Harriet Jacobs Views On Slavery

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In this paper we will go over the views of Harriet Jacobs and John C. Calhoun on slavery and how they are interpreted. While Harriet Jacobs is against slavery (and is a slave) she writes about the life as a slave through her eyes. While John C. Calhoun writes about how good slaves are and that they are a necessity. As Harriet Jacobs writes about her life it is made very clear that she is against slavery and she writes about how awful they were treated for instance “they where whipped till blood was running down their heels” as she wrote about a man who did not come to his master right away that was his punishment. There was a southern law that stated, “a slave, being property, can hold no property” (Jacobs) this means that if you had money …show more content…
Calhoun writes about how slavery is a necessity to separate the whites and the blacks. He wrote about the northerners and how they wanted to end it even though it was a part of the constitution. He even wrote about how we were nurturing them “it has grown up under the fostering care of our institutions” by this he is saying that we have nurtured them to what they are. He even goes on to say “that with the rapid increase of number, is conclusive proof of the general happiness of the race, despite the exaggerated tales to the contrary” by this he was denying that they were treated badly and that since they were having kids (more where coming) it can’t be a bad thing. He points out these things and warns of a war or conflict that may arise between the north and the south “it brings two great sections of the Union into deadly conflict” he knows that the opposing views will lead to a conflict about slavery. He even says that the south is “less wealthy then the Northern section of this union”. “I take higher ground. I hold that in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual are brought together, the relation now existing in the slave holding states between two, is, instead of an evil, a good positive good.” When he says this, it means that one day blacks who are more fit for labor then white intellectual people will be in the same society but we need them in the …show more content…
The slave’s life isn’t as nice as the picture as John C. Calhoun’s is but maybe he was an odd slave owner and was using his practices as a basis for the other slave owners? Reading about the life of a slave was informative and showed the harshness that they were treated with and the rebelliousness of the slaves at times that would corrupt their morals. While her view of slavery and how she longed for it and eventually got it not a lot of slaves where granted their freedom and may have had a harsher life. While John C. Calhoun paints a picture that older slaves were allowed to live in cabins and enjoy the rest of their lives while this is very un-true, and most slaves died from being a slave or died trying to escape. Harriet view shows the truth and makes me wonder if any slave wasn’t wronged in any way like how her grandmother was cheated of her freedom and money. I feel bad for the slaves even though they are no longer in the states as of the current era it still is a shame that they had to endure that kind of torture and harsh punishment just for not making something exactly how you want it, or not doing the thing you wanted fast enough. The reason I like Harriet’s view is due to the fact that I hate slavery and believe a man (or woman) has to work hard to provide for themselves and others and need compensation and wages. If there were still slaves today I wouldn’t have my best friend since his family
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