The Classic Slave Narratives

by Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Introduction), Olaudah Equiano, Harriet Ann Jacobs

Before the end of the Civil War, more than one hundred former slaves had published moving stories of their captivity and escape, joined by a similar number after the war. No group of slaves anywhere, in any other era, has left such prolific testimony to the horror of bondage and servitude. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., one of America's top experts in African-American studies, presents a seminal volume of four classic slave narratives that illustrate the real nature of the black experience in slavery. Fascinating and powerful, this collection includes four of the best-known examples: the lives of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs (alias Linda Brent), Mary Prince, and Olaudah Equiano (alis Gustavus Vassa). These amazing stories are not only first-person histories of the highest caliber. They are also a unique literary form that has given birth to the spirit, vitality, ad vision of America's best modern black writers.

Updated with the ninth edition of The Life of Olaudah Equiano, the last edition he revised and published in his lifetime.

With a Revised and Updated Introduction by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Classics, Biography, African American, Race, American History

688 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Henry Louis "Skip" Gates Jr. is a Professor of African and African-American Studies at Harvard University and Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. He is well-known as a literary critic, an editor of literature, and a proponent of black literature and black cultural studies.

Reviews

[DeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the plaintive books that got me into reading slave narratives.

[Ricky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Life of Olaudah Equiano (finished January 2011)

This story at first was indeed a challenge for me. The language and words the author uses made me re-read pages a few times to understand what he was talking about. Of all the stories in this novel, this one was the most difficult as well as long. Equiano detailed his entire life as a slave to when he was free. He witnessed first hand the harshness and cruelty humans can inflict on one another. This was truly a coming of age story.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

This is another exceptional piece of work re-told by a slave of her experiences. The author takes the reader through a journey of her life as a slave. This story is important in that it described the community of slaves and their relationship with their owners. Harriet told her story under the alias of Linda to preserve her identity. As a child she was treated fairly. She was taught to read. However, when her mistress died, she was given to a new master. Her new master, Flint was trying to have sexual relations with her. That was where the story started its climax. This story showed how slaves, specifically women dealt with the abuses of their masters. I would recommend this book to everyone.

The History of Mary Prince

Mary Prince's narrative is a very detailed recollection. She makes the reader feel as if they are in her shoes. She describes her treatment as a slave in the West Indies. It seems that as she was sold to new masters her treatment became worse. I feel that Mr. Wood took Mary to England and Mary tried to get her freedom. However, Mr. Wood doesn’t want to free her. In my opinion I would let her go because she is only one slave. I wouldn’t want to spend all my time trying to get one slave back when there are many more. This narrative helps to disprove the idea that slaves are “animals.”


Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass’s narrative is one of a kind. His narrative was written with a variety of literary devices such as: theme, conflict, imagery, irony and many others. Douglass’ narrative has changed the way I view the ability of slaves. He clearly described his time in bondage to the moment he escaped and became free. Even though Frederick wasn’t very educated, he was able to write this astounding piece of literature. I recommend that everyone read this narrative

[Michael Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This text is an immersion not only into an account of slavery for a little over a century, but also into the birth of a new genre of writing. There are four narratives labeled "Classic" in this volume, spanning the stories of two men and two women; born in Africa, the West Indies, and the United States; and traveling the world from crossing of the Mason-Dixon Line to expeditions to the North Pole. Something the introduction, and all four authors clarify throughout, is that despite their individual accounts, none are particular outside the system of slavery. Each of their stories can be taken as representative of the oppression caused by a system where men and women could OWN people as property. A truly eye-opening read.

[David Withun · Rating 4 out of 5]

-

[Elizabeth Reuter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading something like The Classic Slave Narratives, first person narratives about lifetimes of racially motivated torture and abuse, is painful. I had to read slowly, usually only a few pages each day. This allowed me to digest what I’d read, to really feel each section, rather than growing numb; it also kept me from getting too depressed to read any further.

I’m glad I did. Classic Slave Narratives is painful, but in a very compelling way. Told in the first person, these four autobiographies gave me a chance to view a time long gone through the eyes of people I could relate to. While these narratives are about alien subjects like slavery, huge cotton plantations, and pirates, they’re also about familiar ones like families, lovers, and civil disobedience. I was with our protagonists all the way, holding my breath as they hid from cruel masters, cheering when they reunited with loved ones.

