Introduction
Reading Harriet Jacobs’ text raises a range of negative emotions, such as anger or sympathy, but in the end, one comes to admiration. The most memorable aspect of the author’s work is her resilience and strength in the face of unimaginable odds. Her narrative vividly portrays the dehumanizing effects of slavery, especially on women subjected to physical and sexual abuse. They, like other slaves, regardless of gender, were cut off from their families and deprived of the most basic human rights. Thus, it is impossible not to feel deep sympathy for Jacobs and the countless other people harmed by the institution of slavery.
The frightening fact is that slavery led to racism. Yankees and Johnnies both agreed on the inferiority of the Negro race. As private property, people had the same status as a horse or cart. Ruthless owners tried to persuade the enslaved people that there was and could be no way out of slavery and that rebellious enslaved people would be condemned and go to hell. Only obedience, patience, and the fulfillment of church commandments would guarantee the enslaved person the possibility to reach paradise, where there were no poor or rich slaves or slaveholders.
Jacobs and Carby: Women in Slavery
Jacobs’s story reveals the complexity of her experiences, making her a preeminent writer of the era of American slavery. She describes the conflict between her desire for freedom and her responsibilities as a mother. Her decision to hide in a tiny attic, or “loophole of retreat,” for seven years to escape her owner is a testament to her determination to provide a better future for her children (Jacobs 12, 20, 28). This internal struggle adds depth to her character and highlights the multifaceted challenges that enslaved women faced.
Additionally, one of the themes raised in the book is consistent with the work of Hazel Carby, whose article delves into the ideologies of femininity under slavery. One of the key themes in both texts is the intersection of race and gender in shaping the experiences of black women during American slavery. Carby discusses the prevailing ideology of the “white southern woman” and how it creates a stark contrast between white and black women (Carby 20). Jacobs’s narrative directly reflects these differences in her own experiences.
Experience of Slavery of Different Sexes
Moreover, Carby highlights the role of black women writers in challenging and subverting these dominant ideologies. Carby also points out the differences among the areas: “Black women were recruited more heavily into some of these areas than others” (Carby 48). Jacobs herself can be seen as the embodiment of this resistance. By writing her story under a pseudonym and sharing it, she actively sought to challenge the narratives imposed on black women: “Harriet became the slave to Horniblow’s three-year-old niece, the daughter of Dr. James Norcom” (Jacobs 3). The woman was able to escape from slavery, allowing her to live an everyday life: “The early 1840s also brought the emancipation of Harriet Jacobs and her children, one by one” (Jacobs 21). Considering other black writers, such as Frederick Douglass, can create a complete picture of what happened during the era of slavery.
Douglass wanted to convince white readers of the inherent humanity of blacks and the injustice of slavery by emphasizing physical violence and denial of education. On the other hand, Jacobs also addresses the maternal feelings of white northern women and exposes the sexual violence suffered by enslaved women. However, both authors used their stories as propaganda tools for the abolitionist movement. Their stories were personal narratives and powerful tools for uniting public sentiment against slavery.
Connections to Other Works
Taking into account other authors and their works, such as Olaudah Equiano’s “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” and “The Life and Adventures of Venture” by Venture Smith, together provide a comprehensive look at the experiences of enslaved people, in different periods of history. First, all three texts are autobiographical stories that deal with the experience of slavery.
For example, Equiano’s account details his life as an enslaved African who was later able to purchase his freedom (Gates and Smith 113). Smith’s narrative also chronicles his journey from slavery to freedom in colonial America (Gates and Smith 106). On the other hand, Jacobs’ story offers a unique perspective on a woman born into slavery, highlighting the intersection of race and gender in the context of enslavement.
Conclusion
Black narratives thus offer a comprehensive look at the slave experience during the era of enslavement in America. Explorations of resistance, autonomy, and the intersections of race and gender link these works. They also highlight the transformative power of education and literacy in challenging oppressive systems and promoting change. Each of them shows their experiences of being enslaved, highlighting the various hardships they had to endure. The works perfectly show the reader the feelings enslaved people experienced and how they dealt with them. The works also perfectly capture all the historical events of the time, which helps to understand the context.
Works Cited
Carby, Hazel V. “Slave and Mistress: Ideologies of Womanhood under Slavery.” Reconstructing Womanhood: The Emergence of the Afro-American Woman Novelist, Oxford University Press, New York.
Gates, Henry Louis, and Valerie Smith. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. W.W. Norton & Company, 2014.
Jacobs, Harriet A. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Penguin Books, 2000.
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