Harriet A. JacobsBesprekingen

Heartbreaking first person narrative of Harriet Jacobs (written using pseudonym Linda Brent), born into slavery in the mid-1800s and her quest for freedom from slavery for herself and her children.
The family who were slaveholders over her led a relentless years long pursuit of her after she became a fugitive from them.

I am plagued by the suspician that "Harriet" included experiences of others in her narrative, because sheer logistics makes it unlikely she experienced every single one of these horrific events. That suspicion, for me, was counterproductive because it made me distrust the narrative as a whole.

Hakim Adi's selection of writings about Britain (mainly England) by Black people of the late 18th to the early 20th century is carefully chosen to establish their presence in all strata of society at a date earlier than certain commentators would wish it known. There's a thread showing the development of abolitionism into emancipation into supremacism to justify the continued exploitation of Black Labour, and Adi's selections often strongly resonate with current issues, such as the Windrush scandal and the illegal Tory Rwanda deportation policy.

There's also many fascinating glimpses into Georgian and Victorian society and, while varying degrees of racism are noted, many of the impressions of visitors to the island are positive about their reception and of the culture in which they find themselves.

A nuanced and balanced selection of historical testimonies which I thoroughly enjoyed reading, not least the short section on John Ocansey's day trip from Liverpool to my home town of Southport 🏖️½

5 stars for the Librivox audiobook recording by Elizabeth Klett, 4½ stars for the Kindle edition book. Elizabeth Klett is absolutely wonderful narrating this autobiography. I couldn't stop listening once I had started!

I decided to read this in honor of Back History Month. As a result of a recent conversation, I realized that my previous focus on the Civil Rights movement was perhaps a little too 'easy' on my white upper middle class conscience. I didn't really know anything about this book other than the fact that I had heard the title before. I was ready for the book to have descriptions of atrocities but what I wasn't ready for was the literate style of the prose. I know, shame on me for my stereotypical preconceptions!

Harriet Jacobs tells her story in such a straightforward manner as to compell belief, and while the abuses she describes are now well-known, it must have taken a tremendous amount of strength of mind to write and publish this in 1861. She not only documents the terrible degradations of slavery, but also the racism she and her children are forced to undergo in the "free states" of New York and Massachusetts.

4½ stars. Powerful autobiography of Harriet Jacobs; this story of her life growing up as a slave and her eventual escape into the North is enhanced by the matter-of-fact manner which she uses to describe some terrible conditions. By matter-of-fact, I don't mean that she is accepting of these conditions - she speaks passionately about the injustices, cruelty, and hypocrisy she sees both in the south and the north - but she doesn't dramatize when she is describing them. I found this factual tone to make the story more compelling, so much so that I couldn't stop once I started.

To have written and published this in 1861 shows what tremendous strength of character Harriet Jacobs had, especially as she includes some fairly scathing commentary on the racism she and her children faced in the "free states" of New York and Massachusetts. I can see how incendiary this book must have been when it came out! Even as an emancipated woman living in a free state, it must have been dangerous for her (even using a pseudonym).

This accounting of slavery in the South and oppression in the North is written by a woman slave and fully offers her perspective as a mother, granddaughter, sister, and niece. She claims that she does not write well, but that is certainly not reflected in this book. She cites hymns, scripture, songs, and relates both her trials and tribulations with such emotion.
This book should be required reading in middle school.

see Frederick Douglass narrative of his life; these are the 2 definitive autobiographies of this era

These two books are sometimes very hard going, but essential reading for Americans. We probably tend to think about slavery very much in the abstract, when we even think about it, but these narratives make it painfully palpable and very human. In a way complementary to Akhil Reed Amar’s brilliant description of the way slavery thoroughly corrupted the American political system (in his America’s Constitution), these books reveal in detail the thoroughgoing and extraordinary moral perversion slaveholding caused in individual lives – to some extent those of slaves, but much more those of slave owners, poor southern whites, and complicit northerners. Of course we also see the brutality, horrors and deprivations of slave life.

Douglass’ narrative is better known than Jacobs.’ Among many other things, how he taught himself to write is a remarkable story of shrewdness and determination against all odds. Jacobs’ was an appalling life of virtually constant sexual harassment from an early age, which was undoubtedly a normal situation for many female slaves. What she went through to escape it is hard to imagine, and her single-minded determination to see her children free is incredible. The picture she gives of the distortions slavery caused in slaveholding families – lecherous men unconstrained by law or convention, angry and vengeful wives, gossip and whispering among white and black children and adults, children sold by their fathers to get the family features and relations out of sight and mind, and the increasing corruption of individuals’ characters this caused over time – again, hard going but essential reading. A peculiar institution, ordained by God, good for the slave and slaveholder alike. Indeed.

Agonizing to read yet impossible to put down. How it was possible for a whole system of oppression to exist in the formation of the United States is absolutely beyond me. Jacobs makes the experiences of slavery accessible and puts them in context of not only the individual but of the family while at the same time highlighting the particular impact on women. Absolutely a must-read.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is the autobiography of amazing human being, Harriet Jacobs. Harriet wrote her memoir under the name Linda Brent and changed the names of the people who owned her as well as helped her due to fear. Harriet's upbringing and education leads to very well written account of her harrowing time as a slave. She has even written a preface saying that her accounts may be difficult to believe, but they are very true.

