In his narrative, Douglass expresses his hesitance to disclose the identities of the white boys who helped him learn to read, deeming it as a significant transgression. He adds a personal remark by hi

In his narrative, Douglass notes that he abstains from mentioning the names of white boys who taught him to read, as learning to read was deemed 'almost unpardonable' for a slave - a profound statement that underscores the danger such an act represented in a society deeply mired in racial inequality. The personal comment Douglass extends to this thought is a critique of the systemic injustice that established such an inhuman norm. His personal journey of self-education takes a transformative turn when he comes across one of Sheridan's speeches in "The Columbian Orator". The speech opens his eyes to the devastating truths of his own existence as an enslaved person and stirs in him a profound longing for freedom. He makes a critical distinction between his initial perception of literacy as just a tool for personal progress and the ensuing realization of its power to awaken a deeper awareness of the social structures of oppression. Thus, Dougalss perceives literacy, not merely as a skill, but as a path to awareness and liberation.