Slavery and Christianity in Harriet A. Jacob’s Incidents...

The Incongruity of Slavery and Christianity in Harriet A. Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself Slavery, the â€Å"Peculiar Institution† of the South, caused suffering among an innumerable number of human beings. Some people could argue that the life of a domestic animal would be better than being a slave; at least animals are incapable of feeling emotions. Suffering countless atrocities, including sexual assault, beatings, and murders, these slaves endured much more than we would think is humanly possible today. Yet, white southern â€Å"Christians† committed these atrocities, believing their behaviors were neither wrong nor immoral. Looking back at these atrocities, those who call themselves Christians are†¦show more content†¦Any knowledgeable man of the bible realizes that it does indeed refer to slavery and the justification of it numerous times. Jacobs writes that the â€Å"[plantation owners] seem to satisfy their consciences with the doctrine that God created the Africans to be slaves† (44). She continues by quoting the Bible, statin g â€Å"What a libel upon the heavenly Father, who ‘made of one blood all nations of men!’† (44). This statement says that all men are equal, although other verses directly contest it. The Bible’s verses concerning slavery contradict other verses in several places when discussing slavery and the treatment of slaves. Ephesians 6:5-9 instructs masters to â€Å"give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.† Galatians 3:28 states that â€Å"[T]here is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.† Again, the Bible illustrates that slaves were equal to all others, stating â€Å"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, †¦ whether we be bond of free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.† Abolitionists undoubtedly used these quotes in order to put an end to slavery. In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs discusses the role thatShow MoreRelatedIncidents in the Life of a Slave Girl1112 Words   |  4 Pages In the non-fiction book â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,† by Harriet A. Jacobs and published in Boston in 1861. The author Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813, in a town called Edenton, North Carolina. Jacob uses the pseudonym Linda Brent to narrate her first person account. The book opens with Jacobs stating her reasons for writing a biography of her life story. Her story is agonizing and she had rather have kept it confidential, although she felt that by making it public thatRead MoreEssay about The Women’s Movement and Female Writers2167 Words   |  9 Pagestwo centuries. The women’s movement and female writers have worked hand in hand to pursue equality for women and to move their issues to the forefront of the nation. Writers such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sarah Moore Grimkà ©, Angelina Grimkà © Weld, Harriet Jacobs, and Sojourner Truth help bring to light the sensitive problems that need to be addressed in the women’s rights movement. Angelina Grimkà © Weld, in her Appeal to the Christian Women of the South, says, It is through the tongue, the pen, andRead More Lifting as We Climb Essay3009 Words   |  13 PagesLifting as We Climb Harriet Jacobs, Frances E. W. Harper, and Anna Julia Cooper are three African American female writers who have greatly impacted the progress of black womanhood. Through their works, they have successfully dispelled the myths created about black women. These myths include two major ideas, the first being that all African American women are perceived as more promiscuous than the average white woman. The second myth is that black women are virtually useless, containing only