Slave Narrrative

7/27/2019 Slave Narrrative

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WELCOMEWe will begin

promptly on the

hour.

How to Read a Slave Narrative

An Online Professional Development

Seminar


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GOALS

To deepen your understanding of slave narratives

To offer strategies for their presentation in classroom discussion


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FROM THE FORUMChallenges, Issues, Questions

How to make slave narratives accessible to students

How to make slave narratives something more than just another

story about oppressed people

How to use narratives to channel students strong reaction to the

subject of slavery into illuminating and productive discussion

What common elements do slave narratives share?

How slave narratives influenced and were influenced by the slavery

debate


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William L. AndrewsE. Maynard Adams

Professor of English

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

African American LiteratureSouthern Literature

The Literary Career of Charles W. Chesnutt

(1980)

To Tell a Free Story: The First Century of Afro-American

Autobiography, 1760-1865

(1986)

Co-editor ofThe Norton Anthology of

African American Literature

(1997)

Co-editor ofThe Oxford Companion

to African American Literature(1997)

General Editor ofThe Literature of the American South:

A Norton Anthology(1997)

Series editor ofNorth American Slave Narratives,Beginnings to 1920


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From How to Read a Slave Narrative by William L. Andrews

in Freedoms Storyfrom the National Humanities Center

Key Questions

What does the title page of a slave narrative tell us?

What is the significance of the prefaces and introductions found in many

slave narratives?

How do slave narratives begin?

What is the plot of most pre-Civil War slave narratives?

What is the turning-point in a slave narrative? Is it when the slave resolves

to escape or when he or she arrives in the North?

How do most slave narratives end? How do they portray life in the North?


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"Northerners know nothing at all

about Slavery. They think it is

perpetual bondage only. They

have no conception of the depth of

degradation involved in that word,

SLAVERY; if they had, they would

never cease their efforts until

so horrible a system wasoverthrown."

A WOMAN OF NORTH CAROLINA

"Rise up, ye women that are

at ease! Hear my voice, ye

careless daughters!Give ear unto my speech."

ISAIAH xxxii. 9.


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By a principle essential to christianity, a PERSON is

eternally differenced from a THING; so that the idea

of a HUMAN BEING, necessarily excludes the idea of

PROPERTY IN THAT BEING.COLERIDGE.


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What is the significance of the prefaces and introductions found in

many slave narratives?

Mr. DOUGLASS has very properly chosen to write his own Narrative, in

his own style, and according to the best of his ability, rather than to employ some

one else. It is, therefore, entirely his own production; and, considering how long

and dark was the career he had to run as a slave,--how few have been his

opportunities to improve his mind since he broke his iron fetters--it is, in my

judgment, highly creditable to his head and heart. . . . I am confident that it isessentially true in all its statements; that nothing has been set down in malice,

nothing exaggerated, nothing drawn from the imagination; that it comes short of the

reality, rather than overstates a single fact in regard to SLAVERY AS IT IS.

--William Lloyd Garrison, Preface, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass


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What is the significance of the prefaces and introductions found

in many slave narratives?

It is not without a feeling of pride, dear reader, that I present you with this

book. The son of a self-emancipated bond-woman, I feel joy in introducing to you

my brother, who has rent his own bonds, and who, in his every relation--as a public

man, as a husband and as a father--is such as does honor to the land which gave

him birth. I shall place this book in the hands of the only child spared me, bidding

him to strive and emulate its noble example. You may do likewise. It is an Americanbook, for Americans, in the fullest sense of the idea. It shows that the worst of our

institutions, in its worst aspect, cannot keep down energy, truthfulness, and earnest

struggle for the right. It proves the justice and practicability of Immediate

Emancipation.

--James MCune Smith, IntroductionMy Bondage and My Freedom


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What is the significance of the prefaces and introductions found

in many slave narratives?

THE author of the following autobiography is personally known to me, and

her conversation and manners inspire me with confidence. During the last

seventeen years, she has lived the greater part of the time with a distinguished

family in New York, and has so deported herself as to be highly esteemed by

them. This fact is sufficient, without further credentials of her character. I

believe those who know her will not be disposed to doubt her veracity, thoughsome incidents in her story are more romantic than fiction.

Lydia Maria Child,

Introduction by the Editor,

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl


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I was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, and about twelve miles from

Easton, in Talbot county, Maryland. I have no accurate knowledge of my age,

never having seen any authentic record containing it. By far the larger part of

the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs, and it is the

wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant. I

do not remember to have ever met a slave who could tell of his birthday. They

seldom come nearer to it than planting-time, harvest-time, cherry-time, spring-time, or fall-time. A want of information concerning my own was a source of

unhappiness to me even during childhood. The white children could tell their

ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived of the same privilege. I was

not allowed to make any inquiries of my master concerning it. He deemed all

such inquiries on the part of a slave improper and impertinent, and evidence of

a restless spirit.

Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass


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READER, be assured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of

my adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true. I

have not exaggerated the wrongs inflicted by Slavery; on the contrary, my

descriptions fall far short of the facts. I have concealed the names of places,

and given persons fictitious names. I had no motive for secrecy on my own

account, but I deemed it kind and considerate towards others to pursue this

course.

I wish I were more competent to the task I have undertaken. But I trust

my readers will excuse deficiencies in consideration of circumstances. I was

born and reared in Slavery; and I remained in a Slave State twenty-seven

years. Since I have been at the North, it has been necessary for me to work

diligently for my own support, and the education of my children. This has notleft me much leisure to make up for the loss of early opportunities to improve

myself; and it has compelled me to write these pages at irregular intervals,

whenever I could snatch an hour from household duties.

Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl


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During the first three or four months, my speeches were almost exclusively made up of

narrations of my own personal experience as a slave. "Let us have the facts," said the people. Soalso said Friend George Foster, who always wished to pin me down to my simple narrative. "Give

us the facts," said Collins, "we will take care of the philosophy." Just here arose some

embarrassment. It was impossible for me to repeat the same old story month after month, and to

keep up my interest in it. It was new to the people, it is true, but it was an old story to me; and to

go through with it night after night, was a task altogether too mechanical for my nature. "Tell your

story, Frederick," would whisper my then revered friend, William Lloyd Garrison, as I stepped

upon the platform. I could not always obey, for I was now reading and thinking. New views of the

subject were presented to my mind. It did not entirely satisfy me to narrate wrongs; I felt like

denouncingthem. I could not always curb my moral indignation for the perpetrators of

slaveholding villainy, long enough for a circumstantial statement of the facts which I felt almost

everybody must know. Besides, I was growing, and needed room. "People won't believe you ever

was a slave, Frederick, if you keep on this way," said Friend Foster. "Be yourself," said Collins,

"and tell your story." It was said to me, "Better have a little of the plantation manner of speechthan not; 'tis not best that you seem too learned.

Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom


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Every where I found the same manifestations of that cruel prejudice, which so

discourages the feelings, and represses the energies of the colored people. We reachedRockaway [Long Island] before dark, and put up at the Paviliona large hotel, beautifully

situated by the sea-sidea great resort of the fashionable world. Thirty or forty nurses were

there, of a great variety of nations. Some of the ladies had colored waiting-maids and

coachmen, but I was the only nurse tinged with the blood of Africa. When the tea bell rang, I

took little Mary and followed the other nurses. Supper was served in a long hall. A young

man, who had the ordering of things, took the circuit of the table two or three times, and

finally pointed me to a seat at the lower end of it. As there was but one chair, I sat down and

took the child in my lap. Whereupon the young man came to me and said, in the blandest

manner possible, "Will you please to seat the little girl in the chair, and stand behind it and

feed her? After they have done, you will be shown to the kitchen, where you will have a good

supper.

This was the climax! I found it hard to preserve my self-control, when I lookedround, and saw women who were nurses, as I was, and only one shade lighter in complexion,

eyeing me with a defiant look, as if my presence were a contamination. However, I said

nothing. I quietly took the child in my arms, went to our room, and refused to go to the table

again.



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What is the turning point in most slave narratives?

Is it when the slave resolves to escape, or when he or she arrives

in the North?

This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning-point in my career as a slave. Itrekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense

of my own manhood. It recalled the departed self-confidence, and inspired me

again with a determination to be free. The gratification afforded by the triumph

was a full compensation for whatever else might follow, even death itself. He

only can understand the deep satisfaction which I experienced, who has

himself repelled by force the bloody arm of slavery. I felt as I never felt before.

It was a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of

freedom. My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took

its place; and I now resolved that, however long I might remain a slave in form,

the day had passed forever when I could be a slave in fact. I did not hesitate to

let it be known of me, that the white man who expected to succeed inwhipping, must also succeed in killing me.

From this time I was never again what might be called fairly whipped,

though I remained a slave four years afterwards. I had several fights, but was

never whipped.

Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass


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What is the turning point in most slave narratives?

Is it when the slave resolves to escape, or when he or she arrives

in the North?

After dinner Mr. Durham went with me in quest of the friends I had spoken of. They went from

my native town, and I anticipated much pleasure in looking on familiar faces. They were not at home,

and we retraced our steps through streets delightfully clean. On the way, Mr. Durham observed that I

had spoken to him of a daughter I expected to meet; that he was surprised, for I looked so young he

had taken me for a single woman. He was approaching a subject on which I was extremely sensitive.

