Argument/Counter-Argument for Bird's essay

The Frederick Douglass narrative in a way provides great support for Bird. It shows that a person does not have to go to college to further himself educationally. Douglass taught himself how to read and write using what he could get a hold of as a black slave in the South (books from his master’s house, the knowledge of white children). He showed great perseverance in this area of his life, and eventually became entirely literate, all with out the aid of formal schooling. On the other hand, he was only one of many others like him who did not teach themselves to read and write. This, in a more subtle way, is a counter-argument to Bird’s essay. It shows that while there are a select few with an intense drive to learn, it is exceedingly difficult if one is not in a conducive environment. While this article directly shows a person who did not need formal education to obtain literacy and knowledge, when approached from an objective point of view, it reveals a single man within the broad spectrum of an entire population of illiterate and unknowledgeable people.