Introduction
For this discussion, the slave narratives can be described as a literary genre comprising well-written, well-documented autobiographical accounts of enslaved Africans. Most slave narratives have been published in books, with a few also available as short films or documentaries. These narratives, including Celia, A Slave, Life Aboard a Slave Ship, and Different but Equal, are a means of understanding African history. Therefore, slave narratives are a reliable gateway to African history because they provide an account of the experiences and challenges of enslaved Africans.
The Importance of Slave Narratives in African History
Firstly, slave narratives are important because they provide first-hand information regarding the experiences of African Americans. Narratives such as Celia, A Slave, clearly demonstrate that African Americans can write their own history. Most of the narratives gave an account of the horrors that came with family separation, child labor, and sexual abuse.
Others described how free black men were forcefully kidnapped and sold back into slavery (Nekaa para. 1). They also detailed the brutality of flogging and the harsh living conditions of enslaved people. In some instances, slave narratives offered memorable accounts of heroism and escape from slavery.
Secondly, slave narratives provided insight into the lives of enslaved people at the community level. More specifically, it explicated the values that held families together, such as respect for elders and love among family members. Their love for one another helped them withstand the brutality and cruelty at the hands of the slaveholders. Furthermore, the slave narratives show that “slavery made it hard and impossible for a stable and safe family life” (Nekaa para 1). In other words, the narratives of enslaved people provided the people with a first-hand account of the lives of enslaved Africans.
Lastly, the value of slave narratives lies in an accurate record of the challenges enslaved people endured in their search for freedom. The stories act as both “an abolitionist tool, advocating for the end of slavery, and as an outlet, allowing slaves to document, in their own words, their life stories”(Nekaa para. 1). In essence, the narratives give an overview of how enslaved people worked together to overcome the challenges they encountered in the hands of the enslavers. Some of the narratives are a true testament to heroism – they describe unique ways enslaved people escaped, such as mailing themselves.
Examples of Slave Narratives
Celia, a Slave
The first example of a slave narrative is Celia,a Slave. It provides an account of slavery in the U.S. from 1840 to 1850. As evidenced throughout the text, two of the dominant accounts include the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Bleeding Kansas riots of 1856. The Missouri Compromise was a political agreement whose aim was to ensure Missouri became a slave state. The only condition was that Maine would become a free state. On the surface, the agreement was regarded by many, especially the proponents of slavery, as a victory against anti-slavery.
However, thirty years down the line, both Missouri and Kansas were the most violent states in the USA. In fact, both the opponents and proponents of slavery protested against what they termed as immoral views and illegal tactics perpetrated by slaveholders. Slavery had become the most controversial and sensitive issue; the majority of Americans had refused to compromise. This explains why Bleeding Kansas predicted the start of the Civil War a few years later.
Through Celia’s account, slave women were highly susceptible to sexual abuse from their male counterparts as well as slaveholders. For instance, Celia narrated in the text some of the challenges she encountered as an enslaved person, such as rape at the hands of Robert Newsom. No one was willing to help her, which explains why she ended up killing the perpetrators.
Since the state of Missouri could not allow her to testify against her masters, John Jameson was appointed to represent her (McLaurin 86). “Jameson hand practiced law in the community for three decades and had a reputation as an excellent trial lawyer” (McLaurin 86). However, Hall appointed Jameson, knowing that he was already compromised by his aversion to legal research. In general, Celia, A Slave depicts a moment in the life of an enslaved person where brutality and moral depravity are dominant. Most importantly, slave narratives, unlike the majority of historians, focus on the burden of slavery on black women.
Life Aboard a Slave Ship
The second example of a slave narrative is Life Aboard a Slave Ship, which details how Africans were transported across the middle passage to serve as slaves. As evidenced in the short narrative film, approximately 12.5 million Africans were forcefully transported from 1525 to 1866 to the New World(“Life Aboard a Slave Ship” 0.40). Life Aboard a Slave Ship gives a vivid description of the dangerous journey and the severe conditions that slaves encountered – about 2 million enslaved people died across the Atlantic. For instance, the enslaved people “were stripped of their clothing with their heads forcibly shaved before boarding the ship” (“Life Aboard a Slave Ship” 0.45).
During the voyage, the enslaved people were confined in a temporary wooden house on the deck of the ship for a few months. It was designed in such a way that it could catch those enslaved people who opted for death over forced servitude. It is essential to note that the enslaver ships spent several months traveling from one location to another, purchasing their cargo. In essence, this example of a slave narrative illustrates some of the challenges the enslaved people encountered during the Middle Passage.
Different but Equal
The last slave narrative that is crucial in depicting African History is Different but Equal. This type of slave narrative exists to help the audience understand how the white man viewed and perceived African people. In the video, Davidson aimed to show the European’s perception of Africans after they discovered the continent.
Even after discovering a stone-built city in the heart of Africa, the white people were so blinded by their prejudices that they could not believe the evidence of their own eyes (“AFRICA Episode 1” 1:35). As evidenced further in the narrative, the white people were reluctant to accept the fact that Africans have a history of their own; they ended up fabricating exotic explanations. Overall, this narrative strives to show that Africans had a rich history and culture of their own.
Conclusion
Slave narratives such as Life Aboard a Slave Ship, Celia, a Slave, and Different but Equal exist to help people develop a clear understanding of African history. The narratives are important because they provide original accounts of enslaved people’s experiences, specifically the challenges they faced. For example, Celia noted that enslaved women were particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation by men. Celia was a victim of repeated rape at the hands of Robert Newsom. Life Aboard a Slave Ship, on the other hand, shows some of the challenges that the enslaved people in the Middle Passage encountered.
Works Cited
“Life Aboard a Slave Ship, History.” YouTube, Uploaded by HISTORY.
McLaurin and Melton Alonz, Celia, A Slave: A True Story. New York: Avon Books, 1993.
Nekaa, Hadjer. The Representation of Slavery and Religion in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Novel. Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852.
“AFRICA Episode 1 Different but Equal Written and Presented by Basil Davidson Executive Producer.” YouTube, Uploaded by Ousmane N’diaye.