A disturbing aspect of the narrative that I didn't feel I had time to mention was the except about drinking that Charlie referred to toward the end of class. I thought it was most disturbing and cruel how the white masters enticed their slaves to spend their week off for Christmas drinking with them. Because the white masters taunted them and forced them to drink, while gambling the idea of the slaves' liberty, this reverse psychology effect caused the slaves to return to the fields almost happy that they were not discussing their freedom anymore-- the freedom they knew they would never obtain. I thought that was sick in the way that the masters wore out their inferiors mentally, further weakening them.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Wednesday's Discussion
I thought that our class discussion was pretty stimulating today. As we seem to be trying to direct our discussions toward the literature, rather than Silent Racism, currently, I thought a lot of people were insightful about Frederick Douglass' narrative. I agreed with many statements made about the circumstances that Douglass went through and how he still maintained an immense amount of mental strength. Some people mentioned how he did have a certain advantage, as he did not grow up necessarily working in the fields as others did; rather, he was exposed to white people more throughout his childhood, which gave him the incentive to learn as much as they know.
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Meggie brings up some really great points here, especially the following:
ReplyDelete“[…]this reverse psychology effect caused the slaves to return to the fields almost happy that they were not discussing their freedom anymore-- the freedom they knew they would never obtain. I thought that was sick in the way that the masters wore out their inferiors mentally, further weakening them.”
I think this statement really wraps up what we have been discussing since the start of the semester; the power of education, thus reading and writing. As the semester progresses, it has become so obvious to me the importance of education and how the “non-educated” were so clearly separated from the “educated”. In a previous narrative, I remember reading “How is it that a physically weaker population can control and stronger one” (something along those lines). In essence, it is because slave-holders mentally destroyed their slaves by implanting ideas of inferiority and worthlessness in their heads and be depriving them of the ability to learn. I want to tie this in to our reading for tomorrow regarding Harriet E. Wilson’s novel Our Nig. Wilson’s character Frado believes to be so inferior that she claims:
“Is there a heaven for the black. […] She knew she was unfit for any heaven, made for whites or blacks.” (p.534 Chapter VIII.).
This blew me away yet as I thought about it more I realized, well, having never been educated, how would Fredo know otherwise?? In this novel, we are constantly painted a picture of how much Mary disrespected, disliked and abused Frado. Towards the end of the required reading, the only thing giving Fredo strength to go on, were the readings in the Bible and her faith in her Savior. This passage in Wilson’s novel further supports Taylor’s argument in class on Wednesday regarding the role religion played in the lives of slaves. Fredo’s story demonstrates how religion was employed as a refuge and guide post as it gave many slaves hope for a better future.