Slavery In The Glory Field

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Introduction: In 1619, Jamestown, Virginia, African Americans were brought to North America to aid in production of crops such as tobacco. Slavery happened from 1619 through 1865. Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin was invented in 1793 and because of this, it led slavery to a whole new level with great demands of slaves in the South. The cotton gin influenced the history of the United States. Slavery was finally abolished when Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation the book. In The Glory Field, by Walter Dean Myers, developed the central conflict by using figurative language to explain how difficult slavery was for African Americans. Walter Dean Myers uses metaphors, imagery, onomatopoeia, and symbolism to demonstrate …show more content…
Throughout the book, it is clear that freedom is the ultimate goal in their life. From the first generation, Muhammad Bilal was thrown on a slave boat, "Eleven year old Muhammad Bilal flinched. The sore on his ankle rubbed against the iron shackles that held him, sending shivers of pain up his thin leg" (Myers 3). The word shackles is important because it represents slavery. Shackles were used to hold slaves either on their wrists, ankles or neck and was also used to keep slaves from escaping or to humiliate slaves who tried to escape. On slave ships, the slaves were harshly boarded on to ships and packed into tight spaces, one on top of another, and restrained by shackles. Today, people are restrained by shackles but not in a physical way. There are people in the world who are more superior than others leading to slavery. Shackles led African Americans to being unable to move or breathe. Furthermore, Lizzy, the next generation after Muhammad, disobeyed her slave holder which led to punishment, " 'Please don’t whip me, Mister Joe Haynes…please...' Lizzy pleaded. CRRAACCKK! The whip caught her across her hips, tearing the thin dress'" (Myers 43). The sound of the whip is important because it makes the reader feel frightened and anxious. Nevertheless, slave holders usually give their slave punishment in response to disobedience or …show more content…
Johnson City over two hundred years ago" (Myers 284). The author uses the word chains in order to show us that slavery involved getting chained up for no reason and from his previous generations. As years go by, a family reunion is upon the Lewis's. Malcom, Tommy's nephew received a package and Malcom came to a conclusion that by the shape and weight of the package, it was a pair of shackles that was passed from generation to generation. Opening, Malcom thought about putting them on, "around his ankles, but knew that it would never be the same. The weight of the shackles substance to all the people who have worn them and triumphed in spite of them"(Myers 374). The word "shackles" and "chains" are valuable in the book to show slavery. The book is connected by showing how one shackle from 1750 can last all the way to 1860 because slavery was a harsh and horrible
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