Douglass and Jacobs

Abigail Pettigrew

History 3881

September 11, 2010

Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs

Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass both experienced hardships, trials, abuse, and discrimination during their lifetime. They show courage, strength and endurance throughout their life, even through their very grim circumstances. Through a life of slavery and hardship both people persevered and to this day we look back on them as monuments of courage and endurance. They survived and through their stories helped others to survive during a time of persecution.

Harriet Jacobs was a woman of strength and courage to the end. She was not one to give up easily and always “fought the good fight”. Harriet Jacobs had a happy childhood; her family lived together in a small home on her family’s master’s land. Growing up her mother never let her think she was a piece of property she was taught to be her own person. Even after her mother’s death Harriet was one of the few who still received kindness from her master’s wife. The masters wife looked after young Harriet and taught her to read and write which was a rarity among people and even more so among the slave population. Unfortunately Harriet’s good fortune was about to run short, for her beloved mistress passed away as well and she was sent elsewhere. Her new mistress was a small child of only three, causing the little girl’s father to become her true master.

Norcom was a truly evil man, he forced himself upon Harriet until she could refuse no more, because of this she gave birth to two of his children, and both were sold to add upon her misery. Harriet had stood long enough and had grown weary of her masters constant abuse sexual, mentally, emotionally, physically, and verbally. Seven years was enough for Harriet, she did what she had to do she escaped. She lived with different neighbors who where both black and white, but she finally ended up living in a tiny crawl space above her aunt and uncles home. The... [continues]

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