Condition of Minorities

Perhaps one of the greatest contradictions in the history of the United States is that slavery could not only exist but also thrive in a country founded upon the ideals of equality and freedom. A nation that fought valiantly against the oppression and control of the British government the century before failed to see how it was progressing down the same road of tyranny. It would take a nearly catastrophic social and political upheaval to shine a public light on the horrors and truths of slavery. Even still, with the personal descriptions and accounts of life as a slave from people like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, the nation would divide over the issue of slavery.

Realism and the realist literary movement became the perfect medium for abolitionist writing. A literary form meant to specifically showcase the conflicts and struggles of the everyday person could better portray the true oppression and degradation of slaves than strictly idealistic, Romantic, or rational writing from the previous eras. Realism allowed writers like Douglass and Jacobs to make clear the personal and political conflicts of slavery. It allowed readers to gain an understanding that the laws governing slaves and slavery were not mere technicalities, that the victims were human with human emotions and relationships.

Frederick Douglass

Even more than a writer, Frederick Douglass was a famous speaker who championed for the rights of slaves and women. Douglass used his words and his influence to better the lives of anyone who was not an equal. Douglass did not seek equality for just one segment of the population but for all. His use of language inspired people fighting for freedom and equality for generations. In this interactivity, click on each of the tabs to explore the life and influence of Frederick Douglass.

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Harriet Jacobs

Slave, fugitive, abolitionist, activist, author, mother, and woman, Harriet Jacobs used her story to further the cause of ending slavery. She published an account of her life under an assumed name as a public indictment of the system of slavery. Her book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl offers an emotionally charged account of her life as a slave, her dramatic escape, and her plight to reunite with her children. To protect herself and the identity of those who helped her escape, Jacobs published her narrative under the pseudonym, or fictitious name, of Linda Brent and changed the names of everyone who appeared in her book. Similar to the writings of Regionalist Mark Twain, Jacobs uses dialect and speech typical of her time. And while the language would be considered offensive today, it gives her story authenticity as she does not seek to hide the true dehumanization of slavery.

Social Impact of Slave Narratives

The publication of slave narratives, songs of slavery, and other first-hand abolitionist writings helped to bring the issue of slavery into the public eye. It was from these published works and speeches of activists like Douglass that the entire nation was awakened to the truly deplorable and horrific condition of the slaves in the South. As more and more people took notice, the nation underwent a tremendous upheaval, both socially and politically, that eventually led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Literature plays an important role in the culture of a country, region, or people. Works of literature are more than just entertaining stories and songs. They become a window through which people can see themselves, their true selves, laid bare. The way a writer tells the story can have an impact. Just like the revolutionists used their pamphlets and speeches to turn the tide against the British, just like the Puritans used their sermons to instruct their congregations on how to live a pious life, so too did the Realists use their narratives and short stories to call for change in society.

 

Realist Literature of Minorities Review

Now that you have explored the abolitionist writing of Douglass and Jacobs, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Read each statement and decide whether it is true or false. Click on the player button to get started.