Melton A. Mclaurin's Celia, A Slave

Celia, A Slave: A True Story Celia, A Slave by Melton A. McLaurin is the story of Celia a fourteen year old slave that is purchased and abused by her master, until one day she kills him. The relationship that Celia and Robert Newsome had was very interesting and the book touches on race and gender hierarchies, power in the relationship, and the involvement of others who supported or contested the power structure. Was Celia forced by society to commit this crime, did gender, race and power struggle push Celia to kill her master? This essay will analyze the situations in which Celia was put into and how ultimately society in the mid 1800’s failed her. The Louisiana Purchase took place in 1803 by Thomas Jefferson; this was new land that
was seen as a new opportunity for many Americans trying to acquire wealth (Fomm 171). In December of 1818 it became available to the public. People from all over the United States moved to this new land seeking an opportunity to better their lives. By the fall of 1822 the Newsom family had already settled in Callaway County, Missouri. The trip to this new land was dangerous and settling had its dangers. This new territory was unpredictable but many people like the Newsom family moved to this area to start a new life and make something of themselves (McLaurin 3-4).
“Robert Newsom was anything other than what he seemed—a man who had labored hard and endured much for the measure of prosperity he had achieved;”(McLaurin 1). Many of the first settlers found the first year to be the hardest, the land was fertile but it was difficult to get basic supplies (McLaurin 4).
Over the years the town flourished and the people of Callaway began to build up the town with government offices and churches. By the 1855 Robert Newsom was making a comfortable living on his land, he owned eight hundred acres and had herds of live stock. Along with his land and animals Robert Newsome owned five male slaves (McLaurin 9). In 1850 Newsom purchased a slave named Celia, around 14 years old she was purchased to work as a cook. By the time that Newsom purchased Celia, he had been widowed for almost a year; he would begin to sexually assault Celia. Over the next five years Robert Newsom would rape Celia on a daily basis. By the age of nineteen she had two children with Newsom and one more on the way (Mclaurin 23-28). George a young slave owned by Newsom began to establish a relationship with Celia. George made Celia tell Robert Newsom that she could no longer continue to sleep with him and if he continued she would have to defend herself from him. Robert Newsom did not take her seriously because as his property he could do as he wished with her, later that night he appeared at her cabin that he had built for her. Newsom began to try and have intercourse with Celia but she defended herself and hit him over the head with a wooden stick and kills him (McLaurin 29-35). Later the next day neighbors and family members became
suspicious and started to look for him, but he was nowhere to be found. George was asked his whereabouts and he accused Celia of knowing what had happened to him. Celia is questioned until she admits to murdering Mr. Newsome (McLaurin 39-42). She is given a lawyer and gets a trial by jury, but ultimately she is found guilty and hung. How did race and gender affect the relationship that Celia had with Robert Newsom? As a slave owner Newsom was the master of the house. He was not questioned by anyone in the house; anything that he did was accepted. Everyone in the family was aware that he had an affair with Celia, but his family never questioned him because he was a provider to them (McLaurin 33). He built Celia a cabin behind the main house to keep her close to him and had children with her. White slave owners’ sleeping with their slaves was seen as immoral but as a white man he could do no wrong. Celia was black and was given privileges that other slaves did not have, she had to be thankful for this (McLaurin 34). Black women were seen as seductive and promiscuous, this idea made it alright for slave owners to take advantage of their female slaves. The book presents a common thought of many during this time period “On the other hand, the daughters may have seen their father as victim” (McLaurin 26). Celia was property to Robert Newsom she could not deny him, she had to please him because at the end of the day he could do as he wished with her. Many masters would have sex with their slaves because in most cases these slaves would get pregnant and that would increase the number of slaves. In many history books slaves are generalized and so are their struggles but as Higginbotham stated men and women had different obstacles and were treated differently. For example Celia was a black woman, this meant that she was likely to be abused and mistreated more than any male slave. Rape was the way that Robert Newsom established his power and to show that he was in charge. The first day that he purchased Celia he raped her abusing her like that could have been because he thought she was attractive but also it was to show her that he was her owner and that he could do with her as he pleased (McLaurin 26). Slaves were often sent to the “cracker” this person would break the slave and turn them from a bad slave to an obedient one. When reading this it seems that Newsome was “cracking” Celia to show her who was in charge and what the rules were going to be. The following quote explains what type of effect this could have had on Celia.
“Modern research indicates that rape victims experience a variety of responses: fear, rage, and overpowering sense of violation, sometimes helplessness, and loss of self-esteem”(McLaurin 25).
This clearly shows that by raping her he was just trying to make her a good slave and one that would not resist in the future. Since the first day that Robert Newsom purchased Celia, he began to show her that he was in control and that he was her master.
He could do anything with her and she was no more than property. We can assume that she probably tried to resist him but raping her showed her that he was in control and that he could have sex with her whenever he wanted. This sets up the next five years of Celia’s life, she was raped on a daily basis and she had no protection from anyone. Newsom made her a house sixty feet from his, with a chimney and gave her the luxury of privacy. This is a way of him showing Celia that her life is better because of him, that he has power. He has enough power to decide whether she lives or dies, where she lives, what she does, and he has power over everything in her life. Celia had children with Newsom and like any mother she loved them, but this also allowed Newsom to have more power. If Celia was not a good slave there was always the fear that he could sell her children. This created fear and caused Celia to be obedient and it reduced the chances that she would try to escape. Running away from a plantation was hard enough alone but with children it made it impossible. When Celia tried to end the relationship with her master, it clearly shows how much he respects her as a person because he just tells her that he will be there at night (McLaurin 31). She has no opinion in this relationship and by just telling her that he was going to be at her house later that
night shows that he had no affection for her, she was an object that he used. Celia was a house slave and she had things that other slaves did not, in his mind she was lucky and should just abide by his rules. There was no power struggle in this relationship, it was clear that Robert Newsom had complete power. Society and the Newsom family were responsible for the abuse that Celia suffered. During this time period having slaves was a normal thing it was a way to show power but having sex with slaves was seen as immoral. Although having sex with slaves was immoral it happened all the time, owners would abuse their slaves and by doing this it increase the number of slaves due to pregnancy. Newsom was seen as good man, someone who worked hard for his wealth and was respected in his community. It was known by at least his family that he abused Celia, but because of fear of what would happen if Newsom was confronted his family said nothing. They allowed him to get away with this crime, and gave him power that he did not have (McLaurin 28). He was untouchable and he ruined the life of a young woman. Slavery was not right, it hurt many people but rape was worse than working on the fields all day. This girl at the age of fourteen began getting raped on a daily basis and because no one stood up to Robert Newsom he took advantage. They are just as responsible as Robert Newsome because they allowed him to do this and ruin Celia’s life. Was Celia forced by society to commit this crime, did gender, race and power struggle push Celia to kill her master? Celia lived in a society that had no regards for her well being she was property. Her situation was far from perfect and she was forced to take action, one way or another Robert Newsom had to stop and be punished for what he was doing.

Bibliography

McLaurin, Melton A. Celia, A Slave. New York: Avon, 1993.
Higginbotham, Evelyn Brooks. JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2013.