Harriet Ann Jacobs Quotes

A collection of quotes by Harriet Ann Jacobs.

Harriet Ann Jacobs (1813-1897) was an African-American writer, abolitionist, and reformer. Born into slavery in Edenton, North Carolina, Jacobs endured the hardships and abuses of slavery from a young age. She demonstrated an early thirst for knowledge, teaching herself to read and write despite laws prohibiting the education of enslaved people.

In the 1830s and 1840s, Jacobs worked as a domestic servant in North Carolina, where she faced immense physical and sexual abuse from her white owner. In an effort to escape this oppressive life, she began a daring journey, hiding in a crawl space for nearly seven years in the home of her grandmother. During this time, she endured isolation and constant fear of being discovered.

After finally escaping to the North in 1842, Jacobs settled in New York City and later in Massachusetts. There, she became actively involved in abolitionist activities, joining networks of like-minded individuals fighting for the freedom of enslaved people.

In 1861, Jacobs published her memoir, "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," pseudonymously entitled Linda Brent. The book served as one of the first major accounts of the sexual abuse that enslaved women faced at the hands of their white owners. Her memoir had a profound impact on the abolitionist movement and offered a rare perspective on the experiences of enslaved women.

Harriet Ann Jacobs dedicated her life to speaking out against slavery, advocating for education, and fighting for the rights and liberation of African Americans. Her work and courage continue to inspire generations of activists in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.