Immanuel Kant defied “enlightenment is the human being’s emergence from his self-incurred minority”(Kant, p1), which he thinks that minority is the ability to understand something on their own, without anyone’s direction. However Kant stated that people  become lazy, when they found someone who can guide them, teach them and do everything for them, people are comfortable to be a minor, therefor it is difficult for any single individual  to enlighten  themselves because they have never allowed to do so. Kant also believes freedom is importantly related with enlightenment, he stated ” For this enlightenment, however, nothing is required but freedom”(Kant,p5). Kant thinks the society limited the way of how people thinking, and doing things. He gave out examples of tax office, officer and the clergyman, they were all regulate people in the way of how they will like things to be done, “there are restrictions of freedom everywhere” Kant said. Therefore it is even more difficult for people to think freely and not to follow others direction .

In Frederick Douglass’s narrative of his slavery life, Kant’s idea of how enlightenment related with freedom can also be seen. Frederick was a slave, enlightenment  at that time is way far for people to think, when they don’t even know their own birthday, can’t even write their own name. But Frederick learned how to read and write, his education encouraged him to escape from the slaver, pursue his own freedom.

Kant believes the freedom is the key of enlightenment , but for Frederick, without knowledge , without enlighten himself, he will never achieved  his freedom.