The exception is collection’s first autobiography, penned by a man named Gustavus Vassa. While any autobiography needs to be read with a grain of salt, because you can expect the writer to put themselves in a positive light, Gustavus really, really wanted readers to side with him. He paints himself as so perfect, so noble, so moral, that I had trouble believing his view of himself. This made his narrative less interesting, for me.

I recommend this book to pretty much anybody. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t get something out of at least one of the autobiographies inside.

-Elizabeth Reuter
Author, The Demon of Renaissance Drive

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of my all time favorites that I've read this junior year. I loved each slave narrative because they each brought their own perspective and it was interesting for me to try and imagine myself in a time where I am made inferior to all other races. These memoirs really emphasized how hard African-Americans have struggled to reach Where we are today. It was also interesting to Heard the life of a slave from both genders so that we were able to compare and contrasts their struggles and the roles or jobs they took while residing on the plantation. Women's roles and struggles as a slave differed dramatically from than that of men. Women deep to take on the role as caretakers for the children or becoming house servants. I also learned why dopent seemed of much more value than a mâle slave. However I'm still having trouble understanding why White men found it of so much pleasure and interesting to sleep with women they felt were of an inferior race. What attracted them so much to women they claimed to be inferior.

[Susan Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend enough that everyone read slave narratives. If you're ever feeling sorry for yourself, you'll find yourself thinking of Frederick Douglass sleeping on a dirt floor with no blanket during Maryland winters, or of the runaway slave who lived in secret lying beneath her mother's floorboards so she could hear her children above her. Yeah, kind of puts things in perspective.
This important aspect of our history is most authentically conveyed by these first-person accounts - please read!

[Christian M · Rating 5 out of 5]

These memoirs of four former slaves moved me deeply. The most accomplished novelist could not invent a story as heart-breaking and unbelievable as the reports of four individuals who endured the most horrible events. Their accounts are a lasting testimony and warning of how giving one group of people absolute power over another generates a situation in which humanity breaks down and immeasurable suffering is inflicted. It is utterly shocking to learn about the torments enslaved people of African origin had to endure. The degree of dehumanization of the oppressors is equally incomprehensible. The masters considered their slaves to be mindless beasts, but the stories make it obvious that it was the masters themselves who were turned into uncivilized brutes by the seductive power of the system. How could these people consider themselves devout Christians, talk about morality, and care for their communities and families, but at the same time mercilessly torture, rape, and sometimes even kill their servants? The total disregard for basic humanity and the grotesquely split morals of the perpetrators remind me of what became known of prison guards in Nazi concentration camps. Many behaved as loving, cheerful, and honest people caring for their families outside the prison camps but committed the most atrocious cruelties and mass murders of Jewish inmates.
The book is an eternal warning that once a group of people is deprived of their dignity as humans and another group of people has unrestricted power over them, the door to hell opens. However, it is also a striking testimony of how the human dignity of the victims remains intact even under the most horrible circumstances but the perpetrators descend into a state of bestial inhumanity.
I highly recommend this book not only for anyone interested in US history, and the history of slavery but as a profound and eternal lesson of how quickly degrading the rights of others can devolve into catastrophe.

[Mohammed omran · Rating 4 out of 5]

What i learned in this novel was about the life of Frederick DOuglass, how he was a runaway slave and became a successful writer. I realized how Douglass was very influential for slavery because he was a very intelligent man who wanted freedom. He was a very influential individual who inspired many people since his writings meant a lot for the African Americans that were slaves.Themes in the book are hope and hatred, since many believed blacks did not deserve to be free and have rights. I would recommend this book to people who really don't know what Douglass was about and how he help start the ideas of how slavery was a bad and harsh.

[Crystalclearwpg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this for my university English class and at first was not sure if I would enjoy this type of book. I'm not to keen on reading history type books like this but it did not disappoint me at all. In fact, it just made me want to read more.

For my class I had to read the last story, "The Life as a Slave Girl" told by Linda Brent, and I could really feel for Linda and the things that she went through. She starts off by having a generous master that taught her to read and write which is seldom heard of for those days and had a descent life as a slave. Linda really did not know the meaning of being a slave until she lost her master and was sent to the Flints. This is where Linda learned the meaning of being a slave.

Reading this story you will really get a sense of Linda's love and anguish through out the trials of her life. I know I did.

