Harriet Jacobs Research Paper

In 1844, Harriet received permission from her master to marry John Tubman, a free black man. For the next five years Harriet lived in a state of semi-slavery: she remained legally a slave, but her master allowed her to live with her husband. Since Harriet was still a slave she knew there was a chance that she could be sold and her marriage split apart. Harriet dreamed of traveling north. There, she would be free and not have to worry about her marriage being split up by the slave trade. But John did not want her to go north. He said he was fine where he was and that there was no reason for moving north. He told her that if she ran off, he would tell her master. She did not believe him until she saw his face and then she knew he meant it.

From learning this we know Harriet is not in for a good future with this family. The way Jacobs describes the importance of the women in her life is inspiring, given that, at the time they had such little power and such few rights. “Mrs. Flint, like many southern women, was totally deficient in energy. She had not the strength to superintend her household affairs; but her nerves were so strong, that she could sit in her easy chair and see a woman whipped, till the blood trickled from every stroke of the lash” (Jacobs 360). The way she describes Mrs. Flint perfectly captures what all women in the south were like. This portrays an excellent example to Northern women how serious slavery can affect a person.

Similarly to Frederick Douglass, who was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland, she was born into slavery. What makes Harriet Jacobs story different from many slaves during this time period is that she didn’t know she was born as a slave. She lived with her father and mother and even explained in her Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, that she “…was so fondly shielded that I never dreamed I was a piece of merchandise” (Jacobs 820). This shows that for the first few years of her life, she was not treated as a slave, but rather, as a normal child during this time period. This is different for Frederick Douglass who was separated from his mother when he was a baby. Both Douglass and Jacobs lost their mother at the age of six or seven but as Douglass describes in his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, he only saw his mother “four or five times in my life” (Douglass 946). Douglass also

Harriet Tubman was a second generation slave born in the 1820s in Dorchester County, Maryland. She was born a slave. Her birth name was Aramita Ross, her nicknames were Minty, Moses, and Moses Of Her People. She was one of eleven children in her family. Her parents were Harriet Green, nicknamed “Old Rit” and Benjamin Ross. They were believed to be full blooded African Americans, Ashanti West African war people. Harriet’s owner, Edward Brodas, was a plantation owner and often rented Harriet out to neighboring families. At age 7 she was sent to take care of a baby, she tried to eat a sugar cube, but got caught, she ran and hid. After a few days hunger got the best of

Harriet lived from roughly 1820-1913; the exact year of her birth is completely unknown. She was born to Harriet Green and Benjamin Ross, under the name of Araminta “Minty” Ross, on the Thompson plantation in Dorchester County, Maryland. The plantation was owned by Edward Brodess, son of Mary Pattison Brodess, a young widow. Mary was an awful mistress, in the sense that she enjoyed her slave’s misery. She often drove the families apart, causing extreme anguish. Although it was common for masters and mistresses to hire out the man to another plantation, Mary separated the family even more by selling two of Harriet’s sisters to a plantation in Georgia.

Harriet Jacobs wrote, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” using the pseudonym Linda Brent, and is among the most well-read female slave narratives in American history. Jacobs faces challenges as both a slave and as a mother. She was exposed to discrimination in numerous fronts including race, gender, and intelligence. Jacobs also appeals to the audience about the sexual harassment and abuse she encountered as well as her escape. Her story also presents the effectiveness of her spirit through fighting racism and showing the importance of women in the community.

Harriet Tubman was born in the year of 1820 into a family of 8 children and two parents of who were all slaves. Harriet’s real name was Araminta Harriet Ross yet she later changed her name to Harriet around the time she was married to John Tubman. Harriet’s life as a slave was hard like many other slaves lives during that time. When Harriet Tubman was around 12 years old she was hit in the head by a two pound weight when she refused to hold down a runaway slave, because of this she suffered through sleeping spells and sever headaches throughout her life, this was called Narcolepsy. Harriet was married in 1844 to a free black man named John Tubman. She ran away in 1951 using the underground railroad. Once she was freed

