Celia, a Slave: A True

¶ … Celia, A Slave: A True Story of Violence and Retribution in Antebellum Missouri by Melton A. McLauren. Specifically, it will discuss whether race or gender played more of a role in shaping her relationships. Celia's relationship with the Robert and Mary Newsom, Virginia Waynescot, and George, another Newsom slave, indicate her relationship with Robert was based on sexual favors for her master, or gender, while her relationships with the others were probably based on her race. The relationships between the family and their slaves indicate some of the many issues present in the slave/owner relationship. Slaves had no rights, and could not fight the wrongs others heaped on them. Owners had all the rights and could do anything their wanted with their property. Celia's relationship with those around her was convoluted at best. For the men, she was a woman and sexual partner, for the women she was a servant and property. Celia had no say in the matter, and so, her relationships with others were in their control, not hers.

Celia was only fourteen when she came to the Newsome household, and it seems Robert purchased her for sex as much as anything else, because he raped her as soon as he brought her home. The author notes, "Whatever Newsome's thoughts about the matter, the sexual nature of the relationship between master and slave, once established, would never change" (21). Thus, right away, her relationship with Robert was based almost solely on her gender, and it would continue that way until the death of Roger Newsom.

Her race played a small part - had she been white, she would not have been a slave. However, Robert purchased her for sex, and used her routinely for sex for the next five years. He even made sure she had her own cabin close to the house, where he had easy access to her whenever he wanted (24). Thus, her gender was the basis for their relationship and his treatment of her. As the text notes, "Faced with sexual exploitation by a white male, especially an owner, a female slave had few options but to submit" (26). This was Celia's case, and it shows how she had no say in her life and circumstances.

Her relationship with George was equally convoluted, but mainly based on gender. George would not have been in a relationship with her, presumably at least, unless she was a woman. He also loved her, and forced her to make a choice between Robert and himself. This again shows how out of control Celia's life had become. She could not break off with Robert without facing recrimination, punishment, or even death, and she could not break off with George because she cared about him. The text notes, "Actually confronting Newsom would have placed her person at risk and threatened the well-being of her children and the child she carried" (27). Therefore, Celia did the only thing she felt she could under the circumstances. She begged Newsom to leave her alone for the sake of her unborn child, claiming sickness because of her pregnancy. Honesty had no affect on Newsom, he refused to stop having sex with her, and so, she armed herself to repel him if he came to her cabin again.

Because of her relationships with the other household members, Celia had few options. Unlike most of today's women, Celia could not take charge of her own life. Because she was a slave, she served others and lived at their mercy. Her relationships with the family as a whole were based on that fact that she was a slave, so it was her race that led her to that predicament. However, even George had some control over what happened in his life. He had control over Celia to a degree; at least that he could influence her. That is more than Celia had. Because of her gender and race, she was powerless, and had to submit to the will of others. She even confronted Newsom because she feared losing her relationship with George. The text notes, "While it is possible that Celia may have taken action against Newsom of her own accord, the evidence strongly suggests that she confronted Newsom only when forced to do so if she wished to continue her relationship with George" (35). This indicates how truly powerless she was in her own life and decision-making.

Her relationship with Virginia and Mary must have been strained, although it is difficult to tell from the reading. Certainly, they had little interest in her gender, other than the fact she was their father's concubine. Their interest was in her race, in that she was their servant, and black, and as such, beneath their caring or compassion. The text states, "Women within the South's slaveholding families were, after all, beneficiaries of slavery, and as such unlikely critics" (27). Thus, their interest in her was not because of her gender and her problems with their father, but rather on her race and how she could serve them. They saw black women as a threat, and as "temptresses" (28), and so, they did nothing to intervene in her behalf, leaving her to fend for herself and take matters into her own hands, which she ultimately did.