Litrature+Of+Slavery+And+Freedom
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SESSION IIILiterature of Slavery and Freedom LIT 325
Christina BrownellSenior Instructor
Cambridge College
Self and Identity
"Our self and our identity are like a lock and key, inter-locked in a specific relationship which makes us see the world in a certain way. Some of the greatest thinkers have observed this relationship and articulated in memorable ways" (Nomi -Brooklyn Public Library blog)
Think about the following:
⇨"The question is not what you look at, but what you see." ~Henry David Thoreau
⇨"It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves" ~Carl Jung
⇨"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." ~Anais Nin
⇨"People only see what they are prepared to see" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
A Mercy
by Toni MorrisonA Mercy is told primarily through the distinctive narrative voices of Florens, Lina, Jacob, Rebekka, Sorrow, and Florens' mother. What do these characters reveal about themselves through the way they speak?
Last Week's Reading
Assignment:Think about:Toni Morrison has gathered together an unusual collection of characters in this story. These characters have a unique societal structure and relationship. What holds it together or breaks it apart? Does this society work? Why, or why not?
Literature of Slavery and
Freedom
Religious and Political
Mission of African American Literature
⇨ Resistance to human tyranny⇨ Dedication to human dignity⇨ Special mission to articulate the birthright of African
Americans as American citizens⇨ Black writers used concepts from Christian gospel⇨ African American writers of this time concerned with
gaining popular Christian readership⇨ Their entry into the literary scene had enormous
impact⇨ African Amreican literature challenged the idea that
whites could separate religion and social / political beliefs
Phillis Wheatley
⇨ Wrote the first African American work of literature⇨ Showed religion more than politics⇨ Book of poems that challenged the idea that only
God considered blacks equal.⇨ Gave a more holistic view of the relationship between
spiritual and political ⇨ Liberty was both civil and religious: "There is little if
any enjoyment of one without the other."⇨ She inspired future civil rights agitators- God
supports eternal and earthly redemption of black people
⇨
Christianity and the
Declaration of Independence⇨ Early African American writers explored the
connection between the humanitarian ideals of Christianity and the humantarian ideals of the Declaration of Independence
⇨ "Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Freedom"⇨ African American writers demonstrated the gross
inconsistency and irony of slavery as an American institution.
⇨ No matter what format was used, all literature by black writers of the pre-Civil war period focused on the abolition of slavery and the promotion of blacks to the same status as whites socially and culturally
Slavery in America
History of Early Slave Trade
The World of Slavery
⇨ Early writers and advocates of freedom studied the long history of slavery in the world --Greece, Rome, Egypt
⇨ Historians assert that white Christian slaveholders were the most hypocritical and inhumane
⇨ Portuguese mariners traded with West African chieftains for prisoners of war, as an established tradition in Africa-
⇨ With discovery of new world (Central America) indigenous people used as compulsory work force
⇨ Missionaries rejected this and recommended the enslavement of Africans instead
⇨ By the time the system was aboished in late 19th c, at least 10 million Africans had been brought to the new world against their will
First Blacks in North
America⇨ Not slaves but explorers⇨ Estevanico (1539) opened up New Mexico and
Arizona for Spain⇨ Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (1745) founded trading
post in Lake Michigan⇨ Jamestown 1619 - first Africans in N.A.(20)- arrived
on Dutch slave ship⇨ Not considered slaves but indentured servants who
could become free after a set number of years⇨ By 1700 the plantation development in Virginia had
grown so that the work force needed to be increased and controlled
⇨ Indentured servants now became slaves purchased for life
⇨ This ensured the prosperity of the South
Conditions of Slavery
⇨ New system of slavery became a "social death" for Africans
⇨ The system tried to prevent the African slave from keeping old identities, culture and customs, or establishing any new ones
⇨ Only could behave in ways acceptable to new masters / oppressors
⇨ Instead of an individual identity, slavery was designed to create a social "non-person"
⇨ By legal definition, they could not have family, personal honor, community, past or future, or any human ties
⇨ Completely bound and dependent on master⇨ Contradiction: New world built on concept of self-
reliance and independence, and those building it were being de-humanized
Slavery and American Racism
American Slavery
⇨ Uniquely oppressive⇨ Insisted that enslavement was a Natural and Proper
condition for certain races of people⇨ Noted philosophers of the time had theories
validating this idea (Kant, Hegel, and Hume)⇨ External differences such as hair, color, features,
indicated internal differences such as intelligence, morality, spirituality
Thomas Jefferson and
Slavery⇨ Thomas Jefferson stated that differences were so
