modern-slave-reflection-blog

[modern-slave-reflection-blog]

fyi the point of fucking up your data patterns isnt to avoid suspicion. it’s to make EVERYONE suspicious. same logic as the bloc, pals.  protect your comrades, be suspicious. ESPECIALLY if you aren’t doing anything likely to get you arrested.

[modern-slave-reflection-blog]

Week Two: Chapters 11 - 20

The trials and tribulations of motherhood, as well as the individual versus the collective a both themes well depicted throughout Linda’s plans to bring freedom to her children. Ignoring the fact that Linda’s initial reason for getting pregnant was a selfish act to spite Dr. Flint, she proves to be a selfless mother and overall person at only nineteen years old.

The first tribulation which Linda encounters follows the birth of her first born Benjamin - and again after the birth of Ellen. “The child shall follow the condition of the mother not of the father” is a constant reminder to the young mother who is unable to give her children a name and little hope for the future. (66) Linda’s children are symbolic of how her situation has now worsen and will forever be so, similar to Hester Prynne’s daughter Pearl in The Scarlet Letter whom she refers to as her little imp. In both instances, the young children act as reminders of the most negative aspects of their life: Linda and her children’s enslavement and Hester’s loveless marriage and her sins. Despite the fact that both are these were consensual acts, this is similar to that of a rape victim who’s child acts as a reminder of such a situation. The second trial which Linda encounters is separation from her children following her initial escape in the hopes that it will ensure their freedom. Linda performs a selfless but dangerous act which many others do not understand such as Mrs. Flint, who claims that “she hasn’t so much feeling for her children as a cow has for its calf. If she had, she would have come back long ago, to get them out of jail, and save all this expense and trouble.” (87) A mother does what she believes is best for her children and Mrs. Flints understanding of Linda’s decision is condemnatory because she, as a white slave owner, has never had to feel the sufferings of motherhood as a slave.

As not only a mother, but a sister and granddaughter as well she is forced to make decisions as she is constantly reminded that her actions effect more than just her children and herself. She hates to see her grandmother suffer from the anguish she might feel but is also faced with the opportunity to shield her children from the horrors of slavery as her family was did her. These are of course not the only instances in which Linda must make seemingly hard decisions. When the whites open up the church to the slaves and free blacks, Linda agrees to teach an old man how to read. Despite the fact that it is unlawful and risks endangering both of them, she does not hesitate in her decision. Which in modern society, I can say without a doubt, most would not do the same. The United States may have once existed as a place where people strived to help others through hard times, however, the time in which I exist is certainly not. Many human beings are selfish beings in current times because they have the means to do so, unlike the slaves who band together in the hope of finding a better life. In the text, Linda suggests to her readers, who at the time were most likely abolitionists, that they should do everything in their will to end slavery because “there are thousands, who, like good uncle Fred, are thirsting for the water of life; but law forbids it, and the churches withhold it.” (63)

There are, at the very least, two sides to every story. Slavery and religion are no exceptions to the rule. Religion can have both beneficial and detrimental consequences. The initial clergyman of the church aims to keep slavery within the south intact, the slave owners use the idea of morality to further their own objective. They manipulate the slaves in to being obedient, even to the most reprobate masters. The second clergyman on the other hand aimed to teach the slaves their worth and how to better their lives. The second man is of course looked to be in the wrong and he and his family are practically alienated because they choose to help the slaves. Scenarios like this shows the two sided nature of religion. While it can bring a sense of fulfillment to ones life, there are those who use religion to their own bias greed. They are hypocritical and able to condemn others without anyone looking back on their sins and judging them. This has of course existed for centuries and will continue to exist long after I have passed. Religion and morals act as shields for most so they can feel as though they can do and say whatever they want without punishment by placing the blame on a higher being.

[modern-slave-reflection-blog]

Week One: Chapters 1-7.

As one of the purposes of the narrative is to express her experience with slavery, I felt it was best to address the individual themes which make up the narrator’s understanding of slavery. Slavery itself starts as something which one might call appealing as the narrator Linda recalls instances of slave children interacting with the children of their masters and her own childhood. Young slave children are shielded from the negatives of their lives, similar to how a poor family shields their young from hardships until they mature. There are slave owners who cherish and respect their slaves and wish to bring little harm to them. However, the concept of slavery develops quickly into the traumatic experience we in modern society know it to be. White slave owners constantly remind their slaves that they are disposable property and unworthy of such things as food and proper clothing. These strikingly different perceptions change the way we as a society view such an event and in doing so encourage new generations to not only reflect on the past, but to encourage people to work together to prevent such horrors from taking place again. 

The beginning chapters of Jacob’s novel holds many prominent, and some common, themes of a slave narrative including the notions of dehumanization and humanity which are key factors in the rise and eventual fall of legal slavery. Linda’s family is lucky enough to be subject to light brown skin and caring slave owners. The mistresses which she recalls are caring women who keep to their word and may even love their slaves in a way one loves a close family member, rather than a pet. To some extent, this love is reciprocated by the slave. Slave owners are seen doing whatever is necessary to prevent slaves from giving or receiving humane acts or building positive relationships with one another. Mr. Flint’s wife is a jealous mistress who forbids the slaves from eating and wishes further suffering upon victims of her husbands adultery. The power dynamic between an owner and a parent creates a rift between the parent and child as seen between William and his father. Linda even recalls a time in which Mrs. Flint stated that her mistress, the young daughter, only pretended to love her out of fear. By doing such things, slave owners aimed to break the resolve of their lessers, however, this proved not to work in all cases. 

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl introduces a refreshing complexity of characteristics as each character is individually complex in nature and is not always clearly defined by their gender or archetype. Linda presents to the audience two distinct versions of the mistress character. Mrs. Flint is a malicious woman who does not care or others and their well-being and is seen being intentionally rude to gain a sense of control. This contrasts to the numerous mistresses depicted in Linda’s childhood, including her mother’s foster sister and the sister of her grandmother’s mistress. Linda’s mistress, whom is technically her foster aunt, shared a good relationship with her slave and wished for no harm to come to her and her children. There is a clear clash between these different characteristics, as many novels which take place during early America depicts women as either naive damsels in need of support from their male counterparts, or women with masculine traits that compare to that of a male. The grandmother also does not fit into the typical role of a slave. Aunt Marthy as she is called by the townspeople is highly respected, able to make money for herself and is described as a “valuable piece of property” because of her intelligence. (9) Like Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter she is publicly degraded because of her societal status but she possesses something which others desire.

The text holds many small anecdotes that are used to further build the narrative’s themes and characters. Most are not telling of her own sufferings, and while not at all amusing, works to enhance the purpose of sharing these experiences. She is giving a voice to the slaves who are less fortunate than herself, which is later confirmed at the end of chapter five. Harriet Jacobs calls the North to action, hoping that the words she’s written will encourage them to help and “kindle a flame of compassion.” (27) One scenario was of a slave who worked as a cook for the Flint family. She was punished harshly whenever the food was not to either master’s liking. This anecdote enhances the depiction of cruelty which the master’s have. Despite the fact that the slave make their comfortable lifestyles possible they often fail to realize that abusing their “property” makes it harder for them to complete tasks, thus creating a viscous cycle of failure and punishment. This sort of situation can still be seen in modern times. For example, in a television show called What Would You Do? an elderly man is depicted verbally abusing his own daughter who acts as his caretaker. After reading this section of the passage I innocently remembered this episode because the scenarios were just too alike.

In some ways, this text is incredibly perplexing or rather, the actions of the characters are mystifying. The biggest element of slavery which made it possible was that African Americans were not humans, but instead on the same level as animals and inanimate objects. Yet their owners were able to take part in inhumane acts without a shred of remorse. To me, this begs the question who is the real human? The slave held in low esteem, who endures mistreatment but remains loyal to it’s ungrateful master. Or the owner who rapes, abuses and holds in contempt other human beings. There is a scene described in a which a slave gave birth and Mrs. Flint tells her that she and her baby will not go to heaven, with the most likely reason being that they were impure. Rather than feel distress over the lost of an innocent child or sympathy for the mother, Mrs. Flint had a “scornful smile” as she tormented the dying woman. Why is it that the woman does not blame her husband for raping the young girl and impregnating her? How is it that a white man can sleep with what he does not deem pure, let alone human, but still believes he is worthy of ascending into Heaven? Are they not just as impure as those they have bedded? Have they not committed a sin?

Interpretations of religion, in particular Christianity, are also an important aspect of the reading thus far. There are two very distinct interpretations of what God’s will is within the text. The question of whether slavery is God’s plan is ambiguous amongst the slaves themselves. While in modern times, it is easy to say what one may have believed if they were in this situation. This text proves that is not the case. On numerous occasions the audience is introduced to opposing opinions from the slave characters. At times, the narrator is unsure what is and is not the will of God. While other characters such as her uncle Benjamin and her brother William are completely convinced that slavery is erroneous and that they are not meant to live such lifestyles. Religion is by far the most universally controversial topics throughout history. Humans have always shared different viewpoints and these differences have often blurred the line of what is wrong and right. The topic of slavery is no different. While yes, numerous decades later, people can see their faults, this has not always been the case. Slavery in America was simply the beginning.