Final answer:
Frederick Douglass's realizations included the importance of literacy for freedom, the negative impact of slavery on all involved, and the necessity for active resistance and advocacy for change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Frederick Douglass had several significant realizations throughout his life which he described in his autobiography, 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave'. These realizations had profound impacts on his journey from a slave to an influential abolitionist and writer.
Fredrick Douglass realized the power of literacy as a critical tool for gaining freedom. A pivotal quote demonstrates this realization: "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." Understanding this, Douglass pursued learning to read with determination, and it eventually became a foundation for his escape from slavery.
Douglass acknowledged the corrosive effect slavery had on both the enslaved and the enslavers. He observed, "The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers." This insight led him to understand the moral decay that slavery inflicted upon society, prompting his activism against the institution.
Through his fight for not just his own but for others' freedom as well, Douglass noted, "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." This realization of the need for active resistance inspired Douglass to become a prominent orator and leader in the abolitionist movement.