"Prison" Break

Chapters 10 and 11 proved that the most you risk the most profit you will obtain as an outcome. Through the reading we see Frederick in a constant doubtfulness over wether he should escape or not. I just couldn't help bringing up Prison Break while I was reading. Constant flashbacks rushed through my head. They converged with the visualization I was making while reading, and I just saw Frederick's position as Michael Scofield in the series. Both had always had the constant idea of escaping and in both stories there were failed attempts in the doing. There was one occasion  in which Michael was in a prison In Panama and had to escape but while doing so his plan didn't work out accordingly and was almost shot in his attempt. This was similar with Frederick as he got caught along with his friends not trying to escape but planing to do so. Getting back to the more risk the more reward idea, Frederick Douglass was making a shot in the dark in his decision to escape "Our knowledge of the north did not extend farther than New York; and to go there, and be forever harassed with the frightful liability of being returned to slavery- with the certainty  of being treated tenfold worse than before- the thought was truly a horrible one. (p.87)" At the moment liberty might be the main solution and after that everything else would be easy, but I believe that this is not as easy. Although obviously escaping is the primary goal I believe that you have to think even farther than this and question yourself, What is next? This is the hard part because in slavery you have everything granted maybe not the best commodities but you are ensured a place to stay and a meal for the most part. But "out in the wild" you have to provide for yourself plus as being black you already start from the bottom.

" Let him place himself in my situation-without home or friends-without money or credit-wanting shelter , and no one to give it-wanting bread, and no money to buy it. (p.106)" This quote makes me think that if this is a reason for slaves not to escape or if they even knew the life that proceeded escaping. The main thing to understand is that you step out of a society were your role and everything you have is determined by your master. Even though they don't give their slaves the best life quality they do provide them with the essentials basically. But when the slaves step out from this system they enter a completely different world in which they now have to provide for themselves nobody will give them anything. So you essentially step from slavery into extreme poverty and truthfully I don't know which is worse as capitalism is a harsh environment were there is always a bottom class. Here I want to recall the article we read in class written by George Fitzhugh in which he compares slavery with capitalism. He says that white free laborers are practically slaves but slaves which you don't have to provide for. From this my question arises is it better to be a slave or a black free laborer (be careful the term Free doesn't infer economically sustainable or good quality of life) You might think the question is obvious and that its better to be a black free laborer as at-least you retain your Human Rights, but I suggest a deeper thinking on it.

Frederick was actually very lucky in finding someone like Mr. David Ruggles "Thank haven, I remained but in a short time in this distressed situation. (p.106)"From this we can see its not easy to find an opportunity on your own. This is why I believe Frederick left a trail of bread crumbs in which he gave full names but didn't give the major details to avoid ruining his fellow slave mates the opportunity of escaping. I Think he found so troublesome the period in which he lived in extreme poverty that he wanted to give the future escapees a guide on what to do so that they could at-least attempt to avoid what he lived. So alas we saw that Frederick's risk did give him a major reward. It gave him a wife, a job, liberty and the security of having a voice and never having to look behind your back for any threat. "I was now my own master. (p.111)"