Entry 6

The Narrative of the Life of Henry Bibb was published in the year 1849, only months before the Fugitive Slave Act would be put into law. This entry will discuss the historical moment in which his work was surrounded.

Henry Bibb's narrative was published at a time when vehement political discussion was sprawling throughout America and its territories. The Southern states were strong as ever in their opinions supporting slavery and a mild Northern counter-reaction had steadily formed as well. New Mexico, Utah, Texas, and California made up the states whose slave status was pending in Congress. Each side of the debate understood the time leading up to the bill, as well as the years after, as crucial moments in which either side could secure support for their proposed legislation.

The key issue for Southerners was they wished to secure a legal means of allowing them to recapture their fugitive property and return safely home with their human chattel. Being that there were few federal judges, however, Southerners were made to rely on uncooperative Northern state officials who would not always aid them in the securing of their property. Another influence of the time was the growing Northern sentiment towards slaves and a complete resentment of slavery. Because each side had so much at stake, a 'compromise' was to be legislated between the respective Northern and Southern viewpoints.

Thus enters Henry Clay of Kentucky, the senator who vied for a bill that would provide perks for both sides of the Mason-Dixon. In order to please Northerners, the slave trade would be banished from Washington, D.C. while California would enter as a free state. The Southern voice would receive the possibility of allowing slavery in new territories and the fugitive slave law. While the bill would ultimately fail, the provisions were guided through Congress as separate laws and by September of 1850, the fugitive slave law was signed into governance.

With the introduction of these slave laws came the emigration of American slaves to Canada. The North was populated by a number of fugitive ex-slaves. Now that the fugitive slave law was prominent, many ex-slaves did not wish to run the risk of being returned to slavery. Such was the reaction of Henry Bibb who soon after the legislation's ratification would flee to Canada and create the Refugee Home Society. From Canada, Bibb could provide a refuge where emigrating Africans would be able to survive. It was through these means of escaping the man-hunting laws that Bibb's prominence as a leader would come to pass.

Former slaves were pouring into Canadian borders by the height of the madness created by the 1850 Compromise. In a letter dated from April of 1851, Bibb writes they were receiving new refugees "every week more or less," and that for the period of about 8 weeks, his home had been "filled with strangers almost every day and night but we have never turned one from our door." This type of toil made up the biggest part of the days before his death. While others were being strangled by the new law, Bibb had found a way to avoid the legislation and establish himself to the cause of escape much as Harriet Tubman. In fact, his name was as synonymous with Canadian emigration as Tubman's was with the Underground Railroad.

By cause of the political upheaval of the time surrounding Bibb's narrative, Bibb's message of freedom and equality would resonate throughout the American abolitionist debate. Audiences would have interpreted Bibb as faithful to the cause for freedom and as yet another standout produced by the African American literary community. Through his enumerated contributions to the anti-slavery movement, emanating from both his narrative and his life of helping others, Bibb helped progress the ultimate death of the Slaveholder's movement brought on by the politics of his epoch.

Information derived from:

Bibb, Henry. "Letters written by Henry Bibb, 1850-1851." Documenting the American South. Peter Ripley et al., eds. Chapel Hill NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1986. Accessed 28 Nov. 2009. http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/bibb/support1.html.

Finkelman, Paul. "Fugitive Slave Law of 1850." Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass. Ed. Paul Finkelman. Oxford African American Studies Center. Mon Nov 30 00:32:39 2009. http://www.oxfordaasc.com/article/opr/t0004/e0237.

Russel, Robert R. "What was the Compromise of 1850?" The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Aug., 1956), pp. 292-309. Southern Historical Association.

Entry 5- The Slave Narrative

The slave narrative genre steadily evolved from being perceived as merely abolitionist and religious pamphlