Incidents of a Slave Girl

Blacks Are More Than Just Oppressed

Ray John De Leon
Dr. Joseph
US History 2313
11 April 2013
In Harriet Jacobs’s narrative, Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl, she gives realistic and truthful descriptions of life as a slave. Although not all blacks in the South were slaves, they were still oppressed in many ways such as with discrimination and lacking certain freedoms. Of course, situations concerning the daily life of blacks in the south, enslaved or free, varied in different areas due to the different treatments of white masters, as well as white civilians. Some blacks had it more difficult than others. Whites in the South surely dominated and controlled society, but did they have total domination over blacks? Were the two races only relatable as oppressor and oppressed? Although one would believe so, there is much evidence in the Jacobs’s narrative that shows that blacks still had a few freedoms, even under the overbearing weight of slavery and racism. The truth of the matter is that even though some of their unalienable rights had been taken away, little freedom was at the tip of their fingers. Once discovering a way to grab on to that freedom, they could pull it in closer until it was entirely there own. Some evidence proving that blacks were not totally dominated by southern whites involves the situation of Jacobs’s father, the slave’s celebration of Christmas, and also the situation of Jacobs’s Uncle Benjamin.
Jacobs described her father as an extraordinary man. “My father was a carpenter, and considered so intelligent and skillful in his trade, that, when buildings out of the common line were to be erected, he was sent for from long distances, to be head workman (11).” Her father, although being a slave, had his own trade to which his talent and diligence was certainly found. He, a black slave, was requested to be the headman of certain projects, even from long distances. That is very impressive considering that because slaves were considered “property,” they were not allowed to own property. “On condition of paying his mistress two hundred dollars a year, and supporting himself, he was allowed to work at his trade, and manage his own affairs (11).” A slave being able to earn his own money at a trade that he was notable for, and being able to manage himself? This allowed Jacobs’s father the ability to attain something that most slaves were not even given the chance to earn: achievement. By paying his mistress $200 a year, he was basically a freeman, simply paying for rent. This may have been very odd for southern whites to see during this time. Imagine a white man who also is a carpenter that is working under a black slave of a higher position than he. One can only imagine the thoughts and confusions running through his mind, jealousy, or possibly even anger? In chapter 2 Jacobs goes on to write about the sudden death of her father. “Dead! How could I believe it? He had died so suddenly I had not even heard that he was sick (16).” What if he was not sick? Consider that his sudden death could have been due to murder. Who else would murder this well-respected, hard-working black man other than the jealous white carpenter? Yes, it is just a theory. But if it were to be true, it would be apparent that the white community had seen Jacobs’s father as a threat because he was exceeding the boundary of merely being the “oppressed” by making something out of himself, despite being a slave.
In Chapter 22, Jacobs writes about the experience of Christmas. She made gifts for her children, and their stockings eventually became full of gifts. She also describes the Johnkannaus Dancers, whom without, “Christmas would be shorn of its greatest attraction (131).” Although they are slaves whose freedom does not compare to that of southern whites, they still celebrated Christmas. That was a tradition, a privilege that the whites could not withhold from them. Whites and blacks usually did not share many things, but they did share the celebration of Christmas. “Christmas is a day of feasting, both white and colored people. Slaves, who are lucky enough to have a few shillings, are sure to spend them for good eating; and many a turkey and pig is capture, without saying, ‘By your leave, sir.’ Those who cannot obtain these, cook a ‘possum, or a raccoon, from which savory dishes can be made.” Also, the simple act of feasting during Christmas gave blacks freedom. Even if slaves had no money to feast heavily on turkey or pig, they would resort to capturing and feasting on marsupials, but feasting nonetheless. This seemingly insignificant act is more proof that blacks were not totally dominated by southern whites.
The situation of Jacobs’s Uncle Benjamin is proof that some blacks had the courage to feel strong against oppression that was so great. He undermined his own oppression to attain the freedom that was at his fingertips. “…His master was angry, and began to whip him. He resisted. Master and slave fought, and finally the master was thrown (26).” After the incident, Benjamin tells Jacobs that he is going away to the north and said, “…We are dogs here; foot-balls, cattle, every thing that’s mean. No, I will not stay. Let them bring me back. We don’t die but once (27).” It is this kind of mentality that Uncle Benjamin has that eventually leads to his freedom, and also keeps blacks free in their minds although they may be chained down. Benjamin escapes and heads to New York but was captured, imprisoned, and sold. Despite all of this, his willingness to deny his oppression allowed him to escape to Baltimore and eventually to New York. Because he “dared to feel like man,” he finally became a free one.
Jacobs’s father, the celebration of Christmas, and Uncle Benjamin are all evidences that southern whites did not totally dominate blacks in an oppressor-oppressed relationship. Her father’s hard work allowed him freedoms like that of a free man. Although they probably had a few different traditions and rituals, both whites and blacks still celebrated Christmas, a privilege that was not taken away even from the slaves. They could feast however they could afford, and even if money were an issue, they would still find a way to feast. Out of them all, the situation of Uncle Benjamin is the greatest evidence that blacks were not entirely oppressed. Although they would be worked to the bone, and had no rights to property, they still had the freedom in their minds, which is the greatest freedom of all. Oppression is willingness, and Uncle Benjamin’s mindset willed him to find a pathway to freedom out of the south.