Slave Narratives Comparison

SLAVE NARRATIVES: A COMPARISON

Slave narratives are a very important part of history. They provide readers with an inside view of the institution of slavery and the many aspects of it. Slave narratives can be found in many different places. Many have been documented and printed and some can be found in the autobiographies of well known African Americans. Regardless of the source, slave narratives can provide valuable information. The slave narratives I am discussing today are from two different areas of the country. I knew that by choosing the slave narratives this way, I would more than likely get two completely different perspectives on slavery. Slavery in the north was quite different from slavery in the south. Slaves in the north of
Several slaves in the north of the country were provided the opportunity to read and write. They also experienced the first affects of freedom and the abolitionist movement. Meanwhile, slaves in the south mostly worked in the fields and maintained crops such as cotton and tobacco. Often, they were banned from learning how to read and write. The language can also be compared in the two slave narratives. Some slaves were more educated than others. Some slaves were influenced by the mixing of languages and created their own language. Overall, the life experiences and culture of the two slave narratives have several similarities and differences. One of the slave narratives I reviewed was that of Aunt Harriet Smith. She was located in Hempstead, Texas and the interview was recorded in 1941. The second narrative I reviewed was that of Fountain Hughes who was located in Baltimore, Maryland. The interview was recorded on June 11, 1949. While reviewing the slave narratives, the first thing I noticed was the knowledge of both slaves. However, I am sure that these interviews alone do not reflect their knowledge completely. Mr. Fountain Hughes, of Baltimore, Maryland, knew his age and about his family history. Compared to the
Both Mr. Hughes and Aunt Harriet Smith state that they did not personally experience violence while in slavery, but they had heard of occasions of violence. Although slavery was not pleasant, both parties state that they were treated well. Mr. Fountain Hughes recalls that “boys lived to, they had a good time. The masters didn 't treat them bad. And they was always satisfied.”i Although Mr. Hughes did not witness violence, he stated that “if you was bad and mean and they didn 't want to beat you and knock you around, they 'd sell you what to the, what was call the nigga trader.”i Aunt Harriet Smith recalls that “they was good to us. Good. They never whipped none of their colored people, our colored people. They 'd take big saddle horse, Mrs. B 's saddle horse, big gray animal, and she 'd have them riding. Grandma would ride to Mountain City to church.”ii When it came to freedom, Mr. Fountain Hughes and Aunt Harriet Smith had very different experiences. Aunt Harriet Smith states “we didn 't know anything about freedom at all.”ii On the other hand, Mr. Fountain Hughes experienced the positive and negative side of freedom living in Virginia. He comments that “soon after when we found out that we was free, why then we was, uh, bound out to different people…and we would run away, and wouldn 't stay with them. Why then we 'd just go and stay anywhere we could.”i When discussing the