Pro- and Anti-Slavery Movement in the 19th

¶ … Pro- and Anti-Slavery Movement in the 19th Century American Society

The history of black slavery movement in the American society during the 19th century has become a common theme of debate and discussion between Americans for and against black slavery movement. There have been numerous literary works, essays, and other written works that discuss this primary issue of black American slavery in America during the 1800s. An example of these literary works is an essay by Thomas Jefferson entitled, "Notes on the State of Virginia," and an autobiography by Frederick Douglass entitled, "Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave." These two written works discuss the issue of black American slavery in America, with Jefferson defending and justifying the black slavery movement, while Douglass calls for a radical change and opposition against the said movement. These two written works will be critically analyzed in this paper, and by quoting various important statements made by the two authors, this paper will criticize Jefferson's claims and justifications of the activities the white American society did for the slavery movement. Jefferson's argument for black slavery will be refuted through examples and discussion of Douglass' arguments against the slavery movement.

Thomas Jefferson stated in his essay "Notes on the State of Virginia" under Query 14, entitled "Laws," that the blacks are rightfully subjected as slaves because of the inferiority of their mental and physical capabilities, which is an act of nature, which makes the argument that slavery is justly right because blacks are meant by nature to be slaves and inferior to whites. He state in his essay that blacks "equal to whites" in memory, "in reason much inferior... And that in imagination they are dull, tasteless, anomalous... never yet could I find that a black had uttered a thought above the level of plain narration..." (Jefferson p. 267). Ultimately, Jefferson sums up his argument for black American slavery by stating that "the blacks, whether originally a distinct race... are inferior to whites in the endowments of both body and mind... This unfortunate difference in color, and perhaps of faculty, is a powerful obstacle to the emancipation of these people" (Jefferson p. 271).

This argument and claim about the black Americans' inferiority to white Americans is unfounded and false if the basis would be Douglass' narration and autobiography of his life as a slave. Contrary to the statement of Jefferson that blacks are not only inferior in physical color and race, but also in their mental faculties when compared with whites. This claim by Jefferson is unfounded and racist in nature, because Douglass' attitude towards education and his fast learning in reading in his autobiography illustrates that given the proper conducive environment and encouragement, blacks can be intellectually equal with whites when it comes to mental faculty challenges (Douglass Chapter 6-7). Also, the fact that black Americans, particularly Douglass' fellow slaves in the Maryland plantation he works in, is capable of mustering enough strength to resist not only the physical and verbal abuse given to them by their slaveholders, but they are also courageous enough to survive despite the emotional turmoil, psychological and mental degradations that the white society gives and treats them. In fact, Douglass' ability to escape, to ask and eventually seek freedom from slavery, and to write his autobiography and relate his and his fellowmen's sufferings as slaves are enough reasons to conclude that indeed, blacks are intellectually capable and superior just like the whites. Jefferson's claim that blacks "cannot speak beyond plain narration" is due to the fact that blacks lived with the harsh reality of slavery, and by talking about it in plain language gives it an authentic 'feel,' making the readers empathize with Douglass and his fellow black slaves. It is evident that Douglass' autobiography is a good proof of the wide range of talents, skills, and capabilities of the blacks that deem them as equally important and essential as the whites in the American society of 19th century.