More stories like these should be made part of the education curriculum (in Canada any way. I know they were not when I was in school) because it makes it more real. Because of this book I am now trying to learn more about this era and it totally fascinates and disgusts me at the same time.

Please give it some thought on adding it to your to-read shelfs and I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

Looking forward to reading the rest of the book this summer, (due to other class readings that will be when I get a chance to do it...lol).

[Yan Kadouri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Classic Slave Narratives by Henry Louis Gates Jr. is such a great book because it give's the readers an inside look into the meaning of slavery through the slaves point of view also we explore the conflict that most slaves faced being taken away from their homes and being separated from their loved ones.Also Henry Louis Gates does a good in actually providing history of were slavery came from but how it effected each author he also uses various literary devices to show the true emotions of the characters regarding slavery.I learned two thing's form this book that slavery happened because the whites were just scared of this new race that they would try to take their power away so slavery sort of paid for that fear.Another thing i learned that different methods that they used to hurt the slaves actually caused them to be lower in the humanity chart.I think everybody should read this book that wants to get a head on perspective of the idea of were slavery came from and want to put in a slaves shoes for today.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book about slavery. Very horrible in parts because of the truth of the evilness of slavery.

No group of slaves anywhere, in any era, has left such prolific testimony to the horror of bondage as African-American slaves. Here are four of the most notable narratives: The Life of Olaudah Equiano; The History of Mary Prince; Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass; and Incidents in the Life of Slave Girl.

[Nsikan Akpan · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERYONE should read this

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I set out to read the whole book but just read Incidents in the Live of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. I will go back and read the others but not right away.

For fucks sake, people, what is wrong with this country? Incidents lays it all out for you - the cruelty and perversion of slavery, the separating of families, the church's support of slavery, the sexual enslavement of women and the sexualizing of African-American girls, the immorality of profiting from enslaved labor - And this has been common knowledge one way or another since 1861 and probably before. At some point, you can't pretend not to know.

Necessary reading.

[Bill FromPA · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the narrative of Olaudah Equiano is historically significant, its inclusion of a considerable amount of autobiographical material unrelated to his experiences of slavery makes for a somewhat unfocused beginning to this anthology, but the three succeeding narratives make for absolutely compelling reading.

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Written by Himself - 11/24/2020

In contrast to the American slave narratives, whose writers were born into slavery, Vassa was born in Africa and kidnapped into bondage at age 11. His opening chapters describe the kingdom of Benin in Guinea as he remembers it, with a good deal of detail about its customs and material culture. It was interesting to me that the society had institutionalized slavery, criminals and prisoners of war being its chief victims. However, what the author describes as wars and battles seem like they might often have been little more than raids in search of plunder, a category which would include captives to be used as slaves.

At any rate, the Guinean network of domestic slavers had connection to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and, after a series of sales, Vassa went from African slavery to the hands of British masters, the two primary ones being first, a British naval officer , and later a colonial Philadelphia merchant who resided and did business mainly in the West Indies. Altogether, Gustavus Vassa (the name by which Equiano was baptized and which he seems to have gone by) was a slave for about 10 years, at which point he was able to purchase his own freedom. Though he protests against his condition and lack of agency, he seems to have been comparatively well treated, especially in contrast to some of the abuses and punishments he notes being meted out by other slave owners; with his naval master's consent he learns to read and write and gains enough skill to serve the West Indian merchant as a valuable clerk.

This is a rather rambling narrative, much of it consists of nautical adventures, first in service against the French in the Seven Years' War and then, both as a slave and freeman, on various trading missions, including the portage of slaves to America, on which he encountered various dangers associated with seafaring. Almost half the book takes place after Vassa has become free, during which time he travels as far as the Arctic and Turkey, as well as regular trans-Atlantic crossings; at one point he assists an English doctor in setting up a Jamaican plantation run by slave labor. These various adventures are rattled off in a rather cursory fashion - we get more detail about the many repetitive instances in which white employers or customers cheat the author than we do of local color - though the few instances of the latter, such as the conditions imposed by the Inquisition on ships docking in Portugal, are often interesting. I found the author's lengthy disquisition on how he came to accept the doctrines of a Calvinist strain of Christianity pretty tedious, lacking both persuasiveness and drama.

The History of Mary Prince - 11/25/2020

Another West Indian slave narrative, but this from a woman born into slavery and subject to a series of cruel masters, victim of a series of degrading and crippling punishments and occupations.

Prince's own story is "as told to" Thomas Pringle, Secretary of Britain's Anti-Slavery Society, who takes responsibility for shaping her narrative and its language, though he is careful in footnotes to note when certain terms of extreme vehemence are in Prince's own words. The story is one of harrowing and inescapable cruelty. When Prince travels with her last master, John Wood, and his wife to England, she eventually takes advantage of her nominal freedom on that ground to contact a Moravian religious group and establish herself as a freewoman. Prince was, in fact, taunted by Wood into taking this step: unable to punish her physically to the extent possible in the colonies, Wood thought the prospect of abandonment on the streets of London a substitute threat of sufficient potency.

Prince's narrative is followed by a "Supplement" in which Pringle tells the story of the efforts of his Society on Prince's behalf to gain universal recognition her freedom. (As her situation stood, she was free on British soil, but if she ventured to return to the West Indies, where she had left behind a husband, she would revert to being the property of Wood.) Several documents are included, including a letter from Wood in which he endeavors to refute Prince's story. Wood emerges from this tale as a villain of Dickensian proportions: ingenious in his cruelty and unashamed in his hypocrisy.

A short, unrelated section closes the book, the story of Louis Asa-Asa. Captured by a murderous gang of African slavers and sold to a French slave trader, he gains his freedom when the French ship runs aground on British land.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave - 7/26/2015
My review here.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl - 3/12/2016

[Ira Therebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains 4 slave narratives which are great pieces to learn about the history of that time. Reading the testimonies of the ones who were actually involved in it and were the victims of slavery gives one a great perspective and more understanding of the details. This is also a great collection because all four while they were slaves were in different situations so it gives one a wide variety and they were also written for different purposes which is reflected in the tone of the writings and what details were emphasized.

My thoughts on each narrative in itself will contain spoilers of what happened to narrators. So if you don't want to know it before you read, don't continue.


The Life Olaudah Equiano was pretty difficult to read, the language used was sometimes hard for me to understand. His situation was different from that of the most slaves. For once, he wasn't born a slave. In this book we get to learn about the kidnappings of free people from Africa who were after treated like a property. He mainly talks about his life and we don't get to know about many details of the slavery. Unlike the following characters he didn't stay a slave until the very end of it. He was "lucky"(sorry to use this word, nothing better comes to mind) that he got to learn some sailing skills on the boat and also unlike the ones at the plantations he didn't face resistance from his owners to be able to make some money on the side and be able to buy his freedom. This doesn't mean that he didn't encounter any injustice after. Working as a free black sailor still involved danger of being kidnapped again. This is a great narrative to learn about this kind of slavery situation because I didn't know much about it.

The History of Mary Prince was written as an attempt to get the woman her freedom from her owners who were refusing to do so out of spite considering that she was physically unable to work anymore. For that reason this narrative emphasizes a lot of cruelty slaves faced at that time.Some passages are very hard to read due to that. And it is hard to understand why there was such hatred towards her that they even refused the money, since she could not be exploited anymore due to her health. I would love to read some psychology based books on this kind of attitude these people had. It is unfortunate that we don't know how it ended. It seems that she never got to return back to her husband as a free woman.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas is written by a slave who escaped to the north in order to make people in the north more aware of what is going on in the south. He goes into details about mistreatment of slaves and I also loved this narrative for it included a lot of his thoughts on details like how he saw religion among the plantation owners, how the singing of the slaves while doing their work was often presented as a sign of their happiness while it was them letting out their pain and many similar things. This book is one that I would recommend the most. Frederick Douglas was an especially intelligent man who presented a lot of deep thoughts in his narrative.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is also written to make the northern states more aware of the situation and get more actions from them to fight against slavery. Only it's target audience were women. This can be seen in the tone of the book. It uses a very romantic/poetic language similar to what one would read in the novels of that time. It does not concentrate as much on the physical abuse (although it is not left out, just involves less details) as it does on the emotional pain of a woman who is abused by her master as well as a mother worrying about her children and their future.

Like I said, it is a great collection and should be read by anyone to understand more about past and people.

[Arelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Prince:
This account tells the story of a West Indian slave who endured years of cruelty and abuse at the hands of several families who successively owned her in Bermuda and the West Indies. Mary Prince traveled to London in 1828, in the service of the Woods family. There she was granted her freedom because of an English law. But England's anti-slavery ruling did not extend to Antigua, and in order to remain free, Prince had to abandon her husband who she left behind.This story is very moving and detailed. This record of the experiences of the author became a powerful instrument for campaign against the slave trade. This account helped people see the views of women in slavery in their eyes and not through some man. This was groudbreaking for this genre of slave narratives.
They discussed many themes such as othering, hubris, and power. The masters would dehumanize their slaves and act as if they were their superior. There was also a lot of hypocritism because they would say that they were trying to civilize them by teaching christianity yet most slaveowners denied them the right to learn anything at all.
I recommend this book because it is actually quite interesting and time flies by as you read it. I give this book 4 stars because it is not the best book in the world but it is entertaining.

Fredrick Douglass:
Born as a slave in Maryland in 1817, Frederick Douglass went on to become the most influential and distinguished African American of the nineteenth century. As an abolitionist, newspaper publisher, orator and statesman, Douglass dedicated his life to the triumph of freedom over oppression for all black Americans. He had to learn to cope with the hardships of slavery. The irony found within the institution of slavery was that white Christian Americans justified owning slaves as if it were an animal, but yet they prayed at night for their soul's salvation into the kingdom of Christ's God. This all took place in a country founded on freedom, liberty which was fought for by the Whites.

There were now slaves singing joyful tunes in times of hardships and despair. The life of a slave is unimaginabley horrible. When Douglass gained the ability to read and think, slavery transformed him as he became at times broken in body, soul, and spirit. This description of himself is how I came to view a slave from the slaves perspective as best as I could. The slaves that could think were tortured by thought. The slaves that couldn't think were tortured by ignorance. Nonetheless, slavery was torture driven by fear and contol.

I give this book 4 stars because just like Mary Prince's narrative his story was very informative at the same time chilling and gruesome. It was hard to read how much they suffered but at the same time you wanted to know how they ended up.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my English class, we are required to read only a few of the narratives included in this novel. So far, we've read two. The first, "The History of Mary Prince, A West Indian Slave," narrated by Mary Prince herself, was not exactly very interesting for me to read. It did, however, help the reader see the life of a West Indian Slave and put that into perspective. Through her narrative, we view the changes in her life and the constant struggle that a slave has to go through. It's constant work and never ending cruelty from the masters that makes the life of a slave a very sad one. In this narrative, we also view the struggle for freedom. While Mary Prince managed to "escape" from her master, Mr. Wood and family were unwilling to give her up. This, I found quite interesting since there were plenty of slaves that could substitute Prince. Her trial represented the tough situation in which many slaves found themselves where many master would not give up their slaves to freedom in order to protect their image in the community. Or for the mere satisfaction of knowing that whites could have complete control over their slaves and never have to justify their actions towards them. Again, not my most favorite narrative, but no one can really judge life. (Pg 251-316)

Another of the narratives I have just recently read was that of the famous Frederick Douglass. In "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave", written by himself, we explore along with Douglass, the real cruelty that slave masters can express upon their slaves and the constant dream for freedom and liberty. This narrative I enjoyed very much because it was written in a way that made us feel we were going through every problem and event along with him. Douglass expresses the role that masters play in their slaves lives, sometimes even assuming the role of a father like figure and treating his slaves like "children". Sometimes, those slaves ARE his children. We then read about the cruel punishments inflicted on slaves and how no one was capable of preventing them from happening. No one cared if a slave died, they were nothing, less than objects. This fueled Douglass to a point where he began to learn how to read and write. Knowledge, for him and other slaves, was a form of escape. What masters feared most of all is an educated slave, capable of overthrowing them. Using his education to his advantage, Douglass learned the meaning of the word abolitionist, and it was like a foreshadow. Though a lengthy narrative, Douglass wrote with such eloquence and understanding that it was hard to believe he wrote it himself at a time when slaves were poorly educated. Amazing story from an amazing writer. (325-436)

[Xing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Prince
For many slaves, dead is the only way to free from the bondage and the suffering in the world. Mary was born to be a slave, she had no choice over her own life. Mary was sold from one slave owner to another. However, no matter who her master is, she was being treated badly and inhumanly. For instance, while she was slaves of Mrs. Wood and Mr. Wood, they whipped her for no reason and unwilling to let her buy freedom while they free other slaves. Besides from the suffering of endless whipping and abuse, Mary also had to suffer the separation from her family. Slaves were forced to separate from their family, and they wouldn’t have chance to see them again. Howver, the reality of slavery was very cruel, only the people who experienced it could understand.

