In Colonial America, Christianity slowly penetrated the lives of slaves. Protestantism was regarded as a private matter and masters did little to Christianize their bondsman. Anglican Protestantism did not resonate with most of the slave population, as it heavily rejected mysticism, something which many African slaves still culturally practiced. Although, during the Great Awakening (1700-1790) blacks and whites in the South were swept up in the religious revival which taught all souls are equal. Methodist and Baptist preachers, like the fiery George Whitefield, developed a more inspiring, more animated preaching styles and talked about personal—spiritual—rebirth in Christ, exceedingly appealing to slave. Africans converted to Christianity for
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William Lloyd Garrison, founder of the antislavery newspaper The Liberator, was heavily influenced by free black abolitionists in and, like many others, became a proponent of immediate and uncompensated emancipation. Importantly, radical black abolitionist David Walker became an important figure of Christian liberation theology, which argued, “An armed rebellion against slavery was divinely sanctioned,” and called directly on enslaved blacks to themselves rebel, “To kill your owners, that was obedience to God.” The violent overthrow of slavery was necessary and righteous, according to abolitionists like …show more content…
Stevenson argues, “A profoundly important difference between the experiences of enslaved females and males as laborers in the antebellum South is that most bondsman did not face constant sexual harassment or battery many enslaved girls and women...confronted during their most vulnerable years.” Celia’s actions are inseparable from her gender. For her, it was not religion or an outright act against institution of slavery, it was a single act of revenge against her owner, Robert Newsom. She lashed out in the face of constant molestation and rape perpetrated by him. “[Newsom] felt that his ownership of the young Celia entitled him to use her for his sexual pleasure,” explains McLaurin.This was not a unique occurrence, rather a pervasive practice of American slavery. Nearly every female slave suffered sexual harassment or victimization at some point during their lives. They were merely sexual objects, owners often shared slaves with their sons. McLaurin recounts Senator John Henry Hammond giving a mother and daughter to his legitimate son, Harry. Immediately after purchasing her in 1850, “Newsom raped Celia, and by that act at once established and defined the nature of the relationship between the master and his newly acquired slave.” She was only fourteen years
William Lloyd Garrison, founder of the antislavery newspaper The Liberator, was heavily influenced by free black abolitionists in and, like many others, became a proponent of immediate and uncompensated emancipation. Importantly, radical black abolitionist David Walker became an important figure of Christian liberation theology, which argued, “An armed rebellion against slavery was divinely sanctioned,” and called directly on enslaved blacks to themselves rebel, “To kill your owners, that was obedience to God.” The violent overthrow of slavery was necessary and righteous, according to abolitionists like …show more content…
Stevenson argues, “A profoundly important difference between the experiences of enslaved females and males as laborers in the antebellum South is that most bondsman did not face constant sexual harassment or battery many enslaved girls and women...confronted during their most vulnerable years.” Celia’s actions are inseparable from her gender. For her, it was not religion or an outright act against institution of slavery, it was a single act of revenge against her owner, Robert Newsom. She lashed out in the face of constant molestation and rape perpetrated by him. “[Newsom] felt that his ownership of the young Celia entitled him to use her for his sexual pleasure,” explains McLaurin.This was not a unique occurrence, rather a pervasive practice of American slavery. Nearly every female slave suffered sexual harassment or victimization at some point during their lives. They were merely sexual objects, owners often shared slaves with their sons. McLaurin recounts Senator John Henry Hammond giving a mother and daughter to his legitimate son, Harry. Immediately after purchasing her in 1850, “Newsom raped Celia, and by that act at once established and defined the nature of the relationship between the master and his newly acquired slave.” She was only fourteen years