By: Brian Ronquillo

The Corrupting Power of Slavery

The mistress begged Lindas grandmother to loan her the three hundred dollars that she had saved up. This money was saved up to purchase some of her children. ( page 3 )

The New Master And Mistress

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Like many women in the south, Ms. Flint part take in the church but it was not exhibited during the Lord supper. She abused her power over the slaves by spitting in the pots that the slaves washed. Mrs. Flint would do this if supper was not served at a certain time. ( Jacobs 9 )

Normally on New Years Day theres much celebration for the coming on a new year but, for slaves it was a time of grief. Many Masters would sell their slaves to other Masters. This separated many slave families and located them in different places so they wouldnt be able to see each other. Many slaves were sold against their will. ( Jacobs 13 )

The Slave Who Dared To Feel Like A Man

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Benjamins master summoned for him and Benjamin did not obey his orders. His master got angry at him for not obeying him and began to whip him. Benjamin resisted and the master and the slave fought, the master was thrown to the ground. ( Jacobs 18 )

The Trials Of GirlHood

Many times Dr. Flint would try to corrupt the pure principles that were implanted in Linda (Jacobs 27). Dr. Flint was not in the right to do this because he was a married man and he was older then her. Linda goes out to say that Dr. Flint peopled her young mind with unclean images. Images that only a vile monster could think of. It is obvious that Dr. Flint was looking to make Linda impure, he wanted to have his way with her. (27) On the picture it is shows how Dr Flint would attempt to de-pure Linda. As you can see one of the figures is whispering to another. If we were to imagine this being Dr. Flint and Linda then we could understand how the corruption of slavery led to performing these actions. He had no shame that his wife would one day find out. Al l that Dr. Flint wanted was for Harriet to be submissive.

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http://dunyanews.tv/inde x.php/en/WeirdNews/15 3480-Obama-to-takeoath-on-two-Bibles-

The corruption that is displayed in this chapter is when Mrs. Flint makes Linda swear to the bible. Linda was asked to confess everything that has been happening between Dr. Flint and she. (Jacobs 33)

This a corrupting power simply because Mrs. Flint is using religion to make Linda submissive. She is using the name of God to test if Linda is telling the truth.
Just like being swore into office, Mrs. Flint made Linda swear to the bible.

The Lover
While there was a dispute between Dr. Flint and Linda, she was hit for the first time. She was asked a question and didnt respond with the answer that Dr. Flint wanted to hear, in anger she said, How I despise you! This made Dr. Flint furious and he tells her that she is submissive to his will. Do you know that I have a right to do as I like with you,- that I can kill you, if I please? (Jacobs) 40,41) The picture here exhibits what it would have been like to be Linda as she gets hit by Dr. Flint for the first time. Previously he wouldnt allow anyone to lay a finger on her. This only held to be true until he assaulted her himself. He did this after Linda argues with him regarding she marrying a freeman.

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Slave Holders would often lie to their slaves in order to make them stay. They often tell stories how those who runaway end up wanting to come back. In reality there was no such thing, no slave truly wanted to come back. (Jacobs 45) Yet again you see corruption going on as slaveholders would attempt to break the slaves will to run off. Any hope of freedom would be shortly disregarded.

The Following shows how the dreams a slave had to run away were broken . The wings represent the hope slaves would have and as you can see they appear to be damaged.

Sketches Of Neighboring Slaveholders

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As we are well awarded, slaves were treated as animals and when a slave disobeyed his/her master they would face harsh consequences. Each neighbor as Linda describes had methods to torture the slaves when they opposed their will. For each picture a different method is displayed. Another of the tactics they used was tying a rope around a mans body, and suspend him over the ground. (Jacobs 48)
1. 2. 3.

Using Bloodhounds to tear the flesh off of slaves Having pork fat drip on a slave while it being cooked Whipping

All of these punishments were part of the corruption in slavery.

A Perilous Passage in the Slave Girls LIfe.

Linda struggles to maintain her self to be pure throughout her life, though there was a breaking point. As she learned that Dr. Flint was actually building a house for her, Linda ends up breaking boundaries. In order to have self control she deliberately has a sexual relationship with Mr. Sands. Due to slavery Lindas sacred moral gets corrupted and she gives away her purity. She did this in a attempt to feel in control (Jacobs 57-58). She no longer wanted to submit to how Dr. Flint wanted things to be. The picture displays a woman reassured of a choice made which . Like Linda the woman appear to be in power. Only the woman knows what must be done.