Frederick Douglass
Slave owners didn’t educate slaves because they intended to make slaves ignorant so they would be easily to control. They afraid to let slave learn to read and write because it would be a threat to them. Once slave learn to read and write, they would start to have their own idea and able to think about their unfair treatment. Ultimately, slaves would end up fighting for their freedom. However, the white men also degrading black people by saying that they were intelligences inferior. But in my opinion, I think that white people didn’t really believe that. If they did, why would they afraid to educate black slaves? Anyway, Frederick Douglass wanted to free from bondage, and he knew the only thing that could help him to achieve this goal was education.

Harriet Jacobs
Linda had a happy childhood, her mistress promised her mother to treat her well. However, after the death of the kind mistress, her life changed. It was like a turning point in her life, it was when she realized the real meaning of slavery. Linda’s master was Dr. Flint who constantly sexual abused her. As a result, she wanted to free from her master, but Dr. Flint had no intention to sell her. However, Linda tried to use her own way to obtain freedom which was getting pregnant. From here, I could see that Linda really want to get freedom, she was willing to scarify anything. In my opinion, I think the only way for slaves to get freedom without the consent of their masters was death. Slaves were born with limited of rights, but no one could take away right to end their miserable life.

[Mikhail Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Classic Slave Narratives is great book. It is one of those books that once you start reading, you cannot put down. This book describes slavery from a primary source who are former slaves of varies experiences. There is excitement on almost every page and your are less likely to be bored. This book consist of four different books or stories.

I have read the Narrative of Mary Prince. Mary Prince's story is different from the rest of teh stories because it is written the perspective of a female slave. The life of a female slave was different than the life of a male slave. The story of Mary Prince revealed all or most of the injustices endured by female slaves on daily basis. She talks about the slaves being beaten for minor offences and whipped harshly multiple times. Slaves often were whipped until a puddle of blood lied below them and the master is completely exhausted. Mary Price talks about the sexual exploitation many female slaves were forced to endure. Many female slaves were rapped and used as concubines for their masters. The Narrative of Mary Prince is exciting, suspenful, and worth reading.

Another story I have read is the Narrative of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass's story is a little bit more complex than Mary Prince. Frederick Douglass describes slavery on a general basis but at the same time he describes his own personal encounters. His description of slavery was different because he was supposedly the offspring of his master and a slave girl. He would have a less harsh and painful affect from slavery than any other slave. Frederick Douglass illustrates the negative effects that slavery had on the slave and his master. He would also discuss his burning desire to be free and the means at which he obtained freedom.




Both Narrativs of Mary Prince and Frederick Douglass describe the inhumane affect that slavery on blacks and the desire and measures they took to be free.

[Asha Hedrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The History of Mary Prince...A West Indian Slave
This story by Mary Prince herself was very moving. With tremendously great imagery and details I was able to see all of the inhumane treatment that all the black people or slaves went through. In some parts of the story I almost felt like I was actually watching a slave get whipped and mistreated by their slave masters. As I read I noticed the lack of equality that was being shown. The white people thought that they were superior to the slaves and abused their power over them. This abuse of power allowed many slaves including Mary to know the difference between “the smart of the rope, the cart whip, and the cow skin”, pg261. One important lesson I learned from reading Mary’s story, was to be thankful for everything that I have today. Today I do not have to go through all of the hardships, inequality that I would have had growing up in those times.
finished: November 16th 2010

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave
This story, like Mary Prince’s, showed all of the degrading things that slaves had to go through. They were beaten and often times even killed. There were also many paradoxes that I came across as I read. In Douglass’s story there were many white men that were extremely religious. However, they were the same one’s degrading slaves, whipping them, and treating them in ways that were unethical and inhumane. He also states a paradox himself, in his writing, “We have men-stealers for ministers, women-whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunders for church members”, pg430. This narrative caught my attention from start to finish and I would recommend it to everyone.
finished: December 1st 2010

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently reading The Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Linda Brent, and it is really interesting. I am surprised as to how her first mistress taught her how to read and spell when on the contrary most mistresses and masters will not supplement their slaves' education. Linda Brent obviously lived a life different most slaves by being literate and also by having both parents being mulattos, thus decreasing her negro blood. Linda Brent eloquently writes her story in such a formal way that her professionalism and writing style are truly great. I really like Linda Brent's tale so far and can't wait to finish it!

Many ex-slaves who write their memoirs have all gone through trials of suffering of different degrees and experiences. However, most ex-slaves found their freedom through literacy just like Frederick Douglass, a ex-slave who learned to read and write by manipulating others to help him. His thirst for learning also increased his thirst for freedom. Frederick Douglass' use of imagery illustrates the cruelty of slavery and how slaves lived their lives under their masters' whip. Douglass' narrative is indeed an interesting story.

Mary Prince's narrative reveals the perspective of a West Indies slave but was written down by a separate person. Prince describes her daily life and duties as a slave and how hard each task was. The hardest obstacle she had to face was her attempt to become a free woman. Her master does everything in his control to keep Prince as his slave, demonstrating how power can corrupt man. Her narrative is very unique because it is about a West Indies slave, and I felt that this was a fresh story with a fresh perspective that is different since we focused on African slavery in my history class.

[Kristine Buckheit · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Classic Slave Narratives" by Henry Louis Gates Jr. is not a book that would catch my eye, but it was very interesting. I am currently reading this book in English class, but one of the slave narratives that I have read was "The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Save." This narrative was told by Mary Prince. She described the hardships about the life of a slave and gave several experiences, so the reader could picture it themselves. Slaves were treated very cruelly by their masters, as if the slaves were not human beings at all. Throughout the story, Mary fights for her freedom, but her master is unwilling to let her go. Because the masters was in high command, the slaves had to obey everything or else they would suffer severe consequences. It took a lot of courage for slaves, such as Mary Prince to try and fight for their freedom.

Another narrative that I read was "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." Douglass also discussed how cruel and difficult it is to be a slave. He first discussed about how a slave is not supposed to ask questions to their masters. One reason is that the masters did not want their slaves to know their own background and also, they did not want the slaves to gain knowledge and continue asking questions. Some themes are freedom, determination, equality, differences, abuse and power. When reading this story, it feels as if the reader were actually there because Douglass is so expressive and descriptive with his words. This books shows that a person has to have self confidence and has to have self-inspiration for wanting something better. Like Mahatma Gandhi says "be the change you want to see in the world."

[Rosemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a powerful story about a young African slave born on 1818. He was born into slavery as a young child and separated from his mother. Little did he know about his mother and only saw her a few times in the dark as she came to visit him once in a while. His mother died when he was very young. After reading this I felt a stronger connection to the aspect of slavery. This story touched me emotionally because it changes my view on how slavery isn't just a regular method of othering. I didn't understand the true roots of it though. Frederick Douglass struggles from wanting aspire freedom. At different points in the book he feels depressed on what he is (a slave). Sometimes he stops believing and thinks he will be a slave for life. Douglass' soon finds out being educated is the key to freedom. This becomes a difficult task for him because he encounters many obstacles on his way to freedom. I love how Henry Louis Gates Jr. put multiple stories of different slaves into one book. I'm also glad that in the end Douglass reaches his goal. Sometimes it does get boring to read but if you're interested in the history of slavery and its true foundation then this would be the book for you! Many themes are in this story such as othering, equality, identity, and etc.

[Lisbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The History of Mary Prince
This was a great narrative. Through Mary's story you almost felt like you were there like you felt her pains and sufferings. The cruelty and selfishness of being a slaveholder is portrayed within the lines of this story. It is shown how slaves would create communities within themselves to substitute their families. The themes of torture, cruelty, loneliness, suffering, knowledge, and freedom. Mary Price is taken to England where she know she is free, but yet cannot leave her masters. She wishes to return to the West Indies to be with her husband, but although freed in England returning would cause her re-enslavement. I would recommend this narrative to just about anybody because it is such a powerful story.


Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass' narrative was powerful, but a little bit boring. Through the story he tells it is seen how there can be self determination to reach ones goals. He was separated from his mother at such a young age that her death was as if it was of a stranger. Proving the impact slavery has on families. Douglass learns how to read and write. This encourages him to become free and become a better man than slavery. His goals and accomplishments were the same as many, only that he realized it. Through this narrative it is seen how the oppressed can always work to better itself.

[Krystal Peralta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fredrick Douglass * This part of the book tells the story of Frederick Douglass' life as a slave. The reader's will understand how Douglass fought through to become the successful. Douglass uses this imagery to make his points clear to the readers. One example of imagery is when Douglass loses an ox, by mistake and he is violently whipped for it. The story of Douglass gets more interesting as one keeps reading it. Mary Prince* My favorite quote from this section of the book was "To strip me naked – to hang me up by the wrists and lay my flesh open with the cow-skin, was an ordinary punishment for even a slight offense." I like this quote the most, because she is telling us about her pain and her suffering with great detail. Harriet Jacobs* Jacob's narrative i must say is the most unique and emotional one. Her narrative tells the story of a female slave from her own point of view. The true life story of this woman's fight for freedom, for herself and for her children. Reading about the lives of people in the past and reading through their voice is always amazing to me. I really feel that narratives help connect past to present. THUMBS UP !
> R E C O M M E N D E D T O E V E R Y O N E

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

These 4 narratives will have me thinking in early 19th century english for a while. All 4 memoirs are riveting stories that had me on the edge of my seat. I also appreciated these memoirs for their historical and anthropological details of the slave societies of the Americas. When Linda Brent wrote "[My] bill of sale is on record, and future generations will learn from it that women were articles of traffic in New York, late in the 19th century of the Christian religion", I felt like she was looking right at me! All 4 memoirs illustrate that much slave labor in the slave economies was paid, but just not to the enslaved people actually doing the work. Douglass, Equiano, & Prince all worked alongside freemen and whites doing the same work while enslaved, and were paid like them, but the difference was that they were required to turn over their earnings to their "owners". Equiano's travels as a sailor offers a great look at the Caribbean-Atlantic economy of the late 18th century, and of the shipping industry of the time. I also especially liked his ironic use of the word "Christian". Linda Brent's reluctance to confide her status as runaway slave even to those she trusted after she escaped to the north reminded me of similar stories I've heard from undocumented immigrants.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the first of these narratives, on the life of Gustavas Vassa. Once I got used to the 18th-century English, holy cow! It was genuinely gripping reading. At age 11, the author was kidnapped from what is now Nigeria and sold into slavery. He eventually bought his own freedom and became a sailor and adventurer, and died one of the best-traveled men in the world. Among the many fascinating (yet educational) aspects of this tale is the author's reactions to and experimentation with the various versions of Christianity that were just congealing at the time. Having converted from "nothing" as an adult, he was far more open to the potential for doctrinal flaws than people born into the religion were in his day, and even flirted seriously with becoming a Muslim. This narrative provides extraordinary insight into three major 18th-century institutions: the slave trade and institution of slavery in the West Indies; the development of multiple Protestant sects and their relations with each other; and the seafaring merchant universe. A+

[Lanier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Prince's trials and tribulations were something I'd only briefly read not too many years ago. However, as the first African American female to have HERSTORY recorded it is almost as monumental as Phillis Wheatley's books pf poetry surviving the flames of dissent and disloyalties. Still, the last five pages of similar accounts of Asa-Asa and another were extremely chilling in depicting how slavery truly warped those who perpetrated these acts of bestiality through daily cruelities which defy Christianity, humanity and common logic. Fredrick Douglass' accounts, also were slightly lacking; I wish, in retrospect, his escape through what I assume was the Underground Railroad, would have been an great addendum. Aside from that, his accounts seem particularly poignant, at times.

11-11-10
Starting Harriet Jacobs's autobio, which already promises to be a bitter pill to swallow as it's everything the others were but I'm told she reveals the real dark side of sexual abuse which none of the others mentioned in the least.

[Isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned more of how much resistance humanity is capable of in times of hopelessness; how much wealth was generated for those whose owned labor by those they owned (put simply, a whole lot)... how of course, had people who worked hardest been fairly compensated at the time, what a different looking class society America would be now. I learned that the experience of the Negro Slave was as varied and diverse as it as for whites; that in some circumstances a slave might use the fear of public amalgamation as a form of protection - though not without danger, of course, and only in very rare cases... I learned even more and greater appreciation for how far we have come. These narratives are essential.