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I read parts from the different slave narratives, but one stood out more than the others.  A True Tale Of Slavery by John S. Jacobs effected me the most.  Students learn about slavery every year, it feels like, so we have some knowledge of what happened to slaves in the 1800’s.  They were whipped and beaten for things their masters felt they did wrong, but also sometimes for no reason at all.  They were treated and considered property.  It wasn’t uncommon to be seperated from their family.  Although I knew this, one paragraph in this book helped me understand how all this feels. Not just what happens, but how it feels. 

“To be a man, and not to be a man–a father without authority–a husband and no protector–is the darkest of fates. Such was the condition of my father, and such is the condition of every slave throughout the United States: he owns nothing, he can claim nothing. His wife is not his: his children are not his; they can be taken from him, and sold at any minute, as far away from each other as the human fleshmonger may see fit to carry them.” http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/jjacobs/jjacobs.html

 This quote reminded me of Jim from Huck Finn because he was a father but had absolutely no control over what happened to either of them.  It’s hard to imagine not being able to stand up for a friend without being punished, or protect a family member from pain.  And then to have a wife/husband but not be garaunteed that he/she will be yours forever…any moment may be your last with the ones you love.  Slavery wasn’t only physical torture, but emotional as well, which makes it even worse.

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