LITR
4232: American Renaissance
University
of Houston-Clear Lake, spring 2002
Index to Student Research Projects
Laura Haynes
American Renaissance
Dr. Craig White
20 April 2002
Journal: Slave Narratives
Table of Contents
Part 1 Introduction
Part 2: Article Reviews
1. Chrisman Robert. ": The Slave Narrative: It’s Influence Upon Black Publishing And Traditions“ Black Renaissance/Renaissance Noire Summer-Fall 2001 v3 i3 p102.
2. Pierce, Yolanda “The Narrative Of the Life of J.D. Green, A Runaway Slave “ANQ, Fall 2001 v14 i4 p15
Part 3: Literary Biographies
1.
Frederick Douglass
2.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
3.
Harriet Jacobs
Part
3: Websites on Slavery
Part 4: Conclusion:
Part 1: Introduction
Purpose and Organization of Slave Narratives
Slavery is at times a subject that most Americans either do not talk about, or they make it sound like something that was not significant. I cannot count the conversations I have heard that simplified slavery into three words.” That was the past”. Slavery is an issue that should be discussed in homes to our children. Discussed so that our future leaders are aware of past mistakes, and not let it repeat itself. Slavery should not be sugar coated, but told with correct historical facts.
Looking out on America, you see it enormous beauty and see hope for tomorrow. This same beauty you see today, has a very ugly past. With every developing country you always have snags in its creation. America is evolving in to a beauty of freedom but still holds on it to its biases and prejudices.
I chose slave narratives so that I could investigate viewpoints and hear the stories of victims who endured slavery. I also would like to introduce myself to a wider variety of slave narratives in literature. Read the narrative in Harriet Jacobs’s story and you feel the claustrophobia of the small attic hole she lived in for so long. You cannot jump in a time machine a re-live, but through the words of these authors you can imagine some of their pain. Finally and least important is my love for history, and how it feels like my mind feeds of facts and stories about history. Slave narratives are great representation of the struggles that African American were cruelly forced endure.
The organization of my journal will go in this order. First I would like to examine the history of slavery in America. Secondly I will take three slave narrative journals, and give brief analysis of each. Thirdly I want to get into the biographies of these writers to better understand their purpose of their literature. Next I want to get with the 21st century and critique and analyze some web sites. Finally I will summarize the information gathered and how much I have learned. I would also list ways I could have improved my research and how I might continue it if given the chance.
Slavery is an
important obstacle and something that America is still improving on at a very
slow pace. The educational system in America gets goose bumps when teaching the
subject, and unfortunately the facts in the book only tell half of the story.
Through this research I should be able to erase the half-truth told to me when I
was in school, and will be able to share my knowledge with family and friends.
PART 2: REVIEW ARTICLES
Chrisman, Robert. ": The Slave Narrative: It’s Influence Upon Black Publishing And Traditions“ Black Renaissance/Renaissance Noire Summer-Fall 2001 v3 i3 p102.
The article by Chrisman describes the evolution of the slave narrative and for what reasons. He said slave narratives were culturally developed, and said the development was for three main reasons. The first slave narrative was not primarily written just to end slavery, but more of a way of a counseling of self. The slave narrative was to fulfill that empty voice of African Americans that had been silenced for so many years, it was their self-fulfillment. It also developed a strong backbone for African Americans to see that they were no different than their masters and they deserved the same rights. This type of narratives was the slave’s ammunition that fueled the civil war.
The slave narratives after 1830 had changed a great deal. They were no longer the story of bad fortune that had its hardship and everyone was looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. They told the horror that were going through in great detail, with a message of rebellion and change. The author states that the change of the narrative was mainly based on the booming economy and new inventions. The gin production increased production in cotton and more slave hands were needed. It was not such a nice environment, and slaves were forced to work hard with increase in discipline and cruelty. For those not conforming.
