English Blog # 6

  2. Race and culture: How are characters portrayed as being caught between cultures? Are any characters engaged in a conflict with society because of their races or ethnic backgrounds?

Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl makes it apparent that America faced a time period of inequality. Those who were suffering from inequality had no way in changing their roles in society. During this time period African-American people were being unfairly forced to be  slaves because of their skin color.

Linda tells readers about her mother’s relationship with her mistress.  Linda says “my mother’s mistress was the daughter of my grandmother’s mistress. She was the foster sister of my mother; they were both nourished at my grandmother’s breast. In fact, my mother had been weaned at three months old, that the babe of the mistress might obtain sufficient food. They played together as children; and, when they became women, my mother was a most faithful servant to her whiter foster sister “(p.771). Although, these two women grew up together society had divided the women into different social roles. Linda’s mother was forced to be the “loyal servant” while childhood companion was Anglo would be her mistress. Although growing up together Linda’s mother would not be given the same opportunity as her mistress to be free.

When a person decides to marry their decision is based on their personal feelings. Linda and her lover as she stated “planned to go north” if they were to marry however, the couple faced many obstacles such as having no money to pay for expenses. Another conflict the couple face was Linda being a slave and the man she loves is a free African-American. Society made it nearly impossible for the two to marry because of the different social roles they had. Linda knew that had they have married “the husband of a slave has no power to protect [his wife]” (773).In today's society a person would simply get the blessing from both parents however, in Linda's case she had to face her owner Dr.Flint who became outraged with the idea of Linda marrying a free African-American.

The two examples that I shared were important because the restraints that society had on African- American slaves. Although, Linda had fallen in love she could not marry. Linda’s mother had to serve her childhood friend. Just like Linda and her mother, African Americans during this time were not given the same opportunity to share in the “American Dream”. It is important for the American society today to realize how valuable the “American Dream” really is. Through reading texts such as Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl I am able to understand the struggles that African-Americans faced.