Harriet had an unusual experience as a slave. Her younger years were spent with what she called a "kind mistress." Harriet spent most of her time sewing, playing, and learning. However, when that mistress died, Harriet was given to another family member. The master of Harriet's new house, Dr. Flint, becomes obsessed with Harriet and begins to manipulate, degrade and possess her fully. Harriet uses her cunning and intelligence to outsmart him as well as extreme perseverance and strength. Harriet escapes to her grandmother's house and hides in a small garret above a shed for seven years before she escapes to the North. The entire time, Dr. Flint does not give up on finding Harriet. I was constantly amazed by Harriet's fortitude, especially when in her garret and constantly staying ahead of Dr. Flint's manipulations and lies. Even when Harriet was in New York, she refused to be seen as anyone's property and did not want to be bought by another in order to be granted freedom. Harriet made excruciating choices for her survival including leaving her children and pushing her body to its limits. Harriet wrote her story in order to inform and inspire women of the North to the situation of women in the South. Her story is still engaging, inspiring and educational for people today.

Recommended. Resolute story and person.

Not an easy read, but a good look at slave life, particularly the life of an escaped slave. It is shocking to me that Linda was not re-captured. It was a constant battle for so many years until she was finally given her freedom. The author was extremely eloquent in conveying her thoughts and opinions and she was generally much kinder in her thoughts toward some of the white people in her life than I would have been. It is still hard for me to understand how supposed Christians could condone slavery, but they did. And that should be taught in schools and not forgotten or brushed under the rug. It happened. No one alive today was responsible for slavery, but we are all responsible for the repercussions emanating from it.

What a heartbreaking memoir, but what an important read. It's writing like this that reminds me of the importance of literature and of writing. This is a piece of history and Linda Brent weaponized her trauma and grief in order to plead for the cause of oppressed black people. It was an honor to read this today knowing how history turned out, and how we're still seeing the effects of that "demon Slavery" plague the nation today. Truly an honor to read such an incredible story with one of the strongest voices I have ever read.

Slavery from a woman's point of view. Should be required reading with Douglass' narrative.

This was a nonfiction book which I couldn't put down. A gripping story not only of survival, but of a woman determined not to let her personhood be taken from her or her children. She explains very clearly how the act of slavery demeans the slave's physical and spiritual moral, but it also degrades the slaver. She goes a long way to explain the current issues of race we are still struggling with in the United States. It is a long reaching sin. Its tentacles reached up into the northern states as they passed laws complying with the southern states, allowing slaves to be sent back to their masters. That act then removed the African-Americans from the category of personhood in their minds. She makes it clear; it wasn't enough to not be a slaveholder, all of those who didn't cry out against the evil were guilty of supporting it.

This book made me think. What atrocities against others am I complying with in the world today? Complying by my silence? By my lack of involvement? By my not wanting to hear them. What side will my name be listed on in future generations?

So poignant and under-rated. Told in a writing style similar to other female Victorian novelists.

I read this book almost 20 years ago. I remember feeling like her experiences were almost fantastical. Surely the horrors of slavery shared so matter of factly must be an exaggeration. Yet my studies of the peculiar institution have borne out the truth in this narrative, as has extensive historical research into the life of Harriet Jacob's and her family and enslaver.
Harriet Jacob's memoir is extremely readable. It's clearly written in the language of the period, the violence while horrifying somehow feels less real than fictional slave narratives written in more direct and current language for me. Still I find myself unwilling to put the book down though I'm quite familiar with her story.
The horrors of slavery are not short sold in this book. Most especially the uniquely horrifying lot of the female slave. I find myself deeply impressed with Harriet's courage, tenacity, and self esteem.

The narrative is heartbreaking. Fought between tears and rage throughout the reading. My most pervasive thought while reading this was "WTF is wrong with human beings?" Perhaps history should be taught with more personal narratives, like this one, instead of rote memorization of dates, maybe we'd all learn something. Superb book that will cause me to seek out more like it.

DNF

Before the end of the civil war, over one hundred former slaves had written moving stories of their captivity and by 1944, when George washington Carver published his autobiography, over six thousand ex-slaves ahd written what caalled slave narratives. No group of slaves anywhere, in any other ear, has left such prolific testimony to the horror of bondage and servitude.

Frederick Douglass's account is searing. The plantation owners create a system of unremitting torture and terror. Slaves are whipped for no reason, forced to work every moment of the day, and are always hungry for lack of food. Douglass rebels, and, impossibly, survives.

I actually read Professor Fegan yellin's book which is a superset of this particular book, as the original work itself along with Yellin's commentaries and sources.

I read this book several years ago and it's still sticks in my mind as a groundbreaking book for several reasons. More than just about the misery of being a slave, this book recounts The difficulties of being a woman slave, and in particular those difficulties associated with being a house slave female and light-skinned. These were all differences that made life differently difficult, not necessarily more difficult for other slaves, but certainly extremely difficult. And they are different from what was written by Frederick Douglass.

I actually read Professor Fegan yellin's book which is a superset of this particular book, as the original work itself along with Yellin's commentaries and sources.

I read this book several years ago and it's still sticks in my mind as a groundbreaking book for several reasons. More than just about the misery of being a slave, this book recounts The difficulties of being a woman slave, and in particular those difficulties associated with being a house slave female and light-skinned. These were all differences that made life differently difficult, not necessarily more difficult for other slaves, but certainly extremely difficult. And they are different from what was written by Frederick Douglass.