The
rebels that could write were rising up, and sending the message to citizens of
America that may not be aware of the facts and would listen about their
pains. Slave narrative surpassed some major writers of this period, authors like
Thoreau, and Melville. This was a pivotal point for American literature,
expanding the genre and introducing a vast amount of symbolism.” “The
slave’s act of self-emancipation became the social progenitor and the slave
narrative became its first fruit.” (6).
Pierce, Yolanda “The Narrative Of the Life of J.D. Green, A Runaway Slave “ANQ, Fall 2001 v14 i4 p15
This article written by a professor gave a new spin to slave narratives. Green’s narrative did the opposite of speaking against one side, but showed discourse for both. He uses the word I, when so many authors use alias to tell their stories. Green condemns religion, and said that they are basically the roots of all evil. He called the preacher’s sermon “ droppings”. He feels like the majority of the slaves that God made us all, and refers to white as being one color God chose and black was just another random choice.
Green
made several mistakes, but it did not seem to change his attitude toward
slaveholders, and he rebelled every chance he was given. He escaped three times.
He talks how he paid the white man, and sometime violently. Once a white man
made fun of him and Green put gunpowder in his pipe covered with a tiny bit of
tobacco, Green swore he would get revenge and he did.
Greens
slave narratives, gave a side to literature that many were not accustom too. He
told the truth with no regard to the people he may anger or the punishment he
may receive. One outstanding finding in this reading is that Green had white
Americans verify his information and some were high member of society. His
writing showed no favoritism he tells of the times he paid his own people back
if they angered him enough. Green breaks the “code of behavior” for authors
who first wrote about their stories as slaves. The code Green often broke in his
literature was honesty, honor, not prideful or selfish. He wanted justice and
wanted to represent every black man, woman, and child. Greens was consider
egotistical and thought he was the best looking Negro. Green did not see
anything wrong with a little pride and lies. He wanted to be a lone ranger when
it came to his narratives. He hated the average stereotype of African American
as writers he was to be the only trickster in slave narrative literature.
Part 3: BIOGRAPHIES
These three huge writers were essential for the slave movement, and without them many issues may never had be dealt with. Harriet Beecher Stowe was not an author of slave narratives, but the impact of her work about slaves narratives, did open some eyes of her race. I am sure many whites would not have had any idea about the pains of slavery without reading her material. These three influential writers were born and died about the same time frame, and had the great desire to abolish slavery and make a difference in representative literature. Many times they crossed paths, or worked on the same projects, I find this amazing and call them the “Breakfast Club Of the 19th Century”. If you have not seen the movie your either too old or too young.
Frederick
Douglass
Feb 1817 – Feb 20, 1895
Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born in Maryland. His mother was Harriet Bailey and was able to read and write which was uncommon for any slaves. Douglass’s father was presumed to be a white master. He was a fortunate slave, if there is such a term, and was not exposed to what the traditional slave had to endure. His job was to be the companion of his master’s son. His owner’s wife taught him to read, write and speak fluently. He had friends that were both white and black. He was able to move between groups with ease. This proves to be a very powerful tool in his writings later on. He was more aware of the issue on both sides, and it showed in his writing. He went back and forth between Baltimore shipyards and the Lloyd plantation. After returning to the plantation at sixteen years old age he established a Black Sabbath School
He escapes in 1838 impersonating a black free sailor. He married a free woman named Anna Murray. He adopts the last name Douglass to elude his owner.
