Harriot Jacobs Essay

When reading the narrative about Harriot Jacobs, one has to ask; what was it that kept her faith in God? How could she ever keep her hope alive that she could survive in a world where a young black slave girl could endure sexual harassment, slander, physical abuse, and emotional suffering from that of her slave master, Dr. Flint? There is no doubt that religion was viewed differently with black slaves and white slave masters. Religion and the Bible was interpreted differently from what was right and wrong, and what was good and evil. Most white masters which had the power over slaves viewed the Bible in reference to justify the evil and wrong doings that they would commit such as adultery and rape among female slaves. They (slave masters)

In her struggle and suffering, Jacob turned to God with prayer and on many occasions, she prayed for God to give her the strength to overcome the pain and misery she endured while in bondage under her master, Dr. Flint. She would not be persuaded by the likes of Mr. Pikes preaching, that she had done wrong with her master, Dr. Flint and she was a sinner. She believed that God had a reason for everything in her life that occurred, for it was God’s plan to put her through her trials and in return, God would give her the strength and wisdom to help other slave women in the

At age 15, still only a young teenage girl, she sends Dr. Flint into an outrage by falling in love and having two children with a white man, named Mr. Sands. The children are made slaves when they are born because the law states, children will follow the social standings of their mother. To protect her children, Harriet runs away and is hidden in the small attic space of her grandmother’s home for seven years. She held on to hope when she would very seldom catch a small glimpse of her children playing outside and listening to their voices. As she is hidden in the attic, she reads, sews, and prays to God to give her the strength to survive for the sake of her children and their