Why is the ability to read and write a statement about freedom?

The ability to read and write, or the ability to be educated should be a basic human right. When you are taught to read and write you feel as if you can connect to others in a way that is new. You can write to someone about how bad you are being treated, or you can read about how to escape slavery. So now not everything has to be done in person and it makes it easier to get away with things. For example: on page 51 when they were trying to escape, Frederick made letters from his master saying they were permitted to be traveling on the river. It was a very smart and sneaky thing to do, if only they weren't caught. The ability to read and write relates to freedom in two ways: you can achieve freedom because you were educated and know more than people think you do, or it relates to freedom of the mind, you can understand things better, so if something were to happen you could know what was going on.