Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl Essay

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George Santayana once said that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (Santayana). In her book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs chronicles many problems she faced during her tenure as a slave. However, after reading Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, it appears that the world today does not remember the past and may be condemned to repeat it. Many of the atrocities described by Jacob remain prominent and relevant in today’s society. The issues that Jacobs details unfortunately remain relevant more than 200 years after the abolishment of slavery in 1865. (U.S. Constitution). Specifically, significant matters detailed in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl remain visible in aspects…show more content…
For example, Jacobs describes the poor treatment endured by slaves based largely on skin color. “I admit the black man is inferior.” But what is it that makes him so? It is the ignorance in which white men compel him to live; it is the torturing whip that lashes manhood out of him; it is the fierce bloodhounds of the South, and the scarcely less cruel human bloodhounds of the north, who enforce the Fugitive Slave Law.” (Incidents Chapter VIII). Moreover, in sharp contrast to her treatment as a slave, Jacobs described that when she visited England, “For the first time in my life I was in a place where I was treated according to my deportment, without reference to my complexion.” (Incidents Chapter XXXVII). Racial equality issues and racism remain prevalent in society today. Specifically, skin color often provokes a reaction from society towards individuals. For example, recently Whirlpool Corporation settled a racial discrimination suit for over one million dollars to an African American woman subjected to verbal and physical abuse for two months based solely on her skin color. (Whirlpool Corp.). Despite the abolishment of slavery, racism remains deeply embedded in today’s
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