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Harriet Ann Jacobs Quotes

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Famous Harriet Ann Jacobs Quotes

“It was a grand opportunity for the low whites, who had no negroes of their own to scourge. They exulted in such a chance to exercise a little brief authority, and show their subserviency to the slaveholders; not reflecting that the power which trampled on the colored people also kept themselves in poverty, ignorance and moral degradation.”

Poverty Racism In America Slavery In The United States White People

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself

“So I was sold at last! A human being sold in the free city of New York! The bill of sale is on record, and future generations will learn from it that women were articles of traffic in New York, late in the nineteenth century of the Christian religion.”

Human Trafficking Slavery In The United States

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

“I forgot that in the land of my birth the shadows are too dense for light to penetrate.”

Opportunity Slavery Slavery In The United States

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

“It is a sad feeling to be afraid of one's native country.”

Patriotism Birthright Slavery In The United States

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

“Are doctors of divinity blind or are they hypocrites?”

Slavery In The United States Religious Hypocrisy

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

“I passed nearly a year in the family of Isaac and Amy Post, practical believers in the Christian doctrine of human brotherhood. They measured a man's worth by his character, not by his complexion.”

Racism In America Slavery In The United States

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself

“Who can blame slaves for being cunning? They are constantly compelled to resort to it. It is the only weapon of the weak and oppressed against the strength of their tyrants.”

Tyranny Oppression Cunning Slavery In The United States

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

“Several years after, he passed through our town and preached to his former congregation. In his afternoon sermon he addressed the colored people. 'My friends,' said he, 'it affords me great happiness to have an opportunity of speaking to you again. For two years I have been striving to do something for the colored people of my own parish; but nothing is yet accomplished. I have not even preached a sermon to them. Try to live according to the word of God, my friends. Your skin is darker than mine; but God judges men by their hearts, not by the color of their skins." This was strange doctrine from a southern pulpit. It was very offensive to slaveholders.”

Racism In America Slavery In The United States Judge Not

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself

“There I sat, in that great city, guiltless of crime, yet not daring to worship God in any of the churches. I heard the bells ringing for afternoon service, and, with contemptuous sarcasm, I said, "Will the preachers take for their text, 'Proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of prison doors to them that are bound'? or will they preach from the text, 'Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you'?”

Slavery In The United States Christian Hypocrisy

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

“I knew the law would decide that I was his property, and would probably still give his daughter a claim to my children; but I regarded such laws as the regulations of robbers, who had no rights that I was bound to respect.”

Slavery In The United States

Book:Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself

Source: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself