Sweet Jenn Study Guide

SWEET JENN: A LIVING EXHIBIT

  NARRATIVE OF A FEMALE SLAVE

                                        STUDY GUIDE

Transatlantic Slave Trade    

The transatlantic slave trade is unique within the universal history of slavery for three main reasons:                                   

•  Its duration - approximately four centuries      

• Those victimized: black African men, women and children 

•  The intellectual legitimization attempted on its behalf - the development of an anti-black ideology and its legal organization, the notorious Code noir.

As a commercial and economic enterprise, the slave trade provides a dramatic example of the consequences resulting from particular intersections of history and geography. It involved several regions and continents: Africa, America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Indian Ocean.

The transatlantic slave trade is often regarded as the first system of globalization. According to French historian Jean-Michel Deveau the slave trade and consequently slavery, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century, constitute one of "the greatest tragedies in the history of humanity in terms of scale and duration".

 

FAR WORSE FOR WOMEN

Slavery is terrible for men, but far worse for women. Such a strong and potent remark, but a quote that bears some factual evidence in regards to the suffering enslaved women had to endure. Slavery was an experience of mental, emotional, psychological and physical rape. Torture came in many forms and the affected male and female slaves in various ways. When torture became too unbearable slaves 
took great actions to annihilate the pain. However these actions came at a high price, and for many, the cost proved to be fatal. (Harmony Turnbull)

Slavery is certainly a dark time in the history of our country; this play is an attempt to shine a light on a group of victims who are often forgotten. It is also my way of showing my respect for those who had the toughness of spirit to survive so that I might be here today. (Lakeetha Blakeney)

A few of the women represented in the play

Louisa Everett: Born 1847, Place Virginia, Master: Jim McClain

LuLu Wilson: Born 1839, Place Barren County Kentucky, Master: Wash Hodges

Sarah Graves: Born 1850, Place Nodaway County Missouri, Master: Jimmie Graves

Lucy Harris (the playwright’s third great grandmother): Born 1846, Place Lancaster South Carolina, Master: Unknown

Separation of Families

Slave women often had to raise the master’s children while their own children were neglected

The slave family was essential for survival, but keeping the slave family together was nearly impossible. Slave marriages were decided by the master of the plantation regardless if the slaves in questions had already formed their own unions. Often slave husbands lived on or were hired out to other plantations, thus causing the slave wife to assume a more independent role in the slave community.  Slave children were rarely raised by their parents; they were reared by an older slave woman who was no longer able to work in the house or the fields. Slave mothers were the main caretakers of the master’s children. One of the many jobs of slave children was to be the playmate of white children so once a slave child had reached a certain age they were removed from their families and sent to live in the main house. Imagine being owned by the child that you babysit or your best friend.

Works Cited