Slavery

For my essay, I am exploring the topic of slavery in Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. I will argue that Jacobs’ narrative reveals that slaves are capable of retaining humanistic characteristics, which disprove earlier colonial perspectives of Africans. My essay will primarily focus on how the importance of familial, communal, and religious bonds creates emotions that can be felt universally. In showing that these feelings are not subjected to one’s skin colour, Jacobs demonstrates that the rights of man should not be restricted in such a manner, either. The following documents will support my argument because Jacobs’ narration of her personal encounters with slaves reveals the devastation which arose when those bonds were …show more content…
Not only have the Europeans used the Bible to promote slavery, but their interpretation of slavery comes from a time when enslaving coloured people was accepted because they were seen as “uncivilized” for not being Christians. However, as this passage reveals the adaptation of Christianity by slaves, readers begin to question if it is acceptable for Christians to enslave other Christians. Jacobs writes “they [the slaves] never seem so happy as when shouting and singing at religious meetings.” She also notes how slaves congregate to write hymns, which they sing “as though they were as free as the birds that warbled around us.” Although the slaves were amused by the reverend’s oppressive sermon described at the beginning of the passage, such an incident reveals their commitment to God, rather than what is being preached. After Nat Turner’s insurrection, the slaves had lost their “church”, so they appear willing to attend anything that allowed them to connect with God once again. Jacobs’ description of the slave’s enthusiasm for writing and singing church hymns further verifies the importance of religion and God in a slave’s life, and how their connection with Him can make them forget, even briefly, about their oppressed