Douglass worked a few small jobs in Massachusetts. In 1839 he begins his public speaking. Everyone is astounded of his ability and intellect. In 1841 he attends a convention of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Again they are so impressed he is asked to be the spokesman. His narrative of his slavery sold 30,000 copies he was considered a fold hero. In 1847 he was speaking worldwide in Ireland, Scotland and England. When he got back to New York he established the newspaper the “North Star”. The motto for this paper was the following: Right Is Of No Sex… Truth Has No Color… God Is The Father Of Us All. We Are All Brethren. The paper was not a financial success, but provided the movement with a good base for development. Five out of Six reader of his paper were white. He almost changed the name of the paper to brotherhood, but realized that it would not include the sisterhood. In 1848 he attended the Women’s Rights Convention. This is a move that many slave narrative authors took. The combination of two activist groups assured larger numbers backing up the fight. When Douglass went overseas he was raising money to support the effort of the union. He later published a magazine that also failed, but was successful for the cause. IN 1872 he was nominated and placed on the Equal Rights Party ticket. In 1877 appointed Us Marshall for the District of Columbia. His first wife dies in 1882 and he remarried in 1884 to Helen Pitts, his white secretary. In 1889 he was named consul for Haiti. After retiring into private life he dies of a heart attack in 1895.
Work Cited
Dictionary of Literary Biography. "American Magazine Journalists, 1850-1900." Gale 79 (1989). pg 139-143.
Harriet
Beecher Stowe
1811-1896
Harriet was the seventh child of a famous preacher Lyman Beecher. Harriet’s first depression came when her mother, Roxana Foote, died when Harriet was only four years old. Harriet soon inherited a stepmother, Harriet Parker Beecher, who she eventually had a very good relationship with. After the death of her mother, her older sister Catherine took care of young Harriet. Harriet went in to depression very young because of her mother’s death.
She went to live with her grandmother and aunt who loved in Long Island. There she learned to read and for the first time she met blacks that were called indentured servants. Harriet hated the fact they were not treated equally. Harriet went back home in 1816 to go to school and was an avid student. Her father had a vast library, and she was given free reign of it by her father, She was influenced by the Declaration of Independence. She pledged her life for that cause.
At age 10 she was first in her class, and at 11 wrote her first composition. Her father was chosen to be president of a seminary in Ohio, so they moved. In Ohio Harriet joined the Literary Society. There she met Salmon P. Chase, who introduced her to the anti slavery movement. She became friends with Eliza Stowe. She became a teacher at the academy for women that her sister started. Harriet wrote several educational books, such as geography and grammar.
With the sale of this books she crossed the Ohio River and was inspired to write from the plantations she saw. This would be the setting of Uncle Toms Cabin. When her friend Eliza died she took care of her husband and eventually married Calvin Stowe.
Harriet and Eliza had twin daughters, who never married. The Fugitive Slave Law 1850 made her writing more serious. She was convinced God came to her in a vision about a slave’s family, and wanted her to make a difference. In 1851 the first episode of Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a huge success. It was translated into thirty-seven different languages and was even turned into a play. This first edition Harriet wrote a key to attack Southernism.
She was then invited to speak at the Anti Slavery Convention. In 1853-1854 She wrote an article for the Atlantic Journal. While traveling abroad she formed a friendship with Lady Byron, the wife of a famous poet, Lord Byron. She was also able to meet Queen Victoria in 1856. Shortly after returning her son drowned in the Connecticut River. 1863 She wrote articles to advocate jobs for free slaves. She and her husband bought land and hired 100 free slaves to work the old cotton plantation. This venture was unsuccessful, but prepared for her next move.
She opened a school in Florida for ex-slaves. She was credited fro making Florida a popular state. In 1871 feeling her age, and the sorrow of loosing another son at sea was devastating to her. She finally settled down a wealthy person and lived next door to Mark Twain in Hartford, Connecticut. After being bedridden she dies in her sleep.
Work Cited
Dictionary of Literary Biography. "Contemporary Author Online." Gale Group (2000).
Harriet
Jacobs
1813-
March 7, 1897
Harriet Jacobs was born in Edenton, North Carolina in fall of 1813. Her parents were both slaves of different master/owners. It is thought that her father, Elijah Jacobs was the son of his owner’s neighbor. Delilah Jacobs dies when Harriet was six year old. She then was sent to live with mistress Margaret Horniblow. She treated young Harriet with kindness and taught her to sew, read write and spell.
