Linda Brent

"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" is an autobiographical narrative by Harriet A. Jacobs, who wrote under the pseudonym Linda Brent. The text provides a harrowing account of her life as a slave in the American South, highlighting the systemic oppression and personal struggles she faced. Jacobs begins by describing her relatively sheltered childhood, unaware of her status as a slave until the death of her mother. Her life takes a darker turn when she becomes the property of Dr. Flint, a man who subjects her to relentless harassment and attempts to corrupt her morals. Despite the oppressive environment, Jacobs remains resilient, drawing strength from her grandmother, who serves as a source of comfort and guidance. The narrative also details the broader context of slavery, including the dehumanizing practice of hiring out slaves and the heart-wrenching separations of families. Jacobs recounts the story of her brother Benjamin, who bravely attempts to escape the bonds of slavery, only to be captured and sold. Her grandmother's unwavering determination to secure freedom for her children is a recurring theme, illustrating the strength and sacrifice required to combat the institution of slavery. Jacobs' account is not only a personal story but also a call to action, urging the women of the North to recognize the plight of their Southern counterparts and to advocate for the abolition of slavery. Through her vivid and poignant narrative, Jacobs exposes the moral and physical degradation inflicted by slavery, while also celebrating the resilience and courage of those who endured its horrors.

The Struggles and Resilience of a Slave Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Lydia Maria Francis Child

Here is one of the few slave narratives written by a women. Slavery is a terrible thing, but it is far more terrible and harrowing for women than for men. Harriet Jacobs was owned by a brutal master who beat his slaves regularly and subjected them to indignations that were far worse. Jacobs eventually escaped her master and moved to a northern state. Though she was unable to take her children with her at the time they were later reunited. Read her powerful and compelling story. This autobiographical account by a former slave is one of the few extant narratives written by a woman. Written and published in 1861, it delivers a powerful portrayal of the brutality of slave life. Jacobs speaks frankly of her master's abuse and her eventual escape, in a tale of dauntless spirit and faith. "God . . . gave me a soul that burned for freedom and a heart nerved with determination to suffer even unto death in pursuit of liberty." In this excerpt from a letter written by Harriet Jacobs to her friend, the abolitionist Amy Post, Jacobs expresses her determination to continue her quest for freedom. Dated October 9, 1853 - less than two years after Jacobs was freed - the letter was written in response to Post's suggestion that Jacobs tell the story of her abuse and exploitation as an enslaved black woman. Eight years later, in 1861 - the same year that marked the beginning of the Civil War - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself was published in Boston. According to the chronology of Jacobs's life compiled by her autobiographer, Jean Fagan Yellin, the events described in Incidents narrated by "Linda Brent" mirror key incidents of Jacobs' life.

Written by Herself.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.

Harriet Jacobs was born a slave in North Carolina, but, in her words, didn’t realize it until her father died when she was six years old. Six years later, when her mistress died, she was bequeathed to the mistress’ granddaughter, thereby coming into the household of the mistress’ lecherous son. Several years later she escaped, only to have to hide for seven years in a cramped garret that did not allow her to stand or sit up. She was finally able to make her way north, where she was reunited with her children. Many years later, after narrowly avoiding capture multiple times due to the Fugitive Slave Law, her employer purchased her freedom. Jacobs, writing as Linda Brent, tells the riveting story of her life in the South as a slave. She brings an unflinching eye to “good” masters and mistresses who nevertheless lie to, steal from, and continually break promises to their slaves, and to bad masters who beat and kill their slaves for no particular reason. Even in the North, after her escape, she is disappointed to find prejudice and degrading treatment for blacks. After having been convinced to write down her story, it took years to find a publisher who would print it. It was finally made available to the public just a few months before the shots at Fort Sumter that began the Civil War. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

The true story of an individual's struggle for self-identity, self-preservation, and freedom, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl remains among the few extant slave narratives written by a woman. This autobiographical account chronicles the remarkable odyssey of Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897) whose dauntless spirit and faith carried her from a life of servitude and degradation in North Carolina to liberty and reunion with her children in the North.Written and published in 1861 after Jacobs' harrowing escape from a vile and predatory master, the memoir delivers a powerful and unflinching portrayal of the abuses and hypocrisy of the master-slave relationship. Jacobs writes frankly of the horrors she suffered as a slave, her eventual escape after several unsuccessful attempts, and her seven years in self-imposed exile, hiding in a coffin-like "garret" attached to her grandmother's porch.A rare firsthand account of a courageous woman's determination and endurance, this inspirational story also represents a valuable historical record of the continuing battle for freedom and the preservation of family.

