Learning to Read and Write

In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas the reader learns the suffering that African Americans had to endure everyday of their lives. At the time of slavery, it was illegal for slaves to receive any type of education and anyone teaching them would suffer the consequences. Those against the idea thought that slaves who could read or write would revolt.  Fortunately, Frederick Douglas was one of the lucky ones who was able to find his way to knowledge and surprisingly those teaching him were white. In this reference you will understand why many whites, as well as slaveholders, taught slaves.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/education/history2.html