Question

read this passage from chapter 1 of narrative of the life of frederick douglass. if the lineal descendants of ham are alone to be scripturally enslaved, it is certain that slavery at the south must soon become unscriptural; for thousands are ushered into the world, annually, who, like myself, owe their existence to white fathers, and those fathers most frequently their own masters. how does douglass’s allusion to the biblical story of the sons of ham affect his memoir?

• it demonstrates that enslavement harms both slaves and slaveholders.
• it condemns enslavement of biracial people.
• it serves to point out that basing the justification of enslavement on the story of ham is unsound.
• it provides a means for proving that enslavement was a just institution because it was dictated by god.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the passage: Douglass notes that many enslaved people (like himself) have white fathers (often their masters), so the idea that only Ham’s lineal descendants are scripturally enslaved is flawed.
2. Evaluate each option:

• First option: The passage doesn’t discuss harm to slaveholders, so eliminate.
• Second option: The allusion isn’t about biracial people’s enslavement condemnation specifically, but about the scriptural justification’s flaw, so eliminate.
• Third option: Since many enslaved have white (non - Ham - line) fathers, using Ham’s story to justify slavery is unsound. This matches the passage’s logic.
• Fourth option: The passage undermines, not proves, slavery as just (dictated by God), so eliminate.

Answer:

It serves to point out that basing the justification of enslavement on the story of Ham is unsound.