Page 19 - Integrity Seminars - Special Report

their own slaves. They not only struggled with our Douglass's capacity to be angry and assertive
gigantic armies, and with the skill of our veteran without being hateful. Here are three examples:
generals, but they fought against the moral sense
Student #1 "Douglass wanted to put aside
of the nineteenth century. They fought against
negativity and say that “All great qualities
their own better selves—they fought against the
are never found in any one man or in any
good in their own souls. They were weakened
one race. The whole of humanity, like the
thereby; their weakness was our strength, hence
whole of everything else, is ever greater than
our success.
a part.”

Slaveholders, from Douglass’s perspective, are Student #2 "One of his qualities that
sinners engaging in evil, but are not uniquely intrigues me most is not to reciprocate hate,
evil based on some inherent characteristic of but to educate."
"whiteness." Basically, Douglass hates the sin, but
loves "the better self" within every sinner. A Student #3 "Douglass comes across as
moving example is Douglass's 1848 letter to his someone who is both open-minded and
former slaveholder, Thomas Auld. This passionate. He discusses problems as well as
document--one of the most compelling and solutions and compares the pros and cons
unrelenting criticisms of slavery before presenting his opinion, which makes
imaginable--ends with a remarkable statement: his speeches stronger and more persuasive."

I intend to make use of you as a weapon with
which to assail the system of slavery—as a means We can't transport Frederick Douglass to our
of concentrating public attention on the system, own time, but neither should we ignore that fact
and deepening their horror of trafficking in the that he shares universalist religious and
souls and bodies of men. I shall make use of you as philosophical perspectives that help explain the
transformative power of the civil rights
a means of exposing the character of the American
movement. Barack Obama understood that
church and clergy—and as a means of bringing
reality and borrowed many of Douglass’s
this guilty nation with yourself to repentance. In
inspirational themes--especially those in "The
doing this I entertain no malice towards you
Composite Nation." Contemporary academic
personally. There is no roof under which you would
theory that sidelines Douglass’s religiosity, or
be more safe than mine, and there is nothing in my
diminishes his repeatedly stated admiration for
house which you might need for your comfort,
principles in the Declaration of Independence
which I would not readily grant. Indeed, I should
and the Preamble to the Constitution, would
esteem it a privilege, to set you an example as to
deprive the current generation of students with
how mankind ought to treat each other. I am your
two of the most proven tools for social change
fellow man, but not your slave, Frederick in American history.
Douglass.

Most students will acquire some basic
knowledge of foundational documents in
The Academic Integrity Seminar frequently uses
this assignment. Response has been positive (i.e. American history. They can judge for
themselves how those documents may advance
students identify truth-seeking and truth-telling
or constrain social justice.
as core qualities in Douglass's life). Students
also describe

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