Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl Analysis

George Santayana once said that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (Santayana). In her book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs chronicles many problems she faced during her tenure as a slave. However, after reading Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, it appears that the world today does not remember the past and may be condemned to repeat it. Many of the atrocities described by Jacob remain prominent and relevant in today’s society. The issues that Jacobs details unfortunately remain relevant more than 200 years after the abolishment of slavery in 1865. (U.S. Constitution). Specifically, significant matters detailed in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl remain visible in aspects
In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs wrote, “Slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women.” (Incidents, Chapter XIV). In addition to being subjected to the same punishments and heinous treatment as male slaves, raping of women occured, for example. Jacobs wrote that “No matter whether the slave girl be as black as ebony or as fair as her mistress. In either case, there is no shadow of law to protect her from insult, from violence, or even from death; all these are inflicted by fiends who bear the shape of men.” (Incidents Ch V). Women in today’s society are frequently subjected to sexual equality and sexual harassment issues. For example, recently several high-powerful men, such as Harvey Weinstein, have been accused of preying on socially weaker women whom are not in similar positions of power. Similarly, in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs wrote that “My master met me at every turn, reminding me that I belonged to him, and swearing by heaven and earth that he would compel me to submit to him.” (Incidents Chapter V). The same sexual equality issues faced by Jacobs remain commonplace in today’s
Although slavery was abolished in 1865, nothing in the Constitution provides for racial equality. In today’s society, the color of skin or the race of the individual often triggers behavior by other members of society. Dr. King once said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (King). Although many appear to ignore the mistakes of the past in professing that our society has evolved and is pro-diversity, even Jacobs wrote “There are wrongs which even the grave does not bury.” (Incidents Chapter XLI). Slavery remains a part of America’s history that cannot be merely forgotten as if it did not happen. Today’s society should learn from the mistakes of the past and work to eliminate the racial equality issues, sexual equality issues, and the moral decisions described by Harriet Jacobs over 100 years ago that remain prevalent