Document Type

Student Research Paper

Publication Date

Summer 2024

Abstract

This paper explores the unique role of enslaved Black women in preserving family and cultural identity during the American slavery era, focusing on the life and writings of Harriet Jacobs. Through her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs exemplifies the extraordinary sacrifices and resilience of enslaved mothers, who navigated the dual burdens of racial and gender oppression. The study delves into Jacobs’s years-long confinement in an attic to avoid separation from her children and her use of storytelling, education, and cultural practices to resist dehumanization. It highlights how enslaved women, despite systemic constraints, developed strategies to nurture, protect, and empower their families, contrasting these maternal roles with the limitations imposed on enslaved fathers. By examining historical records, literary analysis, and cultural studies, the paper underscores the enduring impact of enslaved Black motherhood on African American cultural preservation, identity, and resilience. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of family dynamics within the institution of slavery and the profound influence of maternal leadership on the survival and legacy of enslaved communities.

Comments

Written for AMHI 675: Black Women's History

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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