Slave narratives were popular autobiographies in the 19th century, describing the abuse and conditions of slavery, flight to freedom, and the effect on families. Their goal was to appeal to white audiences and promote abolitionism, often using vivid scenes of violence and religious themes. They also aimed to place African American experiences within the context of American history and politics. Notable examples include Briton Hammon’s 1760 narrative, as well as works by Olaudah Equiano, Harriet Jacobs, and Frederick Douglass.
A slave narrative is a type of autobiography that was most popular during the latter half of the 19th century, especially in the days before the Civil War (19-1861). Slave narratives usually followed similar, prescribed formats. They usually began with a description of the early slave story, the abuses and deplorable conditions associated with slavery, and the main character’s flight to freedom. A traditional slave narrative often employed themes such as testimony to authenticity, religious and biblical symbolism, the effect of slavery on the family unit, and educational opportunities during slavery and after gaining freedom.
The main goal of a slave narrative was to produce a story-like piece of writing that would appeal to a white audience and promote the abolition movement to end slavery in America. The violent depiction of slave owners and the torments associated with slave life particularly appealed to the Northern white woman’s appetite for sensational fiction. Although the slave narrative genre was portrayed as autobiographical, many used symbolism and imagery to successfully capture the attention of their audience.
A slave narrative would commonly describe, in vivid detail, scenes of rape, murder, family separation, beating, and starvation, especially of women and children. In such a narrative, there is usually a turning point in which the slave becomes convinced that seeking freedom in the North is the only course of action to avoid a complete and total loss of spiritual well-being or inevitable death for hand of evil slave masters. Another major theme that runs through a slave narrative is the belief in a higher power and adherence to the Bible, which helped establish common ground between African American slaves and their white audiences.
Another goal of slave narratives was to plant the African experience firmly within the cultural, economic, historical, and social context of America. The experiences described in slave narratives bring with them changes in the political and socioeconomic history of the Southern United States, as well as those Northern states where slaves sought their freedom. Slave narratives portrayed African Americans as important parts of the political landscape as the country became embroiled in civil war. Furthermore, the slave narrative, as a tool of cultural history, ascribes to African Americans the same desires as other Americans in their quest for independence, literacy, and the pursuit of happiness.
The first of the American slave narratives, A Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings and Surprising Deliverance of Briton Hammon, a Negro Man, was published in 1760. The most popular and well-known slave narratives are: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano ( 1789), Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861), and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845).
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