BEHIND THE SCENES, OR, THIRTY YEARS A SLAVE, AND FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSEELIZABETH KECKLEYSlave Narrative

Kamaria Berry

CENG106- 06

Life As A Slave

Born into slavery, Elizabeth Keckley’s journey through life started in a Virginia Court-House. Both of her parents being slaves, Keckley says she “… came upon earth free in God-like thought, but fettered in action”. During her childhood, Elizabeth Keckley was enslaved with both of her parents for fourteen years. The love of the family described was beautiful, that was until her father was sold into another family. While Keckley’s family was separated they kept in touch through various letters. Elizabeth Keckley experienced many beating and other cruel punishments during her enslavement. This was until, Mr. Keckley asked for, then, Ms. Hobbs hand in marriage. This led to Keckleys freedom.

Mr. And Msr. Keckley

After consideration, the marriage proposal was initially denied in regards to Keckley not wanting to birth a child into slavery. After going through many legal processes, Elizabeth Keckley arranged to buy her and her sons own freedom. She raised this money by borrowing from friends as well as selling her needle work. This was her ticket into the White House.

Journey to the White House

After buying Freedom, Elizabeth Keckley moved to St. Louis and then Washington. She completed dresses for a lot of women including Mrs. General McClean, Mrs. Senator Davis and Mrs. Captain Lee. These dresses captured the attention of party guests including Mrs. President Lincoln. She was immediately sent for and was requested at the White House.

Working with Mr and Mrs. President Lincoln

After doing a fair amount of needle work for Mrs. Lincoln, “Lizzie” Keckley soon had a relationship with the first family that exceeded business. Keckley spent a great amount of time with the entire family and was even present at the death bed of Willie Lincoln, the son of the President and First Lady.

Affairs of the White House

After helping the First Family cope with the death of little Willie Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln began to confide in Lizzie and shared personal stories and experiences with her while Keckley was working on her needle work. Mrs. Lincoln made personal trips to Keckley’s apartment, which no other clients were permitted to do.

War and Re-Election

Since Elizabeth Keckley spent a great deal of time in the White House, she was kept abreast in affairs during the war with the south as well as the re-election of President Lincoln. Many days Mrs. Lincoln and Keckley held conversations on their personal opinions of the outcomes of both situations.

The Death of President Lincoln The assassination of Mr. Lincoln was a

sad time for the entire country. Mrs. Lincoln, as any spouse would, took this very hard. While in her mourning period, Mrs. Lincoln only spoke to Elizabeth Keckley cutting off all other friends and family. She continued to only speak to Lizzie and even requested Lizzie move with her to Chicago.

Life After the White House

While the former First Family was now living in debt, Elizabeth Keckley returned to Washington to continue her modiste work. In effort to help out Mrs. Lincoln, Keckely gained the support of many individuals, including Fredrick Douglass. Mrs. Lincoln’s wardrobe, which was mostly Keckley’s work, was displayed and sold to pay off her debts.

Letters To Keckley

After selling her most valuable possessions, and being separated from

her close friend, Lizzie, Mrs. Lincoln often wrote letters to Keckley about her pain

and heartache and later on letters of joy and updates on personal affairs.

Writing Behind the Scenes, or, 30 Years a Slave and Four

Years in the White House.

Elizabeth Keckley sat down to write her autobiography in her late forties. The facts in her book confirm her stories true, however some question if her editor, James Redpath, contributed to her text.

The Narrative of Elizabeth Keckley

Aspect Arthurs

Argument: Intended

Audience: Endorsed By

Life after being freed.

There were positives and negatives to slavery and life afterwards.

Whites that judged the relationship of Keckley and the First Family.

James Redpath

Historical References

Death of Lincoln Letter from

Fredrick Douglass to Mrs. Lincoln

Legal process of Keckley buying her and her son’s freedom

Sources

Fort, Bruce. American Slave Narratives, an Online Anthology. Corcoran Department of History, University of Virginia: Charlottesville. 1998. Electronic.

Keckley, Elizabeth. Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina. 1999. Electronic.

Morrison, Toni, et al. Beloved. New York: Random House Digital Inc. 2006. Print.

Morsman, Avery. The Big House after Slavery: Virginia Plantation Families and

Their Postbellum Domestic Experiment. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. 2010. Print.

Olney, James. “’ I Was Born:’ Slave Narratives, Their Status as Autobiography and as Literature” Callaloo 20 (46-73). Print

Scott, Rebecca. Degrees of Freedom: Louisiana and Cuba after Slavery. Cambridge:First Harvard University Press. 2005. Print.

Temperly, Howard. After Slavery: Emancipation and its Discontents. Portland: Frank Cass Publishers. 2000. Print.