The story of Celia, A Slave highlights different social, political, and sexual outcomes that occur to slaves during this time. In Celia’s story she was a sexual partner to Robert Newsom. She was always raped by her master, until one day she murdered her master and disposed of his body by burning it. Celia’s action of killing Newsome, the “master” caused a lot of different outcomes. She had to go through trial and it was influenced by individuals that were trying to restore the personal rights for slaves with moral codes, politics and economic rights.
When Newsom purchased Celia, appearances suggested that he was looking for a servant to assists with cooking and household work. However, that was not the case, Newsom would rape the young girl. The next years of Celia’s life after being bought, her role was being Newsom’s conjugal partner. Due to being Newson’s sexual partner, she was granted certain rights, including by having her own cabin on the property close to the house. Slaves usually lived in small quarters with little privacy, but Celia had her own unique place. It was mainly to keep her away from the other slaves, and for Newsom’s night time visits. As stated “Life for Celia would entail continual sexual exploitation by her master.” . This continued for five years. Throughout that time Celia develops a relationship with a slave named George, whom also belongs to Newsom. Celia turns out to be pregnant with her third child in 1855, and the father of that child could be either Newsom or George, the slave. Since George is a slave he cannot control his own life because they are considered property not human beings. A slave couldn’t control their own life’s destiny however, George gets in frustration and issues Celia to somehow stop the relationship. This cannot be easily done since Celia has little to control over her life like George. “Testimony given at Celia’s trial suggests that Celia’s pregnancy had placed an emotional strain upon George that he could not accept. Celia was his lover… yet he could not protect her from the sexual advances of the man who owned them both.” . This reflects on some of the social and sexual ramifications of slavery that occurred during this time. In this time period within the bonds of slavery, master usually felt that it is their right to engage sexual activity with black women. Sometimes female slaves would hope that such relationships would increase the chances of being liberated by the master. However, most of the time, slave owners took slaves by force into sexual activity. Women slaves couldn’t do anything; consequences of resistance would result into physical beatings. …show more content…
It demonstrated how slaves did not have any freedom at all and this affected them sexually. It was mainly to women because they were the ones that would get rape. There were also social results that demonstrate how it affected slaves. It affected slaves socially because they couldn’t do anything; they were considered property. Politically they couldn’t do anything, not the right to vote, equal rights or to speak out. The moral of the story is that the limitations and functions of the law dealing with these moral uncertainties, show the role of the gender and sexual exploitation in keeping
When Newsom purchased Celia, appearances suggested that he was looking for a servant to assists with cooking and household work. However, that was not the case, Newsom would rape the young girl. The next years of Celia’s life after being bought, her role was being Newsom’s conjugal partner. Due to being Newson’s sexual partner, she was granted certain rights, including by having her own cabin on the property close to the house. Slaves usually lived in small quarters with little privacy, but Celia had her own unique place. It was mainly to keep her away from the other slaves, and for Newsom’s night time visits. As stated “Life for Celia would entail continual sexual exploitation by her master.” . This continued for five years. Throughout that time Celia develops a relationship with a slave named George, whom also belongs to Newsom. Celia turns out to be pregnant with her third child in 1855, and the father of that child could be either Newsom or George, the slave. Since George is a slave he cannot control his own life because they are considered property not human beings. A slave couldn’t control their own life’s destiny however, George gets in frustration and issues Celia to somehow stop the relationship. This cannot be easily done since Celia has little to control over her life like George. “Testimony given at Celia’s trial suggests that Celia’s pregnancy had placed an emotional strain upon George that he could not accept. Celia was his lover… yet he could not protect her from the sexual advances of the man who owned them both.” . This reflects on some of the social and sexual ramifications of slavery that occurred during this time. In this time period within the bonds of slavery, master usually felt that it is their right to engage sexual activity with black women. Sometimes female slaves would hope that such relationships would increase the chances of being liberated by the master. However, most of the time, slave owners took slaves by force into sexual activity. Women slaves couldn’t do anything; consequences of resistance would result into physical beatings. …show more content…
It demonstrated how slaves did not have any freedom at all and this affected them sexually. It was mainly to women because they were the ones that would get rape. There were also social results that demonstrate how it affected slaves. It affected slaves socially because they couldn’t do anything; they were considered property. Politically they couldn’t do anything, not the right to vote, equal rights or to speak out. The moral of the story is that the limitations and functions of the law dealing with these moral uncertainties, show the role of the gender and sexual exploitation in keeping