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County Maryland in 1820. She was called Araminta Harriet Ross she was one of the 11 children of Benjamin and Harriet Green Ross. At the age of twelve Harriet Tubman was instructed to tie up a fellow slave for a whipping. Harriet Tubman refused to tie up the slave and in Harriet’s masters rage he threw a two pound weight at Harriet’s head. Harriet Tubman was in a coma for weeks and there was a dent in her forehead for the rest of her life. This resulted in headaches and episodes of narcolepsy all throughout her life. Harriet Tubman’s mother was freed from slavery by a previous owner which in result also made Harriet free. Harriet Tubman was advised not to go to court because of how long ago the freeing of her mother was. Harriet Tubman married John Tubman a free black man who lived near the Brodas Planation on which Harriet lived in 1844. Even though she was married to a free man she still was a slave

The document, “Harriet Jacobs Deplores Her Risks in Being a Female Slave, 1861,” describes how female slaves during her time period felt towards slavery and how it was like to grow up as a slave. According to Harriet Jacobs’ document, she started off as an innocent child, unaware of what happens around her and how harsh slavery actually can be. This changes as she grows up and her life becomes more and more miserable due to her status as a slave. By the time Jacobs reaches fifteen and starts to enter adulthood, her master would continuously harass her in numerous ways treating her as property. Being a slave, she had no way of defending herself from how she was treated and no means of running away from her master. Even when she feels hatred

In around 1844, Harriet became married to a free man named John Tubman, despite her marriage for two more years she lived with her owner at the time, Dr. Thompson. After her master had died, she promptly left the plantation, seeing as though the slaves had been freed in a will a long while back. “Harriet resolved not be sold, and so, with no knowledge of the North- having only heard of Pennsylvania and New Jersey- she walked away one night alone.” After reaching her new home of Philadelphia she found work, yet decided to travel to Maryland to find her husband, how upon her arrival, she discovered had married another woman. Seeing as though her domestic life with this man would not work out, so from approximately 1845 to 1860 she helped escort approximately 50 to 60 slaves to freedom. Thomas Garret, in a letter, is quoted saying, “No slave who placed himself under her care, was ever arrested that I have heard of; she mostly had her regular stopping places on her route; but in one instance, when she had two stout men with her, some 30 miles below here, she said that God told her to stop, which she did; and then asked him what she must do.”Harriet remarked that God guided her on her path, she followed his directions to guide her and the people she was escorting to safety. It is said that to the people she escorted, sometimes all the way to Canada, “Harriet was their good

Harriet was born into slavery around 1820 in Dorchester, Maryland to Benjamin Ross and Harriet Green. Her master, Edwards Brodas, gave her the name Araminta but she eventually took on her mother’s name. At the age of five when most children would be starting off into school, Harriet began working as a house maid. Many times she would be “rented” out to different plantation homes for several months at a time. During this time she received multiple routine beatings, whippings, and verbal assaults. But these times of house work wouldn’t last long.

Harriet’s first work as a slave began when she was six when a man named Mr. Brodas hired her out to a woman named Mrs. Cook who was a weaver. Harriet helped her wind the yarn because the air had fuzz and lint. Harriet couldn’t concentrate and Mrs. Cook got mad. The next woman Harriet worked for when she was seven was named Miss Susan. Harriet Tubman had to watch Miss Susan’s baby. If there were the slightest cry from the baby Miss Susan would whip Harriet. Harriet had trouble staying awake and if she fell asleep the baby would begin to cry. After this, she was hired back to Mr.

Harriet’s grandmother was a well-respected older slave woman who gained her freedom in the last will and testament of her mistress.

Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: A Harrowing Escape from Abuse

Born in 1813, Harriet Jacobs enjoyed the life she lived until she was six years old, when her mother died. After her mother’s death, Jacob’s mistress, Aunt Martha (a pseudonym for Molly Horniblow), became responsible for her and taught her how to sew, write and read. Unfortunately for Jacobs, the death of her mistress turned her life upside down and opened the door to the horrible reality of what Jacobs true life was to become. Soon after Horniblow’s death, Jacobs was given to Horniblow’s niece. Being born into a slave, Jacobs soon faced the harsh new lifestyle that her new mistress’s father, Dr. Flint (a pseudonym for Dr. James Norcom), introduced her to by forcing Jacobs to sexual