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The New Tie to Life

The corruption of slavery at this point takes a new low. Previously we learned that many slaves were sexually abused by their owners and the children that were produced were scattered. As if this wasnt foul enough, Dr. Flint offers Linda an opportunity to abort the child she is carrying. This was so that Linda was saved from the exposure. (Jacobs 63) The picture on the right exhibits a scene where Dr. Flint is trying to persuade Linda into agreeing to abort the child. This directly links to the theme of corruption of slavery because this just shows how there was no limits to what master may do to have their way. No one could have ever imagined that anyone could stoop so low.

Fear of Insurrection

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Religion was held very dearly to slaves. It was their only way to have hope for a better life. Yet something as sacred as this was corrupted by the white men in the south. After being caught attending a church built by the slaves themselves they were band from ever attending again. Nevertheless they were allowed in white churches but only in certain areas. By demolishing and restricting them for churches it would allow them to keep check on all of the slaves ( Jacobs 74). The picture on the right shows the demolishment of the church by the woods thats the slaves themselves built.

In this chapter Dr. Flint offers Linda something that only he can give her and that is a home and her freedom, "you desire freedom for yourself and your children, and you can obtain it only through me" (Jacobs 92). He tells Linda if she was too agree then she must not have no communication with the children's father of any kind. "Your labor shall be light, such as sewing for my family. Think what is offered you, Linda - a home and freedom!" (Jacobs 92). As Dr. Flint insist for her to think about what she is doing she refuses his offer so he gets mad and tells her that there's another proposition that she cannot reject, and that is for her and her children to work obligated at her young masters plantation. He chose to give her a week to decide but she rapidly refused, "You act too much from impulse. Remember that you and your children can be free a week from to-day if you choose." (Jacobs 93) . A week had passed and she finally decided to tell Dr. Flint that she was ready to go to the other plantation and says "Very well. Go to the plantation, and my curse go with you," he replied. "Your boy shall be put to work, and he shall soon be sold; and your girl shall be raised for the purpose of selling well." (Jacobs 94) . At last her grandmother decides to go talk to Dr. Flint and see if she convinces him to changed his mind but he refuses therefore Linda was forced to go to the plantation.

Scenes at the Plantation

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Linda heads to the plantation with her daughter Ellen. Benny's sick, so he stays behind. That was a good thing for him, since Ellen is given work and separated from her mother and basically treated like a slave. "I had suffered alone; now, my little one was to be treated as a slave" (95). She begins to plan her escape. When Mr. Flint goes to pick up his wife, Linda runs off to Aunt Marthas house to see her children and to pack her things. " I needed more than one night to accomplish the project I had in view" (100) . Then Aunt Martha catches Linda in the act and guilt-trips her into staying by saying that a mother should suffer along with her children. Linda says shell try to stick it out a bit longer. The young Flints throw a dinner party to celebrate their new home, and Dr. Flint and his wife are invited. It goes about as well as you'd expect. The next day, Linda gets a little peek at what her future holds, when the new Mrs. Flint wife to Mr. Flint watches the slaves receive their weekly food allowance. Things go all right for a while, but then a white friend of the family tells Linda that the Flints are bringing her children down to the plantation to be "broke in, which sounds all kinds of bad.

www.slaverysite.com

Lindas escape wasnt so that she gained her freedom it was for her children to obtain there's. Along with the father of her children(Mr. Sands) Linda schemes a method to let her children obtain freedom. There strategy consisted of an unknown buyer pursuing Dr. Flint to sell Ellen and Benny. The Bill of Sale as shown in the left was crucial to clarify that Dr. Flint released Benny and Ellen. The rascal bill as Dr. Flint called it was prove that Lindas suffer without seeing her children paid off (Jacobs 118). Slowly Linda was breaking away all of the chains that were placed on her by Dr. Flint. Each move she made brought her closer to escaping the wrath of Dr. Flint.

