A Call to Action

Compelling, vivid, and rather violent images of despair and mistreatment were the calls to action that abolitionist authors like John Whittier and Frances Harper incorporated in their poems during the antislavery crusade. Most memorable were the images in "The Slave Mother" by Harper, in which the author portrayed the separation of mother in a tormenting fashion: "He is not hers, although she bore for him a mother's pains; He is not hers, although her blood is coursing through his veins" (17-20). In modern days and in the past, it is assumed that the relationship between mother and child quintessential to development - a relationship that should not be tampered with. Yet, when a slave master is described as standing in the way of that bond, the reader must feel immense sympathy for the situation and is therefore called to action to improve standards in the racially divided United States. Likewise, in her other poem entitled "Ethiopia," the image of laughing children to startle readers. The only difference, though, is that the image of children in "Ethiopia" is a more positive one, as "'Neath sheltering vines and stately palms shall laughing children play, and aged sires with joyous psalms shall gladden every day" represents the fact that, although slave children are stuck in an oppressive state, the redress of God will bring light to the lives of the children (17-20). Although this perspective may not startle readers because it does not physically torment, it shows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and with the work of crusaders, that redress of God will show through sooner. Lastly, in "The Farewell of a Virginia Slave Mother to Her Daughters" by Whittier, daughters are "sold and gone" to dark, lonesome, gloomy homes where "There no mother's eye is near them, there no mother's ear can hear them; Never, when the torturing lash seams their back with many a gash, shall their mother's kindness bless them, or a mother's arms caress them" (15-20). Not only does the whipping images startle a reader, but the fact that these children in despair are left suffering without the loving touch of a mother is the one image a reader needs to realize that the antislavery crusade is something that everyone should join, and, fortunately for the success of the United States, that abolition crusade finally worked many years later.

A Plight for Freedom

During a time of immense struggle for independence and abolition, women of the 1860’s like Linda, the main character in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, employed the power of voice and reason to spread the message of slavery across the Free States and Slave States alike. Although Linda was thrown into slavery at a young age, she chose to speak up to her master regardless of the beatings that ensued, and also chose to run away and fight for her freedom regardless of the search parties her master was gathering. “When separations come by the hand of death, the pious soul can bow in resignation...but when the ruthless hand of man strikes the blow, regardless of the misery he causes, it is hard to be submissive” (Jacobs, Pg. 772). Because Linda is an African American woman whose mother was also a slave, she is forced be sold into slavery and from then on she battled several social contexts. Starting with race and culture, her mixed racial skin tone, known as “mulatto,” contributed to the lack of prospects for her to “lead a better life.” The entire problem of slavery came about in the 1860’s because of the culture clash between African Americans and the social hierarchy and class structure of the White folks. For example, when Linda fell in love with a free black man, she mentioned she could never marry him or leave her slave because “the husband of a slave has no power to protect her.” Therefore, African American men were still considered lower in gender roles to the White man, and the African American slave woman was the lowest in social classes. Although society says that African American woman must be the housekeepers, the slaves, the cleaners, Linda resists those roles completely - which is why the reader connects so strongly to her plight for freedom. When her master hits her for the first time, Linda speaks her mind and says, “You have tried to kill me, and I wish you had; but you have no right to do as you like with me.” African American slave women speaking up in such a way at that time was nonexistent, which is one of the reasons why Jacobs was trying to teach women in her situation to escape. Also, Linda is willing to speak up about her race and her love with her husband, as her master calls them puppies and she responds, “If he is a puppy, I am a puppy, for we are both of the negro race. It is right and honorable for us to love each other. The man you call a puppy never insulted me, sir; and he would not love me if he did not believe me to be a virtuous woman” (Jacobs, Pg. 774). The painful memories of Linda’s past makes my heart ache in sadness for the hardships African American woman had to endure because of the color of their skin, yet it inspires me that we have a culture today that, for the most part, provides equal treatment and happiness for all.