Introduction for essay about Harriet Jacobs
Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813 in Edenton, North Carolina. She was raised by her mother, who taught her to read and write. When Harriet was eleven years old, she was sent to live with her mistress, who sexually abused her. Harriet eventually had two children with her master. In 1835, she escaped from slavery and fled to Philadelphia. Jacobs spent the rest of her life fighting for the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of all black Americans.
Structure of essay papers on Harriet Jacobs
- Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery in North Carolina in 1813.
- She was sexually abused by her master, who also fathered her two children.
- In 1835, she ran away from her master and hid in a small crawl space in her grandmother’s house for seven years.
- While in hiding, she wrote an autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which was published in 1861.
- In 1842, she escaped to the North, where she worked as a domestic servant and became an active abolitionist.
- In 1852, she helped rescue a fugitive slave, William Still, and his family.
- In 1854, she moved to England, where she worked as a governess.
- In 1857, she returned to the United States and settled in Washington, D.C.
- In 1865, she helped establish the Contraband Relief Association, which provided assistance to former slaves.
- She died in 1897.
Conclusion
Harriet Jacobs was an African American woman who was born into slavery and experienced firsthand the cruelty and injustice that came with it. She managed to escape and eventually wrote an autobiography, which helped to shed light on the realities of slavery for many people. Jacobs was a brave and determined woman who fought for her own freedom and that of others. Her story is an inspiration to us all.
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