Harriette Jacobs
...encounters are only few of the words used to describe Jacob’s experience as a slave girl growing up down south in the 18th century. Jacob’s gave the world a very detailed account about her life during slavery. Slaves at her time weren’t allowed any rights and were subject to their masters who mistreated and whipped them for no reason given. She was passed down from generations and sold to other masters like baseballs cards but treated like animals. Jacob’s suffered from the separation from her loved ones and work to make a living for her masters and not for herself. As African American male I stand proud it was my ancestors who endured many pains and suffering so that I could experience this opportunity I have in front of my.
In "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl", Harriet Jacobs writes, “Where could I turn for protection? No matter whether the slave girl be black as ebony or as far as her mistress. In either case, there is no shadow of law to protect her from insult, from violence, or even from death” (Jacob p. 26). This quotation describes the attitudes African American women felt and parallels to the way African American were treated as slaves. Women slaves worked mostly in the master house cooking, cleaning, and nursing. Although their labor wasn’t as physically demanding such as the males, they still had to deal with being emotionally and physically taken advantage of. “He told me I was his property; that I must be subject to his will in all things” (Jacob p. 26). According to Jacobs, slave masters viewed them as their property and often became offended if they were trying to marry away to other men.
Many slaves knew the masters were messing around with women slaves living in the household; however, they couldn’t tell anyone about the affairs. If any slave was to tell about the affair their punishment could ultimately result in death. Silence,...
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