The Red Record:
We've read a lot of narratives and and essays that argue against the enslavement, oppression, and violence against African Americans. Do you think that Wells' use of facts and figures makers her argument stronger than any others we've read?
and since the evil had been planted, it must pass through certain stages before it could be eradicated.
She makes such an important point here. This is such a powerful truth when it comes to the United States. A problem isn't deemed worth fixing until it becomes EVERYBODY'S problem; more specifically, in the U.S., it's not deemed a problem worth fixing until it starts affecting white people. And when she writes "and since the evil had been planted, it must pass through certain stages before it could be eradicated", I think she's really highlighting the reality of how slavery and other atrocities are handled in America.Using police brutality as a modern example, such an atrocity won't be addressed as a problem by the government until it passes through certain stages, until it starts to "overshadow important interests." With these few sentences, she really highlights a significant truth that is intrinsic to America.
“Religion!” replied Henry rebukingly. “That's always the cry with blackpeople. Tell me nothing about religion when the very man who hands you thebread at communion has sold your daughter away from you!
Delany's representation of religion in this narrative includes a certain character (Henry) that has lost his faith in his "oppressor's religion." Henry sees the hypocrisy of his white "Christian" masters and says he refuses to "be made a fool of any longer by false preaching." Henry also says that God hasn't helped him in this "time of need." In this narrative, Delany challenges the idea that all slaves saw religion as the path to redemption and salvation.
In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of my master, as to the kindly aid of my mistress. I acknowledge the benefit of both.
I think this sentence sums up a lot of Douglass' experiences. A lot of bad things have happened to him as as slave, but he acknowledges both the bad and the good things have both helped him along his journey to education and freedom. The petty side of me also just enjoys the fact that his master's discouraging words only helped to encourage Douglass even more.
This good spirit was from God, and to him I offer thanksgiving and praise.
He even mentions divine intervention when talking about how important it was that he left the plantation and went to Baltimore.
I look upon my departure from Colonel Lloyd's plantation as one of the most interesting events of my life. It is possible, and even quite probable, that but for the mere circumstance of being removed from that plantation to Baltimore, I should have to-day, instead of being here seated by my own table, in the enjoyment of freedom and the happiness of home, writing this Narrative, been confined in the galling Page 31 chains of slavery.
Douglass clearly views his departure from Colonel Lloyd's plantation as an enormously significant turning point in his life. So significant, in fact, that he believes he would still be a slave and not a free writer had he not left that plantation. Even had he not stated it so plainly, he spends enough time talking about that moment that it is obvious how much it meant to him.
Intellect,' whispered some one near. 'Oat's it honey. What's dat got to do with women's rights or niggers' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint and yourn holds a quart, would n't ye be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?'
I think she balances women's rights and slaves' rights nicely throughout here entire speech, and this is where she seamlessly ties them together. Her entire speech is a perfect example of why intersectionality, especially intersectional feminism, is so important. I also think her "simple" language works to her advantage because of the simple fact that it is understandable to everyone, not just the well-educated. However, I could also see how she might not be taken as seriously by educated, upperclass white men and women because of her vernacular.
Appeal to their sense of justice, and tell them that they have no more right to oppress you, than you have to enslave them.
In a perfect world, this seems like it would be effective. The problem with trying to appeal to a slave owner's religion or sense of justice is that slave owners and other white supremacists are completely void of any moral obligations.
Your condi-tion does not absolve you from your moral obligation.
I find it interesting that Garnet also uses religion to inspire a spark of resistance among slaves, but in a slightly different way than Walker did. Garnet is insisting that, as Christians, they have a moral obligation to resist this form of oppression and that God will smile down on them for resisting.
nor can we be free while you are enslaved.
This sentiment is still being emphasized today in the fight for racial equality; "no one is free until everyone is free."
WALKER'S APPEAL, IN FOUR ARTICLES; TOGETHER WITH A PREAMBLE, TO THE COLOURED CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, BUT IN PARTICULAR, AND VERY EXPRESSLY, TO THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WRITTEN IN BOSTON, STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, SEPTEMBER 28, 1829.
As with any piece written about religious objections to slavery, Walker's appeal reiterates that white supremacy (in America, at least) truly knows no bounds, religious or otherwise. You can't appeal to a white supremacist's religious or moral obligations because everything they do or say is justified within the realm of white supremacy and that is the only realm of thought they acknowledge. White supremacy is fundamentally void of any moral compass.
