ” There is only so

much that could quoted from these two but history or shall I say His-Story tells the tale. In conclusion, Frederick Douglass and Richard Rodriguez where born in two different times but there is a struggle within one’s self to learn or not. I dare ask again. ”Who dares to compare? Looking back at how they both grew up, how they established there method madness and how all of these things molded their lives accordingly. I want to leave you with this; just because you are educated doesn’t mean you didn’t have to struggle to get the education you have. Douglass, Frederick. “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. ” Blackboard Wayland Baptist University. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. Rodriguez, Richard. “The Lonely, Good Company of Books. ” Blackboard Wayland Baptist University. Web. 6 Apr. 2011