Why did Frederick Douglass spend three days washing in the creek before he left for Baltimore?
1 Answer
Nov 4, 2017
The goal of the washing was to make it more difficult for the dogs to catch his scent and chase him down as he made his escape from slavery.
Explanation:
The slave catchers would use blood hounds that could track an escaped slave by their scent. By washing Frederick Douglass reduced the scent that the dogs could follow. This made his successful escape more likely.
An unsuccessful escape would be rewarded by a server beating often resulting in crippling or even death. The captured slave would have less freedom and a future escape more difficult.
Fredrick Douglass wanted to be sure that his bid for freedom would be successful. So he washed to be able to steal himself, the property of his owner, and become his own master.
