In the very beginning of Fredrick Douglass’ narrative, Douglas speaks about the abuse and torture that women slaves were subjected to. The image of his aunt being beaten relentlessly was an image that Douglass was unable to forget. The horror and unjusifiable act of slavery is often discussed about. Man and slavery is also discussed, however women and their encounter with the horrors of slavery is often overlooked as the article discusses. The article by New York Times discusses how the new film “The Birth of a New Nation” depicts the helplessness of women slaves in their postiitons. Women often experienced the worst  imaginable torture under slave owners. They were beaten and raped savagely and couldnt voice their pain and troubles. Fredrick Douglass describes these conditions in graphic    detail. The article discusses a character named Esther in the movie who rarely speaks. She represents the population of slave women who just like her are unable to act or speak out. They cannot do so. They were forbidden to do things, yet such horrendous acts were committed upon them. Douglass watched his aunt being beat merclessly without being able to do anything even though she was his aunt. Even when Esther cries into her husbands arms, he probably was not able to do much for her as well. Women who were slaves experienced unimaginable violence and abuse. They were beaten and raped horrendously and even those around them, relatives and family looked on helplessly. However, perhaps the violence Douglass was subject to and the conditions he saw especially with women contributed to his determination to speak up and become a leader in the abolition movement