Question

Former slaves such as Frederick Douglass used their own personal experiences to strengthen their argument for an end to slavery. Douglass used his talents as a speaker and as a writer to explain the plight of slaves to people who might be swayed by an abolitionist message. In what ways could a former slave make a more persuasive messenger for abolition than a person who was never enslaved?

Answer 1

A former slave could make a more persuasive messenger for abolition than a person who was never enslaved by appealing to the audience's emotions, to a former slave it would be easier to awake the empaty of the audience because he will transmit the accurate feelings that would appeal to the audience's fears, desires, etc.

Another way to make a former slave a more persuasive messenger for abolition is to present the evidence that demonstrates he was a slave and to use his anecdotes to convey a touching message.

Answer 2

The personal experience with slavery would allow for true stories of the experience rather than philosophical or moral arguments.

People would be more likely to believe a person’s first-hand accounts of abuses.

A former slave taking up such a cause could prove to people that free slaves could be capable citizens.