There are books about stories that make your blood boil. Stories that make you want to scream. Stories that make you feel all kind of emotions, from anguish to hope. There are stories that are so cruel to the point you cannot comprehend what you're reading. But they are real. And that's the scarriest part.
When I picked up Incidents In the Life of a Slave Girl I was aware of the material of the story and its themes. But I couldn't predict Jacob's power in her writing and narration. And I was also incapable of predicting the lengths of human depravity I would be exposed to once I read the book.
The book was published in 1861. Through Jacob's eyes we get to witness not only her own story but the history of slavery in mid 19th century as well. Jacob's blended historical and personal information very masterfully. The parts that went more into detail about the historical events that occurred during her life did not disturb the flow of the narration, nor did they "info dump" too the point it would make the reading experience tedious.
The writing was simple but oh, so beautiful. Jacobs had a great way with words and through them, she captivated her own desperation, anger and love. There were so many quotes that made me think harder about racism and slavery and there were many passages that left me speechless. To think that this book was written by a former slave and to take into consideration the lack of accessibility slaves had in education is impressive. Jacobs had the privilege to learn how to write and read and she used that privilege to open the eyes of the world and make everyone witness the life of a slave.
Jacob's story is truly one of the most tragic stories I've read so far. Ever since she was born, her future was decided: slave. It doesn't matter that unlike other people like her she got to receive education or remain with her family. She would always be a slave. She yearned for freedom but she lived in a cage. She wanted love but was met with malevolent. She deserved respect but she only got ridiculed.
I could barely stand reading about her owners (God, how I loath this word). Her own master (another word I hate), Dr. Norcom (Dr. Flint in the book) was the textbook definition of a monster. He sexually assaulted her, taunted her, abused her and blackmailed her, using her children as a bait. His wife, whom Jacobs had raised, did nothing to prevent that and instead of blaming her husband, she blamed Jacobs. All of that while denying her freedom. Them, meaningless, heartless, wicked, egotistical people who perceived themselves as superiors and more powerful. But while they had power, Jacobs had something else: the determination to secure a better future for her children.
My Master had power and law on his side; I had a determined will. There is might in each.
I wholeheartedly admire Jacobs after this book. I don't know how she could always remain so calm and collected, even in front of the face of Norcoms. She had been constantly mistreated and yet she never lost her temper. She always treated their actions in a confident aura that angered Dr. Norcom, who couldn't stand seeing a slave putting her head high. Jacobs, despite everything, never let slavery break her spirit altogether. She resented those who abused her but she never lost her composure and always had the control of her actions. She didn't lose her kindness and empathy and she was always there to assist other people like her however she could. She had such a powerful spirit and she always refused to succumb to those who robbed her of her rights. And once the dream of a romantic love was shattered, Jacobs devoted her whole life and actions to the greatest loves of her life: her own children.
Jacobs' devotion towards her children moved me so much. If you need even more proof to see the extent to which a mother will go in order to protect her children, then this book is for you. Jacobs' priority was always her children's freedom. No matter if she could free herself, she couldn't fathom escaping slavery while her children remained under the mercy of Norcoms. Jacobs' sufferred a lot (physically and mentally) in her attempt to save her children. She underwent severe dangers even when she escaped. But in the end, she was the one to have the last laugh.
Alongside the portrayal of motherly love, Jacobs' emphasized a lot the significance of familial bonds. Her dear Grandma was one of the people who was always there for her, even when she didn't approve her risky plans. She had lost so many people close to her that the mere thought of losing her granddaughter broke her. But she remained strong and kept Jacobs hidden while looking after her great-grandchildren. Jacobs did not forget to mention the love she received from her own parents. Even though they didn't live long enough, they still showered her with love, taught her to be kind and made sure that her and her brother would love in a better environment, despite the circumstances – something that her grandmother did after the parents' death.
The theme of familial love was so sad and beautiful. To think that so many families torned apart because of slavery broke my heart. Under the weight of slavery, no family knew peace and live a normal, modest life. Even if they were lucky enough to be together, nobody could be sure which members would be sold. Or even killed. And yet, the love between the members of the family gave them strength. Strength to live and fight for a better future. As Jacobs' wrote,
There are no bonds so strong as those which are formed by suffering together.
In Jacob's case, it was the love for her children that kept her motivated to fight for their freedom. It was the love and support of her family that shaped her as a person and that helped with her plan.
The more I read, the angrier I felt. If you believe that you know everything about slaves' treatment in 19th century, this book will make you reconsider your knowledge. All the descriptions about the cruelty and mistreatment of black slaves in America made me want to vomit. I felt so exasperated, to the point I would pause my reading, walk around my room and try to calm myself. I just couldn't fathom that such levels of wickedness could exist, I genuinely couldn't. Who gave these people the right to discriminate others because of the colour of their skin? Who gave these people the right to decide which race is the superior one? Who gave these people the right to treat others like disposable objects?
I'll tell you who – or rather what: the privilege of being born in white skin.
It was so heartbreaking for me to read the book and see similarities with our own times. Slavery might have stopped but the ugly colours of racism cannot be washed off. The book was written in 1861. It's 2025 and the prejudice and discrimination against POC is still ongoing. Hate crimes still happen. POC are still being made fun of. White people are still trying to make themselves appear as the superior, good Christians that are above everyone else, they think that they are untouchable and at the top of society's pedestal.
I mentioned before the kindness and love Jacobs had, which slavery did not tarnish. A great example of that was her loyalty and care for the English family, Willis. While I was reading about the impact this family had in her escape and Jacobs' feelings about them, I couldn't help but applaud her even more. Throughout her life, Jacobs had been humiliated and abused by white people and yet she still loved this white family with all of her heart (just as they loved her). This escalation renewed my hope about human kind. There were people who wanted to do the right thing and who didn't succumb to all of this hate. It was so emotional to see Cornelia Willis, the second wife of Mr. Willis, be so invested in Jacobs' freedom and how she granted her her freedom. Of course Jacobs was bittersweet about it: on the one hand, she had been sold free which made her once again feel like a mere object. On the other hand, she could finally live without fear of being captured by her former owners and she could live by being the owner of herself.
One of the things that angered me and made me realise how important the publication of this biography was is the fact that white people and media of these times always tried to hide the harsh reality of slavery and the conditions slaves had to endure. They tried to humanize slavery and even describe it as a FAVOR for POC. A favor! Well, yes, I bet everyone would feel grateful to be a slave as long as they had a roof over their head and someone to give them orders while treating them like animals. And the fact that these people boasted if they showed the mere sign of "kindness". Dr. Norcom had mentioned various times how lucky Jacobs was because unlike other slave owners, him and his family always treated her with respect, didn't make her do hard labours and never hit or starved her. I cannot help but laugh at the stupidity of these people. They didn't even do bare minimum and they still gave themselves a Pat on the shoulder.
Many owners, in an attempt to discourage their slaves from escaping, painted the regained freedom of free former slaves in cruel colours, trying to show that freedom is worse than slavery and that it's not worth fighting for it. Unfortunately, these words had an effect on many slaves. Jacobs knew that these were all lies. She knew firsthand how inhumane slavery was and once she regained her freedom, she had another important task to accomplish: to describe slavery as it was, without shying away and without sugar-coating the truth. And thus, this biography was born.
Jacobs' voice and courage made a great impact in history of slavery. Thanks to her, many people were exposed to the real face of slavery and the actual reality around them. And although this book was written in 1861, it continues to remain a relevant and poignant read. Please, do not be reluctant to learn about the real experiences of these people. Although slavery does not exist (at least in the way it did), we shall not forget history and forget what slaves had to endure.
by -greek_user_06-