Theme of Slavery, Color-Prejudice and Racial Discrimination in ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave’

The present research article is a product of qualitative research conducted by the researcher. It uses discourse analysis and descriptive research methods for the research. It establishes that Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave is monumental specimen of life narratives penned by Frederick Douglass, the father of Afro-American autobiographical writing and a black intellectual of the 19 th century. It foregrounds the theme of slavery, color prejudice and racial discrimination in its fullest form. Apart from being a supreme example of life narrative, the text is a document of socio-cultural importance as it documents the history of American society in the 19 th century. As a historical document, the text picturesquely captures the socio-cultural milieu of the 19 th century America. In addition to this, the narrative presents writer’s exemplary struggle for education, self actualization and his urge for freedom. It exposes scientifically the philosophy, mechanism, apparatus, features and influence of social institution called ‘slavery’.