In fact, we can say that Douglass's preface could stand for what Lejeune called the autobiographical pact which committed the author to tell his life story in a spirit of sincerity. ... So you have the title, the signature, the photograph and the preface which all function as a confirmation of the author's existence. ... Ever since the ancient Greeks, the West has placed great value on self-discovery and self-knowledge. ... Though, the narrative tells such a story it tells it an unusual way for instance the majority of autobiographies start with a birth date and a description of the ...

• Word Count: 2277
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The second article, written in 1721 by an unknown author, discusses Christian slaves during the time of slavery. ... In addition, the author also states there were also "many Christians in perpetual barbarous and unmerciful slavery" (American par. 3). ... By deeply analyzing these historical events, one might say that the slave rebellions did not achieve a great success in colonial America since they did not eventually get their freedom. ... Towards the end of the article by New York Weekly Journal, issue XXV, the author states "As private Pique and Resentment is of dangerous co...

• Word Count: 1397
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He goes to great strengths to learn religion, improve himself, and adapt to Western mercantilism. ... The author keeps his African innocence and purity of intent; two qualities he finds greatly lacking in the Europeans. ... Both authors are great examples of writers that used these elements of literature to enhance their work. ... Either of the quotes could be used to persuade the reader to think of how unbearable the author's situation is, or how difficult it is to be on a slave ship during the voyage, and how fearful it would be to be held captive by Native Americans. ...

• Word Count: 1490
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

It is also important to keep in mind that no author is completely neutral. ... The narratives were extremely popular in America and Britain at the time it could be argued that some of the narratives were simply repeating what had worked for other authors. ... The political motive may have led authors to exaggerate the cruelties they suffered. ... Douglass, however, "made the facts of his life a dramatic representation of the great political forces that constituted the nations over slavery" (1990: 3) It is important to recognise the differences between the economic texts and the narratives on ...

• Word Count: 1309
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

Olaudah Equiano, a native of the African province Eboe and author of The Interesting Narrative experienced the cruel and inhumane life of a slave. ... Nonetheless, the authors point is well taken; we are all influenced from birth by the inequities that surround us. ... Our great-grandparents were born into a predominantly racist society, only through time has this view become the minority opinion. ... "Life had lost its relish when liberty was gone" (120), but with great resolve, strength in the face of adversity and most importantly faith in God, he outlasted his oppression. ... Today his...

• Word Count: 1722
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The director of movie tried to stay very close to the author's intent of the novel. ... The overall effect of the film on the viewer shows how the director achieved his purpose in trying to enhance the reality of slavery among people and inform viewers of the life of Kunta and his descendants, which are the same intents the author of Roots when the book was written. ... The choices of great actors, good background music, and the use of no special effects by the director make Roots very realistic and parallel to the intent of the book. ... Roots, the movie thoroughly provides the viewer o...

• Word Count: 1665
• Approx Pages: 7

Although the author of the story is black, this quote forces the notion that a good many white people disfavor the institution of slavery. ... Indeed, Douglass several times makes reference to the former Presidents for which his protagonist was named, such as, "It seemed as if the souls of both the great dead (whose names he bore) had entered him". ... It is easy to see this "chain" of repeats and revisions to Douglass's works in such authors as Chestnutt, Washington, Ellison, and Wright. ...

• Word Count: 1334
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

Although several authors, such as James McPherson, support that "the true issue was the morality and future of slavery" (187), the real reasons were due to economic motives. Other authors defend that "So far, slavery itself was definitely not an issue" (Catton 34). ... Several negros remembered the insurgencies before Civil War, as shows Jacobs in his book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: "it was always a pleasure to meet her, [] to hear her speak of the stirring times before war when the great struggle for freedom was going on, and of the events immediately afte...

• Word Count: 1255
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

Douglass comments that: "Another advantage I gained in my new master was, he made no pretensions to, or profession of, religion; and this, in my opinion, was truly a great advantage. ... One author in particular, Nathan Irvin Huggins writes: "Slavery, rather than being a means of civilizing and Christianizing backward and pagan Africans, was shown to keep slaves unschooled and unlettered and ignorant of Christianity, except as it might serve the master and the institution. ... In the same way, author Booker T. ... His Uncle Lawson who he had great respect for mentioned these words to Dougla...

• Word Count: 1984
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He, too, would have a great influence on Harriet's life, although she would eventually come to disagree with his spiritual beliefs. ... Soon, Harriet Beecher Stowe was the wealthiest author in America. ... At times, she could not even recall authoring Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had been such an important event to her. ...

• Word Count: 1635
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

This allowed him to feed his appetite for reading and he modeled his own writing style after the professional authors whose works he read. In corresponding through mail with his friend John Collins, Franklin began to realize the power of knowledge through writing as an instrument to guide him from goodness to greatness and he continually seeked to improve himself in this aspect from then on. ... As to himself, it could do him no good, but a great deal of harm. ...

• Word Count: 1333
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was a gifted poet, author, and lecturer. ... Therkelsen and Chanomi Maxwell-Parish, voices.cla.umn.edu/authors/francesellenwatikinsharper.html). ...

• Word Count: 2134
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

" The really great ones like Hughes confront their bleak realities without letting those realities dictate their lives with regards to things that they can control. ... It usually has to take something really great for the Anglo-Saxons to show any form of interest in the lives of these people who share the same land. ... The author of Scarlet Sister Mary said her neighbor didn't take well to the book because she portrayed her characters falsely as "everyone knows niggas don't think....

• Word Count: 1560
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Another argument Douglass makes in his narrative is that, contrary to popular thought that religion is seen as a saving grace among many slaves simply because they take great joy in religious activities, songs, and various forms of worship, there is also a false form of Christianity that is more or less a hypocrisy practiced by most white masters. ... As an author, he is able to see both sides of the issue instead of writing with heated bias. ...

• Word Count: 1456
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

According to Varro, a prolific Roman author and an elite land owner, "They are made to take more interest in their work by being treated more liberally in respect either of food, or of more clothing, or punishment inflicted on them in some way, their loyalty and kindly feeling to the master may be restored by the consolation derived from such measures" (Bailkey, Lim p 437). ... "The slaves could be freed as a reward for a great feat of bravery or service, as a punishment to the master of the slaves, or if the slave was extremely aged, as it was cheaper to buy a new slave rather than to feed...

• Word Count: 2043
• Approx Pages: 8

And for this reason, a situation such as this was not commonly heard about in America, and up to the production of this play may not have been known of, made for a great reenactment for a play.6 However, it was not only the events that made this one of Hughes's work worth reading or viewing. ... These faults are ones that most would think an author of such standings as Hughes, would have corrected. ...

• Word Count: 1462
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

In Uncle Tom's Cabin, its author Harriet Beecher Stowe strongly addresses racism, religious and political issues on slavery. ... At the top of this southern social ladder perched a small but powerful covey of great planters owning gangs of slaves and vast domains of land, the planters ruled the region's economy and virtually monopolized political power. ... Shelby good-natured and kindly is in great debt, and he is prepared to sell some of his slaves. ...

• Word Count: 2149
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

One author pleasantly concludes that music was a god given gift "recognized by the black slaves in the Americas who found in musicking a tool for spiritual survival; it must have seemed as if the art were given as a gift in a time of desperate need It spoke of and to them in their particular predicament."...

• Word Count: 2002
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate