Some people believe words cant hurt. Fortunately, for historys sake, words do hold much power that can be used for positive changes even when they have negative emotions attached with them. During antebellum slavery, the words of speeches, articles, songs, and narratives present the real depiction of slave souls. Although these words carry the same heavy burdens as the slaves during this horrific time in history, they presented arguments to prove the injustice that was holding slaves in bondage in the South. Their words request longing for justice, share the harsh conditions of slavery, share hidden messages, and cry out a plea for God to make right the wrongs. On the other hand, there is a need for acknowledgement, by those in the North and South, to treat slaves as people rather then property, while also empowering slaves to know slavery is not their destiny.
While reading, a true understanding of the plight of slaves was laid out in many different ways. The excerpt from David Walkers Appeal, in Four Articles, Together with a Preamble introduces the ills of slavery and the wrath that God holds on enslavers. While reading his words, I can feel the rage he has for those that enslave others and for the retribution that he feels God will have one day towards them.
While his piece is filled with rage, The Narrative and Life of Frederick Douglass, is filled with sorrow. My mind quickly travels to the comfortable environment in which many people in America currently live. Douglass recounts the less than meager conditions afforded to him and other slaves with a list of allowances awarded to them. These writers were educating the Nation about the current situation in the South.
It is extremely remarkable the way words were used by many slaves and abolitionists to share messages with one another. Even with the spirituals, there is an underlying message. For those that lived through it, like Douglass, the pain of the life they lived comes with every letter, despite others belief that the spirituals are just beautiful renditions of slave contentment with their current condition. Douglass says, slaves sing most when they are unhappy as they tell the tale of woe beyond feasible comprehension (110). Most people dont listen to the words of these soulful melodies, but the words of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot prove Douglass to be true. The slaves are singing about being saved from the wretchedness of the world even if it is by death. They also used the words to communicate with one another which is clever all in itself.
While some may have misunderstood the souls of slaves through their music, others could not comprehend that slaves had souls. Sojourner Truths Address to the Ohio Womens Convention focuses on the subconscious idea many people had that black people during antebellum times were subhuman. She tries to prove to the audience that she is a woman just like white women. The tone has the same agony as Douglass narrative and the Negro Spirituals because they all have deep feelings of pain and resentment toward their position in society when they know in their hearts the truth, they are more than just slaves, they are people.
In spite of this, as I read there is a feeling of pride, that the words many people take for granted everyday were used in such a powerful way by these slaves and abolitionists, which shows they are not just human, but remarkably so.
While reading, a true understanding of the plight of slaves was laid out in many different ways. The excerpt from David Walkers Appeal, in Four Articles, Together with a Preamble introduces the ills of slavery and the wrath that God holds on enslavers. While reading his words, I can feel the rage he has for those that enslave others and for the retribution that he feels God will have one day towards them.
While his piece is filled with rage, The Narrative and Life of Frederick Douglass, is filled with sorrow. My mind quickly travels to the comfortable environment in which many people in America currently live. Douglass recounts the less than meager conditions afforded to him and other slaves with a list of allowances awarded to them. These writers were educating the Nation about the current situation in the South.
It is extremely remarkable the way words were used by many slaves and abolitionists to share messages with one another. Even with the spirituals, there is an underlying message. For those that lived through it, like Douglass, the pain of the life they lived comes with every letter, despite others belief that the spirituals are just beautiful renditions of slave contentment with their current condition. Douglass says, slaves sing most when they are unhappy as they tell the tale of woe beyond feasible comprehension (110). Most people dont listen to the words of these soulful melodies, but the words of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot prove Douglass to be true. The slaves are singing about being saved from the wretchedness of the world even if it is by death. They also used the words to communicate with one another which is clever all in itself.
While some may have misunderstood the souls of slaves through their music, others could not comprehend that slaves had souls. Sojourner Truths Address to the Ohio Womens Convention focuses on the subconscious idea many people had that black people during antebellum times were subhuman. She tries to prove to the audience that she is a woman just like white women. The tone has the same agony as Douglass narrative and the Negro Spirituals because they all have deep feelings of pain and resentment toward their position in society when they know in their hearts the truth, they are more than just slaves, they are people.
In spite of this, as I read there is a feeling of pride, that the words many people take for granted everyday were used in such a powerful way by these slaves and abolitionists, which shows they are not just human, but remarkably so.
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