Blog#5

Blog #5
Textbook
1.Slavery affected southern white and black women very differently. If you were the ideal feminine mold of southern value and culture, you were most likely considered to be elite and holding the “slave women’s fate” (157) in hand. Because these elite women were expected only to preserve their innocence, beauty and live leisurely lives, the rest of the work and child rearing fell onto black slaves. Black slaves were expected not only to perform manual and domestic labors, but also often raised white women’s children. They did not however always raise their own. Often times black women and men were separated from each other and children were sold. A black child was identified through his or her mother so one could keep the races undoubtedly divided. White women who worked on plantations also performed manual and domestic labors since they usually worked with their families and could not afford slaves. One thing that set them apart from both elite and black slave women is that they often raised their own children.

2.The main significance of Harriet Jacobs’ story is in the truths she tells of hardships black women slaves faced in the 1800’s. Her story reiterates many things we have already read and learned about the brutal lives of black women slaves. She was sexually harassed by her master and hated by her mistress. She was considered property and had no legal rights or anyone to turn to for help. She spoke knowing that this life was not only for her, but for many slave women during the time. Because her story is considered legitimate by historians, the implications of truth that unfolds from her accounts paints a clear picture of life and hardship for black slave women.

Source Interpertation
1.White men and women believed so blindly that blacks were so completely unequal to them, that they did not even share the same emotional abilities as whites. Marriage between blacks was not permitted not only for lack of emotional ability, but also for the fear of decrease in wealth. Blacks were often thought of as stupid, incompetent, and without love. Both of these stories dispute those ideas. The first story tells of the way Ellen, a slave, outsmarts white men by dressing as a man and escaping to be with her love. She not only proved she was smart, but also that she had such deep emotions that she was willing to risk getting caught in order to be with him. In the second story, the slave was sold for loving and having a child with another slave on a different plantation. He showed and challenged the white’s beliefs about blacks, but saying he loved her and would work and be a “good negro” (181), if only he could stay and see her once a week. Both stories and tellers accounts shows the competence and real emotions felt by these young people, regardless to the ignorance of whites at the time.

2.Memory is crucial in the legacy of storytelling. Because the first story came from personal experiences and the author wanted to be able to write it himself, the credibility of the story is much greater. Given the concrete details and the placement in context, being written 12 years after the fact does not hurt the authenticity of the author. Many times, it takes 10 years to simply write the story in the first place, so I believe it is understandable. The second story I still find credible because of the narrators memory. Although the story is not filled with as much detail and is not from a first hand experience, I do not believe that time would greatly distort the memory or experience. Of course, as things get passed down from generation to generation events will change. But that did not happen in this case; it was a told story, but a recent and clear account of events. The memory of those who have experienced great traumas will not often forget them. And will usually hold them very clear in their minds.