He would ask about my husband next, I thought, and if I answered him truly, what would he think ofme? I told him I had two children, one in New York the other at the south. He asked some further

questions, and I frankly told him some of the most important events of my life. It was painful for me to

do it; but I would not deceive him. If he was desirous of being my friend, I thought he ought to know

how far I was worthy of it. "Excuse me, if I have tried your feelings," said he. "I did not question you

from idle curiosity. I wanted to understand your situation, in order to know whether I could be of any

service to you, or your little girl. Your straight-forward answers do you credit; but don't answer every

body so openly. It might give some heartless people a pretext for treating you with contempt.

That word contemptburned me like coals of fire. I replied, "God alone knows how I have

suffered; and He, I trust, will forgive me. If I am permitted to have my children, I intend to be a

good

mother, and to live in such a manner that people cannot treat me with contempt.



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How do slave narratives end?

I had not long been a reader of the "Liberator," before I got a pretty correct

idea of the principles, measures and spirit of the anti-slavery reform. I took right

hold of the cause. I could do but little; but what I could, I did with a joyful heart, and

never felt happier than when in an anti-slavery meeting. I seldom had much to say

at the meetings, because what I wanted to say was said so much better by others.

But, while attending an anti-slavery convention at Nantucket, on the 11th of August,

1841, I felt strongly moved to speak, and was at the same time much urged to do

so by Mr. William C. Coffin, a gentleman who had heard me speak in the colored

people's meeting at New Bedford. It was a severe cross, and I took it up reluctantly.

The truth was, I felt myself a slave, and the idea of speaking to white people

weighed me down. I spoke but a few moments, when I felt a degree of freedom,

and said what I desired with considerable ease. From that time until now, I have

been engaged in pleading the cause of my brethren--with what success, and withwhat devotion, I leave those acquainted with my labors to decide.

Douglass, NARRATIVE


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Since I have been editing and publishing a journal devoted to the cause of liberty

and progress, I have had my mind more directed to the condition and circumstances of the

free colored people than when I was the agent of an abolition society. The result has been acorresponding change in the disposition of my time and labors. I have felt it to be a part of my

mission--under a gracious Providence--to impress my sable brothers in this country with the

conviction that, notwithstanding the ten thousand discouragements and the powerful

hinderances, which beset their existence in this country--notwithstanding the blood-written

history of Africa, and her children, from whom we have descended, or the clouds and

darkness, (whose stillness and gloom are made only more awful by wrathful thunder andlightning,) now overshadowing them--progress is yet possible, and bright skies shall yet shine

upon their pathway; and that "Ethiopia shall yet reach forth her hand unto God.

Believing that one of the best means of emancipating the slaves of the south is to

improve and elevate the character of the free colored people of the north I shall labor in the

future, as I have labored in the past, to promote the moral, social, religions, and intellectual

elevation of the free colored people; never forgetting my own humble origin, nor refusing,while Heaven lends me ability, to use my voice, my pen, or my vote, to advocate the great

and primary work of the universal and unconditional emancipation of my entire race.

Douglass, MY BONDAGE AND MY FREEDOM


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Reader, my story ends with freedom; not in the usual way, with marriage. I

and my children are now free! We are as free from the power of slaveholders as

are the white people of the north; and though that, according to my ideas, is not

saying a great deal, it is a vast improvement in mycondition. The dream of my life

is not yet realized. I do not sit with my children in a home of my own. I still long for

a hearthstone of my own, however humble. I wish it for my children's sake far more

than for my own. But God so orders circumstances as to keep me with my friend

Mrs. Bruce. Love, duty, gratitude, also bind me to her side. It is a privilege to serve

her who pities my oppressed people, and who has bestowed the inestimable boon

of freedom on me and my children.

It has been painful to me, in many ways, to recall the dreary years I passed in

bondage. I would gladly forget them if I could. Yet the retrospection is not

altogether without solace; for with those gloomy recollections come tendermemories of my good old grandmother, like light, fleecy clouds floating over a dark

and troubled sea.



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Narrative (1845):

but at this moment--from whence came the

spirit I don't know--I resolved to fight . . .

He asked me if I meant to persist in my

resistance.. . .

just as he was leaning over to get the stick, I

seized him with both hands by his collar, and

brought him by a sudden snatch to the

ground.

My Bondage, My Freedom (1855):

Whence came the daring spirit necessary

to grapple with a man who, eight-and-forty

hours before, could, with his slightest word

have made me tremble like a leaf in a

storm, I do not know; at any rate, I was

resolved to fight, and, what was better still,

I was actually hard at it.

