Throughout the first 34 pages of Our Nig, there are many clues the reader can use to assume what role race played in the time of the author. It is clear that African-american people were looked down upon or valued less than white-americans. Because of this distinction most African-americans were poor and hopeless.
African-americans were property. Mrs Bellmost indicates this when she talks about "keep[ing]" a servent on page 16, and again when Jack refers to Mag as "our nig," which is on the same page. Since these people are viewed as property, they are treated like dogs. There are many examples of this idea on page 17. Mag forced to sleep where the hot sun penetrates her room and a cool breeze can blow past. Just as a dog, Mag sleeps outdoors. Mag is also punished with raw-hide and "allowed" to eat her breakfast away from where the family is eating. This view and treatement leads to destitue and hopelessness.
"She had never known plenty." When one is viewed as property and unable to make decisions for one's self, one has only what is given. This obviously leaves African-americans towards poverty. Afterall, children were sometimes given up in order for the parents to get by. Furthermore, when one is used to "the great brotherhood of man" ignoring them, then one loses hope for a change. These people make "no effort to escape." (All quotes can be found on pages six and seven.)
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Although Joshua uses pages 6 and 7 of "Our Nig" in his post, his ideas are furthered later in Frado's story. Upon finishing the book, the text of pages 60 and 61 reminded me of this post.
ReplyDeletePage 61 begins with the sadness of Mrs. Bellmont over the death of her daughter, Mary. Soon after however, she returns to her former malice and partiality towards physical abuse. But sentences later readers are told a surprising and wonderful thing! Frado intends to run away. My thoughts upon reading this were along the lines of "It is about time!". The things that Frado experiences in each short chapter seem as though they would have been enough to drive the apparently spirited girl to action, long before page 60. However, directly following the declaration of intent to escape, Frado begins to worry about her situation and decides that she shall wait out her terms of service to the Bellmonts, abandoning the idea of escape.
Joshua states that people in situations such as that of Frado do not try to escape. That Frado at least considers escape gives me hope, indeed, it is almost a sign of future success. As Joshua also says in his first paragraph, "most African-americans were poor and hopeless". By showing defiant thinking, as her thoughts of escape are, Frado shows readers that she may be successful, against stereotype and society.
I think that we can see even more examples of racial issues if we use the characters as examples of racial treatment. For instance, we can obviously look at Mrs. B and see how even in the north there are "southern principles" as she says in the introduction. Mary strengthens this idea with her treatment of Frado. However we can look at Mr. B and see a more "northern" veiw. We ca tell that Mr. B knows that the treatmet of Frado is wrong, but he ignores it. When Frado is going to be beat, he leaves and waits for it to end. Jane has the same sort of view. Even still, there are people like James and Aunt Abby. They both feel for Frado. Aunt Abby sees a soul. She sees worth in Frado. James feels enough for Frado to love her and want to improve her life.
ReplyDeleteWe can look at these characters and see how race was viewed in the time of Harriet Wilson. While the north was supposed to be more accepting of blacks, it did not happen over night. We can see how it was a struggle and its progression. Some people were harder to educate like Mrs. B, and some heard the message but did not help the change, such as Mr. B and Jane. But we can still be uplifted by the hope people like James and Aunt Abby instill in us.