Slavery’s Slavery’s DehumanizationDehumanization

One AccountOne Account Mr. Burwell came to the cabin, with a letter in his Mr. Burwell came to the cabin, with a letter in his

hand. He was a kind master in some things, and as hand. He was a kind master in some things, and as gently as possible informed my parents that they gently as possible informed my parents that they must part; for in two hours my father must join his must part; for in two hours my father must join his master at Dinwiddie, and go with him to the West, master at Dinwiddie, and go with him to the West, where he had determined to make his future home. I where he had determined to make his future home. I can remember the scene as if it were but yesterday; can remember the scene as if it were but yesterday; - how my father cried out against the cruel - how my father cried out against the cruel separation; his last kiss; his wild straining of my separation; his last kiss; his wild straining of my mother to his bosom; the solemn prayer to Heaven; mother to his bosom; the solemn prayer to Heaven; the tears and sobs - the fearful anguish of broken the tears and sobs - the fearful anguish of broken hearts. The last kiss, the last good-by; and he, my hearts. The last kiss, the last good-by; and he, my father, was gone, gone forever. father, was gone, gone forever.

Keckley, Elizabeth, Behind the Scenes, or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Keckley, Elizabeth, Behind the Scenes, or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House (1968, republished 1988).Years in the White House (1968, republished 1988).

This picture is a This picture is a contemporary contemporary sketch of a sketch of a plantation.plantation.

This picture This picture reflects a common reflects a common working day.working day.

Chattel vs. CattleChattel vs. Cattle

What’s the difference? What effect does the word What’s the difference? What effect does the word chattel have on us today?chattel have on us today?

“ “'Elisha,' chattel No. 5 in the catalogue, had taken a 'Elisha,' chattel No. 5 in the catalogue, had taken a fancy to a benevolent looking middle-aged fancy to a benevolent looking middle-aged gentleman, who was inspecting the gentleman, who was inspecting the stockstock, and thus , and thus used his powers of persuasion to induce the used his powers of persuasion to induce the benevolent man to purchase him, with his wife, boy benevolent man to purchase him, with his wife, boy and girl, Molly, Israel and Sevanda, chattels Nos. 6, and girl, Molly, Israel and Sevanda, chattels Nos. 6,

7 and 8.”7 and 8.”

New York Daily Tribune, March 9, 1859 reprinted in Hart, Albert B., American History Told New York Daily Tribune, March 9, 1859 reprinted in Hart, Albert B., American History Told by Contemporaries v. 4 (1928). by Contemporaries v. 4 (1928).

On the Selling BlockOn the Selling Block 'Look at me, Mas'r; am prime rice planter; sho' you 'Look at me, Mas'r; am prime rice planter; sho' you

won't find a better man den me; no better on de won't find a better man den me; no better on de whole plantation; not a bit old yet; do mo' work den whole plantation; not a bit old yet; do mo' work den ever; do carpenter work, too, little; better buy me, ever; do carpenter work, too, little; better buy me, Mas'r; I'se be good sarvant, Mas'r. Molly, too, my Mas'r; I'se be good sarvant, Mas'r. Molly, too, my wife, Sa, fus rate rice hand; mos as good as me. wife, Sa, fus rate rice hand; mos as good as me. Stan' out yer, Molly, and let the gen'lm'n see.' Stan' out yer, Molly, and let the gen'lm'n see.' Molly advances, with her hands crossed on her Molly advances, with her hands crossed on her bosom, and makes a quick short curtsy, and stands bosom, and makes a quick short curtsy, and stands mute, looking appealingly in the benevolent man's mute, looking appealingly in the benevolent man's face. But Elisha talks all the faster. face. But Elisha talks all the faster. 'Show mas'r yer arm Molly - good arm dat mas'r - 'Show mas'r yer arm Molly - good arm dat mas'r - she do a heap of work mo' with dat arm yet. Let she do a heap of work mo' with dat arm yet. Let good mas'r see yer teeth Molly - see dat mas'r, good mas'r see yer teeth Molly - see dat mas'r, teeth all reg'lar, all good - she'm young gal yet. teeth all reg'lar, all good - she'm young gal yet. Come out yer Israel, walk aroun' an' let the Come out yer Israel, walk aroun' an' let the gen'lm'n see how spry you be.' gen'lm'n see how spry you be.'

New York Daily Tribune, March 9, 1859 reprinted in Hart, Albert B., American History New York Daily Tribune, March 9, 1859 reprinted in Hart, Albert B., American History Told by Contemporaries v. 4 (1928).Told by Contemporaries v. 4 (1928).

In Bondage & In FreedomIn Bondage & In Freedom

Always in FearAlways in Fear On May 24, 1854, after only three months of On May 24, 1854, after only three months of

freedom, Anthony (a former slave) was sighted by a freedom, Anthony (a former slave) was sighted by a slave hunter, immediately imprisoned and taken slave hunter, immediately imprisoned and taken before a court where his fate would be decided. His before a court where his fate would be decided. His incarceration sparked outrage among the citizenry incarceration sparked outrage among the citizenry of Boston. This seething anger came to a head of Boston. This seething anger came to a head three nights later when an angry mob stormed the three nights later when an angry mob stormed the Court House where he was being held in an attempt Court House where he was being held in an attempt to free the hapless prisoner. They were to free the hapless prisoner. They were unsuccessful. Efforts were then made to secure the unsuccessful. Efforts were then made to secure the slave's freedom by buying him from his master. But slave's freedom by buying him from his master. But this too was unsuccessful.this too was unsuccessful.

"Return of a Fugitive Slave, 1854", EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com "Return of a Fugitive Slave, 1854", EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2005). (2005).

Always in FearAlways in Fear At eleven o'clock, Court Square presented a At eleven o'clock, Court Square presented a

spectacle that became indelibly engraved upon the spectacle that became indelibly engraved upon the memories of men. The people had been swept out of memories of men. The people had been swept out of the Square, and stood crowded together in Court the Square, and stood crowded together in Court street, presenting to the eye a solid rampart of living street, presenting to the eye a solid rampart of living beings. At the eastern door of the Court House, stood beings. At the eastern door of the Court House, stood the cannon, loaded, and with its mouth pointed full the cannon, loaded, and with its mouth pointed full upon the compact mass. By its side stood the officer upon the compact mass. By its side stood the officer commanding the detachment of United States commanding the detachment of United States troops, gazing with steady composure in the same troops, gazing with steady composure in the same direction. It was the first time that the armed power direction. It was the first time that the armed power of the United States had ever been arrayed against of the United States had ever been arrayed against the people of Massachusetts. Men who witnessed the the people of Massachusetts. Men who witnessed the sight, and reflected upon its cause, were made sight, and reflected upon its cause, were made painfully to recognize the fact, before unfelt, that painfully to recognize the fact, before unfelt, that they were the subjects of two governments. they were the subjects of two governments.

Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass

What kind of woman does Mrs. Auld What kind of woman does Mrs. Auld appear to be? What part does Mr. appear to be? What part does Mr. Auld play in her character?Auld play in her character?

How do you view Douglass’s How do you view Douglass’s character? What does he write that character? What does he write that illustrates this view?illustrates this view?

How does Douglass use irony to How does Douglass use irony to reinforce slavery's dehumanizing reinforce slavery's dehumanizing influence? influence?