Is not God a God of justice to all his creatures? Do you say he is? Then if he gives peace and tranquillity to tyrants, and permits them to keep our fathers, our mothers, ourselves and our children in eternal ignorance and wretchedness, to support them and their families, would he be to us a God of justice? I ask, O ye Christians! ! !
Walker continuously highlights the obvious hypocrisy of "Christian" slave owners. I think he is trying his best to appeal to everyone's moral compass, and what better way to do that than with religion?
Hymnals of the Black Church
A lot of this article is way over my head because of my limited knowledge on religion, but I do think that Southern analyzes African American hymnals on a deeper level than Philips. While Philips approached the subject from a "big picture" point of view, Southern takes a much closer look at the hymnals themselves.
presenting a legitimate face for the emerging in-dependent churches that would foster the rise of gospel music, mediate spirituals into American culture, and serve as havens of African-Amer-ican expression and identity for generations.
Phillips characterizes hymnals and hymnbooks as a way in which African Americans were able to come together and sing the same song, literally and figuratively. It's clear that Philips deems this music a very significant turning point in African American culture.
Misery was now grabbed in her most terrifying robes, and terror possessd itself the heart of all,
She is such an exceptional writer. Her use of metaphors and imagery is beautiful.
Are not we too thy children?
I love this line because it represents a certain degree of doubt in "God" that hasn't really been present in the other narratives we've read. She is in this helpless state of mind and I think she poses a really important religious question, "Are we not all the same in God's eyes? Why does one particular race seem to be suffering more than others?"
August 'twas the twenty-fifth, Seventeen hundred forty-six;
How was Lucy able to watch all of this unfold and still survive? Did the Indians spare her, or was she just able to escape all of the fighting?
Young Samuel Allen, Oh lack-a-day! Was taken and carried to Canada.
Why was he taken?
so sacred among them is the honour of the marriage bed, and so jealous are they of the fidelity of their wives.
Interesting! I don't think I've ever really seen such an emphasis placed on fidelity in this way, at least not in any narrative I've read.
If it affords any satisfaction to my numerous friends, at whose request it has been written
So I'm guessing this means he's writing this mostly because his friends persuaded him to. It's interesting that his friends find his life's story fascinating enough to be shared with other people.
I hope that he can never justly say it was on account of my ill conduct that he did not keep me himself.
Venture clearly cares so much about his own honor and dignity. I wonder if that is due to the fact that his father was such an honorable man, even up until the moment of his death.
I answered him I crossed the waters to come here, and I am willing to cross them to return.
This is my favorite line from this narrative. Venture has such a way with words.
being only about six years and an half old.
Being so caught up in the story, I completely forgot how young he was when all of this transpired. He's not even ten yet and he's experienced more than a lot of people experience in lifetime.
my good Master
I think the way Hammon refers to his Master is indicative of how perspective plays an important part of the relationship between slave and master. Hammon has only experienced certain perspectives of slavery, so who can blame him for only seeing his master in a certain light? Certainly Winslow can be described as a "good master" if the slave describing him isn't being beaten and whipped every day.
with the leave of my Master
I was immediately annoyed when I read the summary. The author of the summary kept insisting that we technically can't label this a slave narrative because Hammon never refers to himself as a slave. Obviously Winslow didn't exactly have Hammon picking cotton or doing housework every day, but that doesn't override the fact that Hammon was indeed a slave. I don't think we can dismiss the notion of Hammon being a slave simply because that's not how he would describe himself. He still refers to Winslow as "Master", and we all know that as a white man Winslow always held some sort of dominance over Hammon at all times, regardless of whether or not they chose to acknowledge it. I understand that the author of the summary was speaking from a scholarly point of view and that his point was that scholars technically can't label this a slave narrative because of the absence of that specific vocabulary in the text, but the whole time I was reading it I kept rolling my eyes and thinking "Okay come on, we all know he's a slave." Basically, I just disagree with the summary's notion that labeling the relationship as slavery relies so much on whether or not the "slave" in question thinks of themselves as a slave or on whether or not the master would label it that way.
Thesingularityofmydressdreweverybody*seyesuponme,yetnoneknewme.
I find it fascinating that none of his family recognized him, not even his own mother.