From the early 1830’s until the end of the Civil War in 1865, African American writers were able to publish literature that positively impacted many American’s viewpoint regarding slavery. Many people believe that these writings were the main impetus behind the movement to abolish slavery. During this time the slave narrative evolved, becoming an important voice for not only the slaves themselves, but also for the entire abolitionist movement. Many African American authors worked to end slavery alongside their abolitionist counterparts; people such as John Brown, John Hopkins, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Abraham Lincoln. One such author was Frederick Douglass, who was a slave himself in the early years of his youth (MacKethan).
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Many Southerners worked against abolitionists, and as a result the white abolitionists depended on the credibility of the narratives to support their arguments against slavery. Many times when these former slaves were interviewed, they shared their experiences being a slave, and their scarred bodies proved to be effective testimonies against the slaveholders; instilling a sense of compassion in the audience for the slaves who suffered such harsh experiences. The inhumane treatment they received as slaves was put on display when they presented themselves in public. This became an effective way to authenticate their accounts of the torture they shared in their narrative …show more content…
The idea that everyone, African Americans included, should be able to work for themselves and be paid for that work, was also encouraged as part of the anti-slavery movement. Due to the joint efforts of the white abolitionists and the slave narrators, the unjust institution of slavery and its horrible side effects were propelled into the spotlight. Even before slavery was abolished, the anti-slavery movement created an atmosphere in which white citizens were able to grasp the true horror of slavery and realize the importance of individual freedom and labor for everyone. This also eased the work of abolitionists and the struggle of the slaves to free themselves
Many Southerners worked against abolitionists, and as a result the white abolitionists depended on the credibility of the narratives to support their arguments against slavery. Many times when these former slaves were interviewed, they shared their experiences being a slave, and their scarred bodies proved to be effective testimonies against the slaveholders; instilling a sense of compassion in the audience for the slaves who suffered such harsh experiences. The inhumane treatment they received as slaves was put on display when they presented themselves in public. This became an effective way to authenticate their accounts of the torture they shared in their narrative …show more content…
The idea that everyone, African Americans included, should be able to work for themselves and be paid for that work, was also encouraged as part of the anti-slavery movement. Due to the joint efforts of the white abolitionists and the slave narrators, the unjust institution of slavery and its horrible side effects were propelled into the spotlight. Even before slavery was abolished, the anti-slavery movement created an atmosphere in which white citizens were able to grasp the true horror of slavery and realize the importance of individual freedom and labor for everyone. This also eased the work of abolitionists and the struggle of the slaves to free themselves