Six important events in the book so far:

1. Fredrick moves to Baltimore.  This is important because it is his first trip away from his plantation. Pg. 43
2. He begins to learn to read.  This is important because it opens his world to literature.  Pg. 51
3. His mistress beigins to be mean.  This is important because his mistress is starting to warp because of her power over him.  Pg. 52
4. He learns to write.  This is important because now not only could he read but he could communicate with others through his writting.  Pg. 57
5. Captain anthony dies.  Pg. 58
6. He goes to be valued.  Pg. 59

That may seem like an interesting title, but this was an even more interesting article.  It is about how, when human beings are given power, it corrupts them.  For example, Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf recently locked up all of Pakistan’s top judges and replaced them with his “yes men”.  He used this power to reinstate himself as president.

But what does all this have to do with Es and foreheads?  Well this article explains that people who are in power are less likely to see things from others peoples point of view.  So some scientist conducted an experiment.  You can do it to if you want.  It will only take about thirty seconds.  Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you to be ready.  Ready? Okay, lets go.

First, take a marker and write an E on your forehead.  Ask someone to read it.  If there is no one there you can just look in a mirror.  Now what does it look like, is it backwards? (note in a mirror, what would apear to be backwards to everyone else would be forwards, and vice versa.)  The study showed that people who feel more powerful would be more likely to write it so that it makes sense for them.  People who feel less powerful are more likley to write it so others can see it.

The point: people who are in places of power are more likely to see only their point of view.  Surprising?  I think so!

But all this has to do with something we are doing in class.

We are curently reading a book called Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas.  We are currently on chapter seven.  In this chapter he explains how his new mistress has turned sour.  At first, when he arrived at her house, she was a beutiful, nice woman, but as the months progressed, she became powerful and, you guessed it, started to see things only her way.

So, are you a backwards E, or a forwards E?  The world needs to know!

Frederick Douglass was one of the early leaders of the civil rights movement. He was an abolitionist and also believed in woman’s suffrage. Born a slave, he taught himself to read and write and he escaped at age 20. He published magazines and periodicals. He worked with many noted abolitionists and acted as an adviser to President Grant. He died in 1895 after attending a woman’s suffrage movement meeting.