Though people want to believe that they know a lot about slavery, its threats, and peculiarities, it is hard for them to understand that what people survived during the slavery period had nothing in common with what is now written in the books. The letters analyzed in this paper give a piece of the picture that was observed during the 1600s and the 1700s when slaves from different parts of the world had to serve their masters under harsh conditions and decide to rebel to prove their rights.
In one of the letters written in 1623, the conditions under which people had to live and work are described. Slaves were not satisfied; still, they did not have a chance to change something or find something more convenient. Richard Frethorne wrote to his parents about the slaves, how they got sick, died, stole, and starved because their owners did not care for their physical conditions (“Richard Frethorne on Indentured Servitude” 64). What they wanted was a piece of understanding and health to continue living and waiting for their dreams about a better life come true.
The next three letters were the outcomes of the situation described by Frethorne. Slaves were ready to rebel and fight for their freedoms. The anonymous letter was written to Mr. Boone and informed about the slaves’ rising against the white people in Charles Town. The author of the letter wanted all slaves to be sold, sent away, or executed and could not accept the idea that some people like Mr. Percivall still have slaves at their homes (“Anonymous Letter to Mr. Boone in London” 52). The white people had to decide how to treat and control Negroes with their constant intentions to be free from what they were signed to.
The “Letter from Petersburg, Virginia” introduced a new case of the slaves’ rebellion in the Eastern Shore of Virginia (52). The author gives a detailed description of the events that happened when slaves began a very dangerous Insurrection and rose against their own masters, who truly believed their favorite servants stand their side. About 900 Negroes armed with muskets and spears rose against the white people at once.
The masters, who were closed to them at that moment, like Colonel Savage or Mr. Simkins, were treated in an insolent manner and robbed. The white people found all those actions unexpected, severe, and “unfair” in regards to everything they did to the slaves.
Still, the final secret letter written by one of the slaves helped to understand why the Negroes were ready to put everything on the map and rise against their masters even if they knew that their powers and arms were not enough to win. The slaves got a chance and found some support from one person, who supplied them with the required portion of powder (“Secret Keeper Richmond” 53). The slaves tried to plan each move and cooperate not to make a mistake or take some actions in vain. They had one chance to demand their freedom, and they had to act all together at once. This letter helped to understand how and under which conditions the slaves were going to change history.
All these letters are united by one thing, slavery, that bothered so many people during a long period of time. From these sources, it becomes clear that the white people themselves created the conditions under which they lost control over their own people.
Works Cited
“Anonymous Letter to Mr. Boone in London (1720).” Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Ed. Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2009. 52. Print.
“Letter from Petersburg, Virginia (1720).” Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Ed. Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2009. 52. Print.
“Richard Frethorne on Indentured Servitude (1623).” Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Ed. Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2009. 64-65. Print.
“Secret Keeper Richmond (Unknown) to Secret Keeper Norfolk (Unknown) (1793).” Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Ed. Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2009. 53. Print.