EDSITEment LaunchPad!

You are about to read a slave narrative—a first-hand written account of one person’s experience of slavery. Take a moment before reading and write down what you think slave life was like during the 19th century. Then, read the Narrative of the Life of William W. Brown, which was published in 1847, just two years after another well-known slave narrative: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845).

Life as a Slave: What incidents does Brown offer as characteristic of the slave's life? How does he describe the slave's duties? What does he tell us about the slave's family and circle of friends?
Master and Slave Relationship: Much of Brown's narrative portrays the harsh treatment of slaves by their masters. Look for incidents in which the relationship between slave and slaveholder is more complex, revealing an element of understanding on both sides. How do these glimpses of relationships between slave and master reflect on those episodes which exhibit the slaveholder's cruelty?
Resistance to Slavery: Focus on evidence of resistance to slavery in Brown’s narrative. How do these incidents of resistance add to our understanding of slave life?

After you finish the narrative, return to your thoughts on slave life—how does Brown’s narrative compare? What had you not thought of? Read the following brief article from the EDSITEment-reviewed website Digital History.

Slave narratives were often key elements in strategies to abolish slavery. For a brief introduction to the abolitionist movement, visit Digital History’s articles on the topic.

Rhetoric from groups both for and against abolition could get heated, mean, and outright racist. Use the EDSITEment interactive tool (requires Flash) to review four cartoons and decide if there are Pro- or Anti-Abolition. Explain why you think so in the space provided in the interactive tool. Those with computers who have difficulty with Flash can explore the same images at the EDSITEment-reviewed Uncle Tom’s Cabin & American Culture website and use the NARA Document Analysis Worksheets as a guide to reading the image. After reviewing the images, reconsider the role of Brown’s narrative in the cause for abolition.

EDSITEment Interactive: Pro- or Anti-Abolition?

As an alternative to the Flash-based interactive, you can link directly to the images:

"A punishment practiced in the United States . . ."

1. Pro or Anti-Abolition?
2. Why?
3. What evidence can you cite for your answer?
"Life in Philadelphia"

1. Pro or Anti-Abolition?
2. Why?
3. What evidence can you cite for your answer?
"Mrs. Meriwether Administering Bitters"

1. Pro or Anti-Abolition?
2. Why?
3. What evidence can you cite for your answer?
"May—Fifth Month"

1. Pro or Anti-Abolition?
2. Why?
3. What evidence can you cite for your answer?

How does Brown’s story, and the way in which he presents it, serve the cause of abolitionism?
Which episodes seem calculated to shock a white reader into an abhorrence of slavery? Look back at Brown's opening chapters. What is the first impression of slavery and slaveholders that he provides here? How does his emphasis on physical abuse support the abolitionist cause?
Look also at Brown's portrayal of slaveholders, in particular his comments on their piety. What does he say about his master's sudden enthusiasm for prayer and church-going (Chapter 4, pages 36-38)? About the family prayers of those who captured him on his first attempt at freedom (Chapter 8, page 71)? About the auctioneer's cry that a slave "has got religion" (Chapter 9, pages 82-83)? How would these moral attacks help persuade a white reader to oppose slavery?

EDSITEment LaunchPad!

Perspectives on the Slave Narrative