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At first, the autobiography is set in the 18th-century historical context when slavery was eminent in the United States. Freedom deterred many people of color from enjoying liberty, including practicing their religious rights. Even after the laggard release from enslavement, people, including Old Elizabeth, experienced massive injustices, inequality, and lack of freedom. (Morawski 1999). Regarding the book’s plot, its purpose was to spearhead liberty acquisition and productivity in society. The book Memoir of Old Elizabeth, A Coloured Woman by Lee Mariwaski, showcases America’s transformation from a colony to a democracy. The book has historical significance as it shows the existence of inequality and injustice, which led to freedom acquisition (Morawski 1999). The book intended to convey the historical facts regarding the presence and revolution of slavery in the 18th century in defining who an American is.
The author considers the two main primary issues, which are racial and social-economic conflicts. At first, the book indicates that the United States was composed of native Americans, who had cemented institutions that indicated racism and white supremacy. The whites had different views on the blacks, believing they had no constitutional rights even after receiving their liberty. The author shows increased racial dispute of whites towards black people by showing how they bought young enslaved people and traded them for their gains (Morawski 1999). For example, Old Elizabeth started working for her master at seven years without benefiting. Such dispute escalated because the whites did not want black individuals to attend prestigious schools, acquire property, or enjoy constitutional liberty. The author appeals to the authors’ emotions by making them reflect on the struggles the black people continued to face to have the peace the Americans enjoy today. At the same time, the author uses stories, including how the blacks worked in the white plantations, which they frequently refused as the masters did not value them. The phenomenon shows how the book appeals to the readers’ pathos by showing enslaved people’s defenselessness despite having freedom.
The author discusses the second main theme of gender conflict between the masters and the enslaved individuals. The gender conflict mainly arises between women and males concerning their societal role. In the book, this dissension entails having different expectations and values embraced by every gender. For instance, in the book, the author writes that males frequently demand their females follow in their footsteps per established societal standards. For example, women, including Old Elizabeth, were not mandated to undertake religious meetings or preach to the people (Morawski 1999). In different aspects, women and men are not treated equally, including taking responsibilities like being watchmen, as most were considered sinners. The book uses biblical aspects to appeal to its audience regarding how the enslaved women spearheaded the freedom of Americans by abolishing religious injustices and inequalities.
To a greater extent, some historical circumstances typical to the textbook events include working on agricultural farms, poor diet, deteriorated clothing, and punishment. These episodes are essential in comprehending the enslavement history in the United States and showcasing the author’s main argument on how slavery deterred freedom. For example, the slave trade brought enslaved people from different areas who worked for free and lived in impoverished conditions (Morawski 1999). Significantly, across the United States, people, including Old Elizabeth, had to work on their master’s farms and were punished for engaging in activities such as preaching that could lead to liberty. The author uses imagery to make the reader aware of the typical situations the enslaved people encountered before receiving liberty.
At the same time, the discussed affairs in the textbook are not typical of those of the professor’s notes events. This is because the lecturer’s notes concentrate mainly on post-slavery, while the book concentrates on enslavement. Some of the not typical events include enslaved individuals working in big houses, having a good diet, lack of punishment, being treated nicely, acquiring money, and being allowed to read and write (Chandler 2022). Due to such, the book has weaknesses of bias by showcasing the one-sided nature of the problems that the enslaved people encountered (Foner 2022). Therefore, the book does not appeal to the ethos of the author’s credibility, thus deteriorating the reader’s trust as the loopholes are not adequately addressed.
In writing this book, the most crucial point the author tries to convey to the audience is providing a detailed insight into the life of enslavement. The phenomenon appeals to the audience’s emotions by making them reflect on the historical past of America, mainly in the 18th century (Morawski 1999). The book’s argument has resulted in applying slavery theories that led to the freedom enjoyed in America. The book has identified its audience as American students with a strong interest in history. Therefore, the book has strengths in helping the audience comprehend the author’s opinions and ideas regarding freedom and enslavement.
I liked the book since I enjoyed reading it as I comprehended the history of America and how far it has transformed. I think the author has comprehensively written the book to show the inequalities and injustices enslaved people experienced, which resulted in their acquisition. As a result, the author appeals to the audience’s emotions by reflecting on how a country’s liberty cannot be achieved. I recommend the book to friends as it shows how the lack of liberty can lead to inequality and injustice in a free world country, including the United States, and affect people, such as Old Elizabeth. I would give the book four stars has it has good content regarding enslavement, which constructs America’s historical context.
References
Chandler, Kimberley. 2022. “White Indentured Servitude and Black Slavery.” Lecturer, Concordia University of Texas, TX.
Foner, Eric. 2019. Give Me Liberty! An American History. 6th ed. New York: W.W. Norton.
Morawski, Lee. 1999.“Memoir of Old Elizabeth, A Coloured Woman.” Philadephia: Collins Printer.
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