Praxis Journal Entry 9 -- 10/31/16
I wish we could read all of Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, because it’s an interesting story that demonstrates black women’s experience of slavery, and black women did very much experience slavery differently from black men. Although I’m sure it happened to black men, the threat of sexual violence—from their white masters and even male slaves directed by their masters--hung over female slaves constantly and Jacobs’ experience was no different. In fact, it was even worse. Jacobs’ master, Dr. Flint, threatened her almost incessantly since she was in her early teens and frequently made inappropriate sexual comments and overtures. Jacobs was able to escape assault by her master for years by physically avoiding him and voicing her objections, but her greatest source of protection was her grandmother. Her grandmother was freed in her 50s after decades of loyal service and was so loved—and often feared—by her community that few would challenge her. Dr. Flint’s thin restraint came from knowing that if he assaulted Jacobs, her grandmother would come after him.
What stood out to me in these selections was Flint’s extremely unhealthy obsession with Jacobs, because it shaped a large part of Jacobs’ life and drove her into hiding for seven years. I thought Flint would eventually get tired of pursuing her. In real life, no one could ever be so obsessed with another person for so long, could they? Jacobs wrote that “as soon as a new fancy took him, his victims were sold far off to get rid of them; especially if they had children. I had seen several women sold, with his babies at the breast. He never allowed his offspring by slaves to remain long in sight of himself and his wife” (p.61). Flint had raped several of his female slaves and even had children by them, so this behavior wasn’t new, but his fixation on Jacobs was. For whatever reason—most likely his inability to have Jacobs despite numerous attempts--Flint was determined to keep Jacobs. When Jacobs’ children’s father purchased their freedom, Dr. Flint went to Jacobs’ grandmother and told her “you need never expect to see her free. She shall be my slave as long as I live, and when I am dead she shall be the slave of my children” (p.122). Thinking Jacobs had escaped to New York, Flint personally went after her. Perhaps my inability to understand Dr. Flint’s obsession says something more about me than him. Of course, I’ve harbored grudges and haven’t wanted to accept “no” for an answer, but I’ve never vowed to pursue someone or something until I died.
