ipl-logo

Synopsis Of The Story 'Abina And The Important Men'

850 Words4 Pages

Brian Niswonger
Dr. Nicole Pacino
HY104 - H09
06 March, 2023
Prompt 1
The story of Abina and the Important Men is one of freedom, retaliation, and, ultimately, injustice. Throughout the story, we follow Abina Mansah as she fights for an escape from the system of slavery that she was raised in from a young age. Attempting to solidify her personal autonomy, she brings her frustration to court, which followed the British judicial process. Because of the abolitionist movement that was widespread across Europe, the civilizing of Africa and its relationship to slavery grew to be a touchy subject within the legal system of the Gold Coast. However, those in power created ways to work around this issue, further feeding into the injustice of the time. …show more content…

The economy of the Gold Coast was heavily influenced by the working of enslaved people and pushing for abolition could very well destroy the foundation of the kingdom (Getz and Clarke, 48). A British law was imposed that banned the trading of slaves but powerful slave owners who already had their established system could easily find loopholes to continue their practice as slavery was their main income. To get around these laws, they would often either convince the court that the slave is an apprentice or that the women were purchased as wives under the customs of African culture. To these rich owners, the civilization mission benefited them as slave laws were often held loosely due to cost and ability to enforce them, and many judges would often rule in favor of the owners (10 & 130). Because of such, slavery continued to run in the background with little to no regulation. This ultimately hurt the common citizen who was either sold into a household to work or lived on the streets. The idea of “freedom” was not one of use within the colonies as the British would put those wandering without a job in prison (9). For people like Abina, who were abused by the system, the civilization mission was not something of benefit. They instead became the pawns for the important men within the colonies. If the important men stayed happy and the economy stayed afloat, Britain would remain in control and the cycle could

Show More
Related

Summary Of Abina And The Important Men

464 Words | 2 Pages

Fighting to heard not just to be Free Abina and the Important Men written by a historian Trevor R. Getz, reveals a true story of West African in the early nineteenth century who fights for right to be heard. Abina Mansah is a young African women who although is free is forced into slavery at a time when slavery was abolished and endures cruel and harsh punishment by her slave owner. She eventually escapes and takes her former slave owner Quamina Eddoo to court. The book illustrates her trail and treatment in the plantation through graphic artwork such as comic book and depicts the reality of her life and lives of all women in West Africa. The purpose of Trevor Getz along with Liz Clarke’s graphic illustrations is to share how Abina’s voice, through narration was silenced, and denied the basic human rights of a free

Read More

Summary Of An Empire For Slavery

506 Words | 3 Pages

In An Empire for Slavery: The Peculiar Institution in Texas, 1821-1865 Randolph B. Campbell discusses the institution or empire of slavery in Texas from early 1821 until its somewhat conclusion in 1865. In Campbell’s book he provides readers with a look at the slavery existence in the state of Texas and how it was an empire that was a major part of Texas’s growth and history. Throughout the book Campbell explores many different aspects of the slave institution throughout the many cities and counties in Texas. Campbell discusses the perplexing economic impact of slavery, the relationship between slave and slave master, the life of a Texas slave and delves into the physical and psychological effects of both slaves and their masters preceding the Civil War.

Read More

Abina And The Important Men Summary

916 Words | 4 Pages

Written by Trevor R. Getz, and Liz Clarke, Abina and the Important Men is a novel about a young slave named Abina and her journey to freedom and bringing justice to herself. The novel takes place in a courtroom setting, Abina being the plaintiff and her master. Quamina Eddoo, being the defendant. Abina is attempting to press charges that she was treated poorly as a slave. She was successful at pressing charges and gaining her freedom.

Read More

Why Did The British Tax The American Colonists

1020 Words | 5 Pages

Few in Britain expected the colonists to have protection and not pay for it themselves.” This quote reveals that the British Government did not appear to have any other way of paying their debts, but perhaps they could have continued to tax the homeland instead of taxing the American

Read More

Significant Changes During The American Revolution, 1756-1763

845 Words | 4 Pages

Since the colonists were not represented in government, they believed it was unjust and only their representatives in the colonial assemblies should be the ones to custom the colonist’s taxes. The reason for these acts being the turning point is because the British government was unreasonably taxing colonists upon war debt without them having a voice in government; which led to the creation of their motto no taxation without representation. Economically, the British Parliament took over as the mother country in an economic system known as Mercantilism in which its government received all the goods, raw materials, and would control the trading routes of the colonies. Culturally, at this point in time the colonial education was driven by gender roles dictated by society, in which men were defined as the dominant figure. In addition, African slaves were a minority in religious circles and could not attend

Read More

Plantation System Relationship To Indentured Servitude Essay

939 Words | 4 Pages

Plantations were spread out from each other along the regions rivers, and with every plantation conducting its own manufacture, sales and distribution, there was very little chance for the Virginians to create a more communal society. Plantation owners controlled large groups of bondsmen working in the fields controlled by overseers, and women served as house servants for the plantation masters. Most of these women were sexually abused by their masters and penalized with longer terms of service if they happen to bare illegitimate children. Because of disease, living conditions and harsh treatment 40% of the servants did not survive their terms of service. 1.