New Perils
Search for Linda was reignited and yet again the household that contained her was searched. Dr. Flints efforts to find her made it dangerous for Linda to continue to stay. She would have to move some where else until the searched died out again. After nerve reckon search of the household she resided in, a decision to relocate her was made. Without having the slightest idea where she would next go Linda escaped with the help of her friend Peter (Jacobs 125). The picture on the right portrays a slave running away and much like Linda is looking to go anywhere secure from their master. There destination is unclear and as the master is looking away the dog chasing after him represents the people. She needs to escape from so that the master doesnt locate her.

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After being relocated back into her grandmothers house Linda still couldnt afford to be seen. While being in the swamp Uncle Phillip, who was a carpenter, had very skillfully made a concealed trap door, which communicated with the store or a she called it the loophole (Jacobs 128). This is where Linda was bound to stay until she could one day escape to the North. In this hole she was to remain silent through all the seasons of the year. Not many knew where she was hiding not even her children.

The picture here is a mere example of the conditions in which Linda lived. During her time here she witnessed her children go through their childhood without a mother. Though she could not do anything but wait until Dr. Flints pursuit to find her faded off. He was now in route to New York to find her. Little did he know that she was right in front of him, living in a dismal hole all induced to his inability to accept that she would not submit to his power.

Lindas Living condition was no where near what she deserved. She was trapped in a dismal hole where she suffered physically and emotionally. During her second winter in hole Linda got very ill due to the cold. Her limbs were benumbed by inaction and cold filled them with cramp (Jacobs 136). Lindas family rushed to aid her and for the first time in a while Linda got to feel the warmth of a fire. Her suffering would continue until she could break free.

Now much can be said on how corruptive slavery was. While Dr. Flint who was guilty of moral and inhumane crime remained free, Linda was imprisoned. Linda, who had no reason to live in a dismal hole had an unfortunate fate. This what the picture below represents. Someone innocent like Linda had to embrace a cruel and unfair fate. The darkness of the hole had Linda doubting Gods forgiveness. Sometimes Linda thought that There was no justice or mercy in the divine government (Jacobs 137)

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The Candidate for Congress

As Mr. Sands father of Lindas children made ran his campaign to be part of congress, Linda feared for her children. She could not afford to let Sands leave without being sure that they were emancipated. For if anything were to occur to Sands they would be at the mercy of his heirs (Jacobs 139) The document displayed were of extreme importance for the sake Lindas children Benny and Ellen. Without this Lindas suffering for years in the den would be to no avail.

Competition in Cunning.

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Flints intentions to find Linda continued and he had hope that one day she would return. If she did than he would allow her relatives to buy her. Aware of his cunning nature too well Linda decided to retaliate by overpowering his cunningness (Jacobs 142). She sent him letters that appeared to be from New York. The letters shown portray Lindas dominance over Dr. Flint. These letters establish a shift in power. Although the law was in Flints favor Linda had the mental edge. With this advantage over him Linda was in control. Flints desperation to find her would soon leave him completely blind when she escaped.

Along with the return of Mr. Sands came a new opportunity for Lindas children to go North. Both Benny and Ellen would go there separate ways. Ellen would leave north with Dr. Flint while Benny would travel will uncle Phillip. In reaction to this Linda spent the night with her child Ellen. This was a very tender moment for both of them. Due to Lindas situation she could not accompany them. The corruption of slavery induced a mother and a child to only have one special moment between one another as shown in the picture. Linda never had such contact with her child up until now.

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Aunt Nancy was the twin sister of Lindas mother who had died a while ago. She was a house keeper and waiting-maid for Dr. Flints family. She was a valuable slave to them but only until her death approaching was her value recognized. When she finally died many attended to her funeral to show respects even some white folks were present. If any Northerner would pass by they say that it was .a touching proof of the attachment between slaveholders and their servants (Jacobs 165). Though would they wouldnt see is the corruption behind. Phillip whos mother saved $800 to buy his freedom was left to pay for the ceremony.