deep that they could not be changed⇨ Complete separation of the races was needed, with
whites in power until blacks could be removed from the country
⇨ Jefferson wrote "Notes on the State of Virginia" in 1787, condemned slavery but was also a statement on racism
⇨ Celebrated white physical attributes as "clarity" and superior
⇨ Black described as an "immovable veil covering emotion" - alien and threatening
⇨ Followers of Jefferson used this argument to continue the system of slavery
⇨ It was argued that these differences could only be controlled by slavery
Resistance to Slavery and
Racism
National Politics
⇨ 1787 - Compromise between North and South in which three-fifths of the population of slaves would be counted for the distribution of taxes and the members of the House of Reps
⇨ Gave South more power because slaves were counted but could not vote
⇨ Quakers in PA and NY called for gradual abolition of slavery
⇨ Vermont banned slavery in 1777⇨ PA 1780, MA 1780, RI 1784, CT 1784, NY 1799, NJ 1804⇨ 1807 Congress outlawed African slave trade, not
internal⇨ Early 1800s Northern publications criticized Southern
slavery
Nat Turner
⇨ Summer 1831 black preacher Nat Turner initiated slave rebellion
⇨ Felt he was called upon by God to lead blacks to freedom
⇨ Led 60 - 80 followers to the county seat to seize the arsenal but they were apprehended and scattered
⇨ Turner's army executed 60 whites including Turner's master
⇨ Turner was captured in late October 1831⇨ In jail he dictated a narrative "Confessions of Nat
Turner" - 50,000 copies printed ⇨ Most successful slave revolt in history⇨ Revolt made southern slaveholders nervous and
coused more strict and repressive restrictions⇨ "Fugitive Slave Law" 1850
Abolitionism and the Slave Narrative
The Slave Narrative
⇨ Nat Turner rebellion and Fugitive Slave Law caused northerners to become even more opposed to slavery
⇨ William Lloyd Garrison - white journalist and anti-slavery crusader demanded immediate end of slavery in U.S.
⇨ This galvanized concern for slaves- their stories were used to document their inhumane treatment --The Fugitive Slave Narrative
⇨ From 1830 to end of slavery era, this narrative form dominated the literary landscape of Black America
⇨ More of these narratives were written than any other publications or novels by African Americans
⇨ 6,000 slaves told their stories; more than 100 books published
⇨ Most of the prominent black literary figures launched their careers through these narratives
"Black Message inside a White
Envelope"
Structure of the Narrative
⇨ Introduction and sometimes appendix written by whites to attest to reliability of narration and character of narrator
⇨ Showed abomination of slavery⇨ Slave narrator describes "hell on earth"⇨ Describes passage to freedom from South to North⇨ Personal crisis as prelude to escape⇨ Faith in God, commitment to liberty and freedom and
anti-slavery activism⇨ Sold at anti-slavery meetings and throughout world
(Romantic Literary Period)
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick
Douglass: An American Slave1845
Frederick Douglass
⇨ Authored his own story - did not use white editor⇨ Never had a day of school but wanted to write his
story in his own way⇨ Had been an abolitionist lecturer for years⇨ Set a new standard for narratives - "Written by
Himself" meant author was independent⇨ Incorporated typical African American themes from
folk literature, Bible, and other traditional storytelling styles --copied by other slave narrators
⇨ These narratives became more important as political and social tension rising in country
Harriet Jacobs:Incidents in the
Life of a Slave Girl
1861
Harriet Jacobs
⇨ First African American female slave to author her own narrative
⇨ Used a pen name in fear of retribution⇨ Unrestrained honesty describing sexual exploitation
of black women as another form of oppression⇨ Countered the image of the female victim by showing
how she fought back to gain freedom for herself and her children
⇨ Enriched African American literature with new model of female self expression and heroism
Characteristics ofSlave Narratives
⇨Engraved portrait signed by narrator⇨Title page with claim "Written by
Himself" or similar⇨Testimonials written by white
abolitionists, or white editor⇨Poetic epigraph⇨Actual Narrative⇨Appendix with bill of sale,
newspaper items...
Actual Narrative
⇨ Begins with "I was born..." - place not date⇨ Sketchy description of parentage - white father⇨ Cruel master, mistress or overseer/ whippings often
of women⇨ Account of a strong hardworking slave who refuses to
be whipped⇨ Barriers against slave literacy⇨ "Christian" slaveholders more cruel than others⇨ Description of amount and kind of food and clothing
given to slaves⇨ Description of work, patterns of day, week year
Additional...
⇨ Accounts of slave auctions- distraught mothers and children being separated
⇨ Failed attempts to escape and pursuit by men and dogs
⇨ Successful attempts guided by North Star and helped by Quakers
⇨ Taking of new last name with new identity as free man - keeping of first name to continue individual identity
⇨ Reflections on slavery
Importance of Slave
NarrativesSlave and ex-slave narratives are important not only for what they tell us about African American history and literature, but also because they reveal to us the complexities of the dialogue between whites and blacks in this country in the last two centuries.