Class and Slaves

During the slavery era social class dictated the respect and rights you had as a person. This not only pertained to the slaves on a given plantation, but to everyone living in the Southern states. Social class indicates wealth, intelligence, and most importantly respect within the community. Because Jacobs’ was born into slavery and her lover and grandmother were never able to buy her out the lifestyle she was considered to be the lowest type of person on the totem pole. It affects her choices because it dictates the ways of communication between who has power and who is powerless. Who is respected and who is ignored. Who has freedom and privilege and who is considered property? Jacobs’ starts off saying that the original owner promised that they would be taken care of and that they would not face the cruelties of the world. Secondly, social class affects the way that Dr. Flint’s treats the slaves because they are his property. Also, it makes Linda fearful of Dr. Flint’s wife and Dr. Flint. She knows that in her society owners have the power to control her life. “No one of her children escaped the auction block.” Although this quote does not reflect what happened to Linda, it shows that slave families were fearful of white slave owners because they had the power to tear apart families.

In her autobiography, Harriet Jacobs’ social class affects the way that her master treats her, Northerners, Southern neighbors and emancipated or free blacks. Jacobs’ or Linda is born into slavery without really knowing what it was, but as she gets older she realizes that she is a piece of property and because she is property, she has no rights to her mind, body, or soul. Ultimately, her lack of rights contributes to her failures as a young woman but additionally allows her to fight for her freedom. 

“Linda” is caught between three worlds while she lives in the slavery of the Southern states. I believe she has three worlds because there are blacks, mulattos, and whites. Depending on the group she is viewed differently and economics come into play. First, two people try to buy Linda. Her first lover asks Dr. Flint if he could pay for her but he does not allow it. Even though they are both black, I believe that there is a separation between them because he is able to earn wages for her work and she is not. Even though he does not look down upon her or treat her as property, he still has more economic power and thus more power in the relationship. And even she longs to become free and be okay with being black but I think she knows that being black means you are not free and that even if you have been emancipated you are looked down as being the lowest caste within American society. This is shown because although both her lover and grandmother were able to pay for, they do not have to power or persuasion to allow her to become free. Even once Jacobs’ is able to escape to the north where slavery is not tolerated, she still works for a white family with low wages. Even though they pay for her emancipation, it takes them a while to emancipate her. I believe that this is an example about how class plays a role in the slavery system because they were clearly of high status for the wife not to have to work and to be able to pay for work, yet they did not immediately free her. Overall, I think her story makes me think that even in the North, you may be respected and have tolerance, but you were not completely accepted into the white society.