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Preparations for Escape

After spending years in her den it was finally time for Linda to escape. Linda feared that if she left that she would never be able to contact her child Benjamin. Though a promise made to her by her uncle allowed her to carry out the plan. Nevertheless they would need to be unseen to carry out this plan. With the help of Phillip Linda was able to escape but prior to this many feared what would occur if they got caught. Phillip would suffer the fate of James who died for escaping. This displays an injustice committed, while Phillip was only trying to do a moral right it was frowned upon by society. People like Jenny a slave who hypocritically would rat out her own kind were blinded by this corruption as shown in the picture.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-new-day-dawning-bill-cannon.html Finally Lindas dream to be free from her and slavery were fulfilled. As she stepped into the boat which would carry her out North the feel of content and freedom came. Linda along with Fanny, who like Linda suffered to , were headed to a new destination. In their cabin they talked about the struggles the endured to reach the vessel. They would shortly gain enough distance to be safe. A new opportunity was in the horizon . The picture displayed above is a scenario where Linda finally feels free. As she approached Philadelphia for the first time Linda and Fanny were on free soils but they were alone (Jacobs 180). They only had one another to depend on in the new city. All ties were left behind since the demon slavery had left them no other choice. It is for this reason why this picture associates with Lindas current state. Due to the wrath of slavery the road ahead as shown in the image is dark but it also has a bit of light. The sun which is producing the light is what Linda must now hold on to gain strength.

Although finally arriving in Philadelphia it didnt take long for Linda to experience her first chill to her enthusiasm (Jacobs 185). When Mr. Durham, a minister of a church, tried to purchase a ticket for Linda to go to New York he was not allowed to get her a first class ticket. No negro was allowed to ride in first class suddenly free land didnt seem so free. There were many in the North who still werent fond of colored people. Even though segregation was not the same as slavery it was a branch of it. Segregation place limits to the colored and this made Linda realize that the north aped the customs of slavery (Jacobs 185).

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The Meeting of Mother and Daughter.

Once Linda arrived in New York her mission to find her daughter Ellen continued. She sent for an old friend who ran a business in New York. After they contacted he escorted her to Brooklyn and thats where she had found her daughter. The reunion was touching but it had dismal outcome. Lindas main goal was to liberate both her children and so she did. But when Mrs. Hobbs a relative to Mr. Sands says that Ellen will make a nice waiting-maid for her daughter, Linda is torn( Jacobs 188). She grieved that night just as the woman in the image did. The realization that Ellen faced a life where she would be enslaved terrorized Linda. It appeared that where she went slavery would follow.

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Linda could not allow her daughter to be enslaved and so she sought to look for a job in New York. Fortunately For her she was able to get job in the Bruce residence as a nurse for their child. As well know Linda briefly got the chance to spend time with her daughter Ellen. Though the feeling of being a mother rushed back when she took care of Mrs. Bruces child. Slavery had pushed Linda from embracing key moments in her childrens lives. Yet as she took care of this child she got the sense of what it would have been like to be present in Benny and Ellens childhood. The pictures presented is a mere example of what moments many slave mothers missed out.

Slavery induced much ignorance to spread throughout America. Both in the south and north citizens believed that African descent slaves were inferior to the white. Dr. Flint was no different, in a letter written which was apparently written by Flints child it mentioned that if Linda came back she would be free. Though by the style of writing Linda was aware that who had wrote it was no other than Flint himself. He relied on the stupidity of the African race and truly thought that this letter would work (Jacobs 195). Such mind set was set upon many people slavery allowed them to feel superior to the colored. The corruption that slavery had over people induced for stereotypes to be formed.

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As Linda remained in the free states up north she noticed how they werent all free. The people in the North had the same mind set of the South. Common privileges such as seating where one wanted to or dining were restricted for Negros. On a trip with the Bruce family this was more evident than ever. Linda truly had the taste of segregation in the North. While attending Mary, she was told to the seat in the lower end. She was also told that she will be shown to the kitchen where she will have a good super (Jacobs 199). This was a breaking point for Linda. The image projected allows one too see how extremely prejudice the whites were.

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The Hairbreadth Escape

When things had just seemed to be going well for Linda a new problem rose up. Mrs. Hobbs brother was informing Dr. Flint of Lindas whereabouts in New York. After meeting her and congratulated [her] on [her] escape from slavery he hypocritically betrays Linda(Jacobs 200). Mr. Thornes, Mrs. Hobbs brother, excused himself by saying he was a patriot to his country. This was another method in which slavery had affected society. The same person who received help from Lindas aunt stabs Linda in the back. Just as shown in the image many white people were two faced and easily had the ability to ruin a struggling slave. Much like Mr. Thornes had done with Linda.