(Written by Herself)

Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is the Autobiographical account of Harriet Jacobs published in 1861. This stunning look at the struggles and hardship of women under slavery and how they are so much worse than the men face. Pressured to have sex at a early age, rape, selling of their children and their mistreatment at the hands of their mistresses. "Northerners know nothing at all about Slavery. They think it is perpetual bondage only. They have no conception of the depth of degradation involved in that word, SLAVERY; if they had, they would never cease their efforts until so horrible a system was overthrown." This narrative contains some incidents so extraordinary, that, doubtless, many persons, under whose eyes it may chance to fall, will be ready to believe that it is colored highly, to serve a special purpose. But, however it may be regarded by the incredulous, I know that it is full of living truths. I have been well acquainted with the author from my boyhood. The circumstances recounted in her history are perfectly familiar to me. I knew of her treatment from her master; of the imprisonment of her children; of their sale and redemption; of her seven years' concealment; and of her subsequent escape to the North. I am now a resident of Boston, and am a living witness to the truth of this interesting narrative. George W. Lowther.

The tragic and uplifting story of Linda Brent, who was born into slavery. 'I was born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy childhood had passed away. My father was a carpenter, and considered so intelligent and skilful 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. 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. His strongest wish was to purchase his children; but, though he several times offered his hard earnings for that purpose, he never succeeded'. American Slave Series

The True Story of a Woman Born a Slave

Harriet Jacobs

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl - Written by Herself - Harriet Ann Jacobs aka Linda Brent - A True Story of American Slavery - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a slave narrative that was published in 1861 by Harriet Ann Jacobs, using the pen name "Linda Brent." The book is an in-depth chronological account of Jacobs's life as a slave, and the decisions and choices she made to gain freedom for herself and her children. It addresses the struggles and sexual abuse that young women slaves faced on the plantations, and how these struggles were harsher than what men suffered as slaves. The book is considered sentimental and written to provoke an emotional response and sympathy from the reader toward slavery in general and slave women in particular for their struggles, with rape, the pressure to have sex at an early age, the selling of their children, and the treatment of female slaves by their mistresses. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an autobiography by a young mother and fugitive slave published in 1861 by L. Maria Childs, who bravely and generously edited the book for its author, Harriet Ann Jacobs, who used the pseudonym Linda Brent. The book documents Jacobs' life as a slave and how she gained freedom for herself and, later, for her children. In her unique demonstration of a sophisticated reading of the literature of her day, Jacobs contributed significantly to the genre of slave narrative by astutely weaving methods common in sentimental novels "to address race and gender issues." Specifically, she explores the struggles and sexual abuse that female slaves faced on plantations and generally in slavery, as well as their efforts to practice motherhood and protect their children within slavery's constraints, where their children might be sold away. In the text, Jacobs makes it clear that she is speaking to White women in the North who do not fully comprehend the evils of slavery. She makes direct appeals to their humanity and although she states that she's not seeking sympathy for herself, it is apparent that she is hoping to expand their knowledge and influence their sentiments about slavery as an institution. Throughout the text there is an evident tension of wanting readers to be able to relate while simultaneously acknowledging that a complete understanding is ultimately impossible for those who have never been enslaved.

An Autobiography of a Fugitive Slave

Henry Bibb

Kate Drumgoold

Autoibiographies of three pre-Civil War African-American slaves."Northerners know nothing at all about Slavery. They think it is perpetual bondage only. They have no conception of the depth of degradation involved in that word, slavery; if they had, they would never cease their efforts until so horrible a system was overthrown."

Autobiographies of Three American Slaves

Life Under Slavery

Frederick Douglass

Solomon Northup

Booker T. Washington,

 Louis Hughes

“Stories of Slavery and Liberation” is collection of narratives of slaves and works of famous writers on the struggle for liberation from slavery. Undoubtedly, the “narrative of slaves” is a documentary source that reveals from the inside through the eyes of slaves all aspects of their life, often hidden from slave owners.

Linda Brent

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