Are you going to resist,you scoundrel?

said he. To which, I returned a polite "yes

sir; steadily gazing my interrogator in the

eye, to meet the first approach or dawningof the blow, which I expected my answer

would call forth.

just as he leaned over to get the stick, I

seized him with both hands by the collar,

and, with a vigorous and sudden snatch, I

brought my assailant harmlessly, his fulllength, on the not overclean ground--for

we were now in the cow yard. He had

selected the place for the fight, and it was

but right that he should have all the

advantages of his own selection.

Discussion Questions

To what degree is Fredericks resistance to Covey

offensive or defensive?

How does Douglass depict his resistance to Covey in

1845 and in 1855?

Are there differences?


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Narrative (1845):

By this time, Bill came. Covey called

upon him for assistance. Bill wanted to

know what he could do. Covey said,

"Take hold of him, take hold of him!" Billsaid his master hired him out to work,

and not to help to whip me; so he left

Covey and myself to fight our own battle

out.


By this time, Bill, the hired man,

came home. . . . Holding me, Covey

called upon Bill for assistance. The

scene here, had something comicabout it. "Bill," who knewprecisely

what Covey wished him to do,

affected ignorance, and pretended he

did not know what to do. "What shall I

do, Mr. Covey," said Bill. "Take hold

of him--take hold of him!" said Covey.

With a toss of his head, peculiar toBill, he said, "indeed, Mr. Covey, I

want to go to work." "This is your

work," said Covey; "take hold of him."

Bill replied, with spirit, "My master

hired me here, to work, and notto

help you whip Frederick." It was nowmy turn to speak. "Bill," said I, "don't

put your hands on me." To which he

replied, "MY GOD! Frederick, I aint

goin' to tech ye," and Bill walked off,

leaving Covey and myself to settle

our matters as best we might.


To what degree is Fredericks resistance to Coveyoffensive or defensive?

How does Douglass depict his resistance to Covey in

1845 and in 1855?

Are there differences?


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Narrative (1845):

Mr. Covey was a poor man; he was just

commencing in life; he was only able to

buy one slave; and, shocking as is the

fact, he bought her, as he said, forabreeder. This woman was named

Caroline. . . . She was a large, able-

bodied woman, about twenty years old.

She had already given birth to one child,

which proved her to be just what he

wanted. After buying her, he hired a

married man of Mr. Samuel Harrison, to

live with him one year; and him he used

to fasten up with her every night! The

result was, that, at the end of the year,

the miserable woman gave birth to

twins.


In the beginning, he [Covey] was only able--as he

said--"to buy one slave;" and, scandalous and

shocking as is the fact, he boasted that he bought

her simply "as a breeder."But the worst is not told

in this naked statement. This young woman(Caroline was her name) was virtually compelled

by Mr. Covey to abandon herself to the object for

which he had purchased her; and the result was,

the birth of twins at the end of the year. At this

addition to his human stock, both Edward Covey

and his wife, Susan, were extatic with joy. No one

dreamed of reproaching the woman, or of finding

fault with the hired man--Bill Smith--the father of

the children, for Mr. Covey himself had locked thetwo up together every night, thus inviting the

result. . . . .

But, my present advantage was threatened

when I saw Caroline (the slave-woman of Covey)

coming to the cow yard to milk, for she was a

powerful woman, and could have mastered me

very easily, exhausted as I now was. As soon as

she came into the yard, Covey attempted to rallyher to his aid. Strangely--and, I may add,

fortunately--Caroline was in no humor to take a

hand in any such sport. We were all in open

rebellion, that morning. Caroline answered the

command of her master to "take hold of me,"

precisely as Bill had answered, but in her, it was at

greater peril so to answer; she was the slave of

Covey, and he could do what he pleased with her.

It was notso with Bill, and Bill knew it. . . .


Compare the portrayal of Caroline in the Narrative and in My

Bondage, My Freedom.

What is similar in both portrayals and what differences

appear?

Why would Douglass change the portrait in 1855?


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Narrative (1845):

This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning-

point in my career as a slave. It rekindled the

few expiring embers of freedom, and revived

within me a sense of my own manhood. It

recalled the departed self-confidence, and

inspired me again with a determination to be

free. The gratification afforded by the triumph

was a full compensation for whatever else

might follow, even death itself. He only can

understand the deep satisfaction which I

experienced, who has himself repelled by

force the bloody arm of slavery. I felt as Inever felt before. It was a glorious

resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the

heaven of freedom. My long-crushed spirit

rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took

its place; and I now resolved that, however

long I might remain a slave in form, the day

had passed forever when I could be a slave in

fact. I did not hesitate to let it be known of me,

that the white man who expected to succeed

in whipping, must also succeed in killing me.


Well, my dear reader, this battle with

Mr. Covey,--undignified as it was, and

as I fear my narration of it is--was the

turning point in my "life as a slave."Itrekindled in my breast the

smouldering embers of liberty; it

brought up my Baltimore dreams,

and revived a sense of my own

manhood. I was a changed being

after that fight. I was nothingbefore; I

WAS A MAN NOW. It recalled to lifemy crushed self-respect and my self-

confidence, and inspired me with a

renewed determination to be A

FREEMAN. A man, without force, is

without the essential dignity of

humanity. Human nature is so

constituted, that it cannot honora

helpless man, although it canpity

him; and even this it cannot do long,

if the signs of power do not arise.


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How to Read a Slave Narrative


(1861)


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Narrative (1845):

This battle with Mr. Covey was the

turning-point in my career as a

slave. It rekindled the few expiring

embers of freedom, and revivedwithin me a sense of my own

manhood. It recalled the departed

self-confidence, and inspired me

again with a determination to be

free.


(1861):

As for Dr. Flint, I had a feeling of

satisfaction and triumph in the thought of

telling him. From time to time he told me of

his intended arrangements, and I wassilent. At last, he came and told me the

cottage was completed, and ordered me to

go to it. I told him I would never enter it. He

said, "I have heard enough of such talk as

that. You shall go, if you are carried by

force; and you shall remain there." I

replied, "I will never go there. In a fewmonths I shall be a mother.

He stood and looked at me in dumb

amazement, and left the house without a

word. I thought I should be happy in my

triumph over him. But now that the truth

was out, and my relatives would hear of it,

I felt wretched. Humble as were theircircumstances, they had pride in my good

character. Now, how could I look them in

the face? My self-respect was gone! I had

resolved that I would be virtuous, though I

was a slave. I had said, "Let the storm

beat! I will brave it till I die." And now, how

humiliated I felt!


How is Harriets resistance to Flint similar to

and different from Freds resistance to

Covey?

Compare their feelings after their acts of

resistance.

Why should they feel so differently?


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Why does Jacobs pointedly state

to her reader that she chose asexual liaison with Mr. Sands

with deliberate calculation?

What does she risk by making

such a statement?

And now, reader, I come to a period in my unhappy life,

which I would gladly forget if I could. The remembrance

fills me with sorrow and shame. It pains me to tell you of it;

but I have promised to tell you the truth, and I will do it

honestly, let it cost me what it may. I will not try to screen

myself behind the plea of compulsion from a master; for it

was not so. Neither can I plead ignorance orthoughtlessness. For years, my master had done his

utmost to pollute my mind with foul images, and to destroy

the pure principles inculcated by my grandmother, and the

good mistress of my childhood. The influences of slavery

had had the same effect on me that they had on other

young girls; they had made me prematurely knowing,

concerning the evil ways of the world. I know what I did,

and I did it with deliberate calculation.

But, O, ye happy women, whose purity has been

sheltered from childhood, who have been free to choose

the objects of your affection, whose homes are protected

by law, do not judge the poor desolate slave girl too

severely! If slavery had been abolished, I, also, could have

married the man of my choice; I could have had a homeshielded by the laws; and I should have been spared the

painful task of confessing what I am now about to relate;

but all my prospects had been blighted by slavery. I

wanted to keep myself pure; and, under the most adverse

circumstances, I tried hard to preserve my self-respect; but

I was struggling alone in the powerful grasp of the demon

Slavery; and the monster proved too strong for me. I felt

as if I was forsaken by God and man; as if all my effortsmust be frustrated; and I became reckless in my despair.


(1861)


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Why does Jacobs feel the need

to ask for pity and pardonfrom her reader?

To what extent is her request for

pardon qualified by other

comments she makes in the

reading from Incidents?

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861)

Pity me, and pardon me, O virtuous reader!You never knew what it is to be a slave; to be

entirely unprotected by law or custom; to

have the laws reduce you to the condition of

a chattel, entirely subject to the will of

another. You never exhausted your ingenuity

in avoiding the snares, and eluding the powerof a hated tyrant; you never shuddered at the

sound of his footsteps, and trembled within

hearing of his voice. I know I did wrong. No

one can feel it more sensibly than I do. The

painful and humiliating memory will haunt me

to my dying day. Still, in looking back, calmly,on the events of my life, I feel that the slave

woman ought not to be judged by the same

standard as others.


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Last Shot

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