Question

Read this excerpt from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave:

After the valuation, then came the division. I have no language to express the high excitement and deep anxiety which were felt among us poor slaves during this time. Our fate for life was now to be decided. We had no more voice in that decision than the brutes among whom we were ranked. A single word from the white men was enough — against all our wishes, prayers, and entreaties — to sunder forever the dearest friends, dearest kindred, and strongest ties known to human beings.

Which cruel realities regarding slavery does Douglass describe?

Slaves were sold to cruel masters and treated like animals.

Slaves were treated like property and separated from loved ones.

Slaves were sold to white people who also bought their families.

Slaves were treated cruelly but were not separated from loved ones.

Answer 1

It can be implied in the passage from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass that the cruel reality of slavery is described as "Slaves were treated like property and separated from loved ones." The author, Douglass is a known advocate of anti-slavery movements and women suffrage.

Answer 2

Slaves were treated like property and separated from loved ones.

We can understand this from the part of the excerpt that goes "... A single word from the white men was enough to sunder forever the dearest friends, dearest kindred and strongest ties known to human beings."