Read More

Navigating Distant Shores: A Historical Overview By Dr. Ronald Doris

915 Words | 4 Pages

Published by Tapestry Press and copyrighted by Xavier University of Louisiana in 2007, Perspectives In African American History And Culture: An Introductory Reader edited by Dr. Ronald Doris, contains a multitude of articles by several authors. All works center on African American history, culture, art, and philosophy. This particular critique will address “Navigating Distant Shores: A Historical Overview” by Dr. Ronald Doris. This article offers a well organized, structured overview of the life of the Africans, from the early 17th century to modern day 21st century who were kidnaped from their motherland and transported across the Atlantic to involuntary build a country.

Read More

Argumentative Summary: Elements Of The American Revolution

714 Words | 3 Pages

These rules caused serious financial misery in the colonies and establish displeasure toward the British authority. Two acts created during this era can be seen as the prelude to the inexorable uprising that would come

Read More

Differences Between The French And Indian War And Great Britain

978 Words | 4 Pages

It only forged an outbreak of angry colonies stating that Great Britain are defining their natural rights as a human being. Policies such as, the Stamp Act, Quartering Act, and the Townshend Act were all established without any consent of the

Read More

Causes And Effects Of The Fugitive Slave Acts Of 1850

476 Words | 2 Pages

This cased chaos on the streets for black people, free or not. Because of greed, these people could be walking down the street and then they are taken off the streets to be returned to their ‘masters’. Commissioners could be running black people down just to get paid. Sometimes they would get escaped slaves, but they also got free slaves and because they were not allowed to speak for themselves they could become slaves. Commissioners or deputies could take free people and they wouldn’t know the

Read More

Frederick Douglass Rebunk The Myth Of Slavery

814 Words | 4 Pages

In the 1700-1800’s, the use of African American slaves for backbreaking, unpaid work was at its prime. Despite the terrible conditions that slaves were forced to deal with, slave owners managed to convince themselves and others that it was not the abhorrent work it was thought to be. However, in the mid-1800’s, Northern and southern Americans were becoming more aware of the trauma that slaves were facing in the South. Soon, an abolitionist group began in protest, but still people doubted and questioned it.

Read More

The Revolutionary War: The Roles Of Women During The American Revolution

331 Words | 2 Pages

While the American Revolution was long and suffering it carried a significance on each of the following groups differently (Schultz, K., 2013). While the war killed as many as 25,000, other deaths were caused from disease and the smallpox epidemic. The total amount of deaths that occurred during this time was around 70,000. The colonist were divided up between the ones that were loyal to the British crown, the rebels who rebelled against the crown and the one’s that were indifferent to either side which included many of the individuals living in the colonies (Pettinger, T., 2017). The war took the colonists away from their families and disrupted their daily lives for extended periods of time.

Read More

The Impacts Of Slavery In The 17th And 18th Century

1239 Words | 5 Pages

The introduction of slaves shaped the culture in the colonies because people did not grasp any moral implications of slavery. At the time, there were no set concepts of race and racism, the people merely saw the Africans as alien in their color, religion, and social practices (Foner, pg. 99). As slavery developed, people continued to enjoy the benefits of slavery, like how it was profitable. The expense of the slaves’ housing, clothing, and food was considerably

Read More

Essay On The Abolition Of Slavery

2830 Words | 12 Pages

Introduction: During the 1800’s, Slavery was an immense problem in the United States. Slaves were people who were harshly forced to work against their will and were often deprived of their basic human rights. Forced marriages, child soldiers, and servants were all considered part of enslaved workers. As a consequence to the abolition people found guilty were severely punished by the law.

Read More

Essay Why I Want To Be A Peer Counselor

986 Words | 4 Pages

Why do you want to be a Peer Counselor? I’ve grown up as an only child until I was at the age of nine. Through the years of being the center of attention, my parents and grandparents “babied” me. I was given constant aid as they made sure I didn’t come in contact with any harm. Therefore, I never learned to do things on my own, especially important events like obstacles and challenges.

Read More

More about Synopsis Of The Story 'Abina And The Important Men'

Related Topics

Open Document