The most emotion-inducing reading this week was the reading about Nat Turner. The account of the uprising was honestly rather difficult to read, mainly because of the unfeeling way the violence was described. Nat Turner clearly felt very strongly about his need to make a change, but the way he and his followers went about it is shocking. The chapter gave an account of the attack on a family, including an infant, and it was heart wrenching to read the cold detachment with which such horrible actions were described (Sernett 94).

In sharp contrast, Frederick Douglass’s chapter was filled with incredibly heartfelt words. He describes eloquently and passionately what the difference is between true Christianity and the religion of the slaveholders. He describes what he calls “horrible inconsistencies”, as the people in power around him display one thing when practicing religion, and an entirely different persona the rest of the time (Sernett 106). Douglass speaks of this two-sided existence as “the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels” (Sernett 106). It is incredible to read how fervently Douglass speaks of this difference between true religion, which he speaks of with devotion, and the hypocritical actions of the people around him.

The difference between these two accounts makes each even more unique. The chapter about Nat Turner is very stark, with little emotion save for the devotion felt throughout the entire account. The chapter about Frederick Douglass is quite emotional, and his sincere words make his point even more memorable.