When Harriet was ten her mistress died and she was willed to her three-year-old niece, Mary Matilda Norcom. This was the beginning of Harriet’s real pain. Master Norcom continually made sexual advancements and promised her a house if she would service him sexually. At 16 she had a sexual relationship with a young lawyer, Sam Sawyer, and had two children Joseph (1829) Louisa (1835). Harriet was using her head and deflected attention and advances. Harriet and the children moved in with her grandmother, due to the jealousy of Norcom’s wife. Several more advancements were still being made even after the loosing her virginity and having two children. She constantly refused and was forced in the field to do hard labor. She had the idea that her kids would always be safe. Harriet was wrong and had to escape to protect them.
She lived in a small space in the attic for seven years never seeing or talking-to her kids. She did see the kids occasionally through a one-inch hole. In 1842 she escaped to Philadelphia. She sent fro her son and met with daughter, and she began work as a nursemaid. Norcom's were persistent in getting back this valuable slave. She worked with Amy Post a Quaker Reform who urged Jacobs to write about her experiences.
In 1850 there was a close call wither old mistress, but to avail Norcom went home empty handed. She then took her daughter with her to Massachusetts In 1852 she was bought by her new mistress and released. To society she was still not equal and she was angry by not knowing about the sales going on behind her back. During the civil war Harriet and her daughter worked with the relief effort. In 1870 ran boardinghouse and sold her grandma’s house. She died in Washington D.C. and buried in Cambridge Massachusetts.
Work Cited
Dictionary of Literary Biography. "American Women Prose Writers,1820-1870” Gale Group (2001) pp 152-159.
PART 3: WEBSITES
1. http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/douglass/
This Site was the best I have seen for Douglass. It gives an accurate biography, and gives plenty of links to gather more information. It has some very good photos, with excerpts from his writings. I did feel some facts were missing, but again it had links to add to your search for information on Douglass. This site receives
2. http://www.drizzle.com/~tmercer/Jacobs/index.html
This site was
very accurate, and had great pictures. It also had a link to letters written by
Harriet Jacobs. With all most all websites it had accurate links to broaden your
search. I give this site
3.
http://docsouth.unc.edu/result.phtml?lcsh=Slaves'%20writings,%20American.
This site was awesome and full of slave narratives. Of course I found it
after my research. It has a wide variety between black male and female slaves to
white male and female abolitionist.
4. http://www.chfweb.com/smith/harriet.html
This site
was very well organized and with its menu made it easy to navigate I think it
would be a good site for any literature classes to get some good info about
Stowe. I think its usefulness can be determined on what information you may be
looking for. It does have good link for information that may not be obtained at
this address.
5. http://www.nyhistory.com/harriettubman/life.htm
I don’t
think slavery cannot be discussed without the great stories of successful
escapes. Tubman risked her life so many times to free her fellow brother and
sisters. A good lead into the underground visual site #6 website.
6. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/
This is the
most awesome sight I have ever seen. You get to hear the sounds of the darkness
as slaves try to escape through the woods and to get to the Underground Railroad
safely. This would be a great for educational purposes. It is visual, auditory
to capture the minds of all types of learners. It gives good narration, and I
recommend this sight above all the rest. It is very accurate to history, with a
little added detail to help with it effectiveness.
PART 4: CONCLUSION
This assignment is a never-ending project. Of all the information I found I still have extra information that needs to be researched. I have learned so much in doing this project about slave narratives. I have seen several narratives with different styles, and I have seen the outcomes of each writers work. If I were to continue this I would keep what I had right now, and explore on some individual, but in more depth. I would like more time to read more of the novels, and more of the not well know slave narratives. I think there are lots of uses with these pages could be applied. All the information could start a good website for students in school to help with research, or just good reading.
Through my research I have seen again, why I started this research and that is because I think education of slavery is continually sugar coated. This representation literature is great reading, and the writing is amazing. The detail, symbolism, language makes this work an art form. Slavery is important, and the education will lower the odds something so horrific happening again.