Mark Klinker
10/06/04
GHIST 225
Section 3
Why Things Were the Way They Were
One of the darkest times in American history was that of the three to four hundred year timeframe of slavery. This unlawful enslaving of millions of African Americans has caused a tragic bitterness between blacks and whites that will never cease to exist. Everyone has there own interpretation of what slavery really entailed, but the typical situation thought of when thinking of slavery is that of a black person picking the cotton fields in the Southern American Colonies. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, by Frederick Douglass, shows us that there was much more to colonial slavery than that which is characteristically portrayed. Frederick Douglass shows us throughout his narrative that life experiences of a slave were all dependent on the mentalities of the masters, the location of enslaving, and the mentalities of the slaves. Not only did this narrative give a first-hand account of what it was like to be a slave, it also showed the world the cruelties and hardships of being a black in colonial America. The three examples discussed above were significant matters that helped Douglass explain how various factors made one slave’s experience of slavery different from another slave’s experience.
The blacks being brought over from Africa had no choice or say in the outcome of whom would be their master. They had no idea of the intentions that each slave owner had. All they knew was that they were kidnapped from their homelands and brought to America as free labor. These men, women, and children were at the mercy of their master. Some of the owners prided themselves on gaining respect from their slaves through kindness, while others demanded respect through brutality.
One man whom Douglass remembered in particular was a master known as Mr. Gore. He took over the place of Mr. Hopkins who Douglass believes “career was short because he lacked the necessary severity to suit Colonel Lloyd” (65). Mr. Gore was an overseer of one of the out-farms owned by Colonel Lloyd. “Mr. Gore, a first-rate overseer, was artful, cruel, and obdurate” (65). This was why the mentality of the overseer played such a significant role in the experience of the slaves. Douglass once stated, “To be accused was to be convicted, and to be convicted was to be punished” (66). Slaves were never to argue with what they had done. The overseers’ cruelty towards insubordinate slaves was spiteful. Gore’s cruelty was shown through his barbaric actions towards his slaves. One slave in particular whom Douglass saw experience Gore’s cruelty was a slave by the name of Demby. Demby was being scourged by Gore and instead of continuing to get beaten ran and jumped into a creek. Gore gave him to the count of three to get out of the water. After Demby refused to get out, Gore pulled out his gun and shot Demby in the face. Gore viewed his slaves as more of an asset to his farm, rather than a human being. This is why the mentality of the overseer is so important. Demby stood no chance against Gore because of Gore’s barbaric tactics. Another master may have given the slave more time and a harsher punishment, but may not have shot them in the head.
