Litrature+Of+Slavery+And+Freedom

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.