Harriet Jacobs Women In Slavery

Feminist Harriet Jacobs was a slave in the antebellum period who became the first women to author a slave narrative in the United States. Like many slaves during this time, experienced sexual exploitation from their owners. They were considered nothing more than chattel. Being exposed to these conditions women could not live virtuous lives. How could the beating of any human being be of God? Of course that’s the theory slaveholders held strong to but how could that possibly be factual. Being a woman in slavery was more mentally, emotionally, and physically straining then being a man. Women were talked down upon, verbally abused as well as physically. Imagine giving birth to a new born baby and having him ripped from your breast so that you could nourish your owners newborn baby. What happens to your baby when you have none to give him by time it’s his turn to eat? Or how about being forced to submit sexually to satisfy your master and his mistress knows and begins to envy you. Not to forget women were whipped when disobedient or completing a task incorrectly. Being a woman in slavery was more mentally, emotionally, and physically straining then being a man. Women were talked down upon, verbally abused as well as physically. Look to the past, to Africa, to home, she

In many accounts of slavery, the slaveholders would sing hymns from the Bible to the slaves. The article Christianity as a Justification for Slavery stated, “Slaveholders believed that slavery would liberate Africans from their savage-like ways, especially if they were infused with Christianity.” Those with this theory believed that African-Americans could be conditioned to lead a virtuous life. Human Slavery stated, “American slave owners, almost all of whom were Christians, felt that they were carrying out God 's plan by buying and using