Slave Life in Georgia

by John Brown

My name is John Brown. How I came to take it, I will explain in due time. When in Slavery, I was called Fed. Why I was so named, I cannot tell. I never knew myself by any other name, nor always by that; for it is common for slaves to answer to any name, as it may suit the humour of the master. I do not know how old I am, but think I may be any age between thirty-five and forty. I fancy I must be about thirty-seven or eight; as nearly as I can guess. I was raised on Betty Moore's estate, in Southampton County, Virginia, about three miles from Jerusalem Court house and the little Nottoway river. My mother belonged to Betty Moore. Her name was Nancy; but she was called Nanny. My father's name was Joe. He was owned by a planter named Benford, who lived at Northampton, in the same State. I believe my father and his family were bred on Benford's plantation.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Biography

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1855

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

John Brown (c. 1810 – 1876), also known by his slave name, "Fed", was born into slavery on a plantation in Southampton County, Virginia. He is known for his memoir published in London, England in 1855, Slave Life in Georgia: A Narrative of the Life, Sufferings, and Escape of John Brown, a Fugitive Slave, Now in England. This slave narrative, dictated to a helper who wrote it, recounted his life and later escape from slavery in Georgia. He lived in London from 1850 to the end of his life, marrying an English woman.

Reviews

[Moira L. Mefein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth, Straight from a Person Who Survived (barely) Slavery.

If I had my way, this book would be mandatory high school reading. No matter your heritage, slavery has been used throughout history to control and exploit others. Sometimes we need a solid kick in the pants to remind us just how brutal slave life was. This is a superior lesson in that regard.

[Tasha Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very worth the time it takes to read...a magnificent example of the endurance of the human spirit! John Brown is an inspiration that bridges the gap between all ages, and races allowing the reader a glimpse into the past and societal norms/practices from nearly two centuries ago. This novel offers a first hand account of the true South from the point of a slave who suffered abuse, degradation, and multiple human rights violations. A man who risked life and limb for a life of his own, a life we enjoy and take for granted. This memoir is a gem considering all the odds stacked against John Brown and countess others during that dark period of our nation's history, including a plethora of never ending obstacles and a society against him. I have a greater appreciation and deeper respect for all those trailblazers who fought and sacrificed everything so we can enjoy a society, with exceptions, that honors human rights and a system which fosters order and a chance to live as one chooses. So many stories about the Old South are romanticized portraying many upper class whites as moral pillars of society who considered their slaves a part of the family when In fact so very many exhibited cruelty which rivals the Third Reich. I am glad I found this great read!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. John Brown has quite the ironic name, alas a very pitiable life. Like most slave narratives, it is hard to imagine the heinousness that occurred to so many people for so long a time. Mr. Brown's telling, through a recorder, strikes at the heart much more viscerally than other accounts of slave life. The things Mr. Brown does NOT share with us cannot and should not be imagined because knowing that such things can be done to fellow human beings can do nothing but destroy our hope for human progress.

Slave Life in Georgia belongs at the top of the list when exploring US history along side, or even above, the more famous tales of Frederick Douglas or Solomon Northrup.

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really can’t give this a “rating” that would make sense in the same way I rate my other reads because this is an autobiographical account of slavery.

What was interesting to me while reading is that it becomes very clear that it was written to try to convince white English people and free Black people at the time to do more to fight against the problem of slavery in America, because it doesn’t just look at the horrors of slavery, but makes counter arguments to what were common rationalisations to justify ignoring chattel slavery at the time, (as if the horrors of slavery were not enough to justify the cessation of slavery to the average reader this book was aimed towards, even though this book would have been published and read within communities who were already anti-slavery, at least passively).

The choice of arguments John Brown makes really bring to light how “progressive” people turned a blind eye to slavery outside of America while still purchasing garments made with slave grown cotton, and this issue in many ways parallels modern day unethical consumption and related humanitarian issues and human rights atrocities.

[Dianna Koch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching and appalling-how humans can treat each other so cruelly! This incredible man with his amazing resiliency is awe inspiring. He never gave up and found a way to finally be free and live his life. This recounting of his life makes your heart ache.

[Nate Muya · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is read the reflection. His thoughts and views scream a solution that has been ringing through to this current day and age. With enough introspection you could see how some of the thoughts brought up run parallel to challenges faced in the current moment with capitalism and exploitation of those vulnerable and of minority group

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not an easy read, but one that I think everyone should read. When finished, I asked myself, and you probably will too. How can anyone treat anyone the way the slaves were treated? Today, one would think that we should be well past those days, but outside of the torture we have endured as a nation, we have not progressed very far.

[Laurel Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book! This book is very easy to read in a grammatical way. Emotionally and in a humanitarian way it is heartbreaking. I highly highly recommend reading this, even if it is a long term “stays on the nightstand for months” book.

There is obviously mentions of abuse, breaking up families, suicide, deaths, implied rape.

[Theresa Kulenkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me nightmares. I cannot see how the descendants of the enslavers can live with the fruits of their ancestors sins. Inhuman, deplorable behavior by enslavers needs to be reported on and broadcasted so this nation can atone and heal.

[Invisible Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very harrowing depiction of slavery. this may sound vague but if you want a personal account of what slave life was like, this is a good reference.

[Ethan T. Swick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book that everyone ought to read. Absolutely harrowing. An Odyssey.

[Erika Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a black American woman, this book brings up a lot of emotions. It is an amazing historical reference. I appreciate the fact that it’s concise and to the point, but the author doesn’t get too gory or graphic with his story telling. I appreciate this because I know it’s painful for him, and it’s painful for black Americans, and as he states in the book the actual horror of slavery in America can never be described or depicted accurately and even as they get close to accurate most people would think it’s lies because of the horror and gruesomeness of it. It’s amazing that he was given the hope he was in his life and that he had enough grit to escape slavery numerous times, but eventually to escape to England. I am thankful that texts like this were written and are readily available for us to read. This history is not taught, and it needs to be. The history of black Americans should not be swept under the rug, forgotten and treated as unimportant because that is a disgrace to the hundreds of thousands of black people forced into slavery who died due to slavery and its effects. I believe everyone, especially people are non-black should take on the effort of reading stories such as these to be educated and informed, also simply out of respect for black people, black culture and black history.

[Marget Weatherby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the subject is not one that anyone wants to think about let alone read about...I could not put this book down. It was as if I was reading a modern day suspense story and could not wait to see what happened next.

The detail that the author and collaborator put into the narrative is what really brings the reader back in time to the 1800's.

It is not a book that I would recommend to the fate at heart, but a must read for any historian that is studying the Antebellum South.