In the narrative of Frederick Douglass his story challenges the idea that you can be enlightened only if you are free to think and make decisions and not fear judgement by your minority said in Immanuel Kant in his essay . Douglass was enlightened under circumstances that does not fit the criteria of what Kant feels is essential. His minority was under extreme circumstances that, this thought of education was not as essential as surviving the day to day experience. Douglass only got enlightened after over hearing the physiological strategy used on him and other slaves to deprive them of education by Hugh Auld and his wife . The essay written by Immanuel Kant in 1784 was about Enlightenment and his view on what that it. Kant states that enlightenment is  the emergence from his self incurred minority and being able to use ones understanding with out directions. A individual train of thought of using your own understanding and not being dependent on what is the majority train of thought is. Kant states that  for enlightenment to be achieved there has to be freedom to make public use of one’s reason in all matters. Freedom to think, be curious and question what is seen as the normal or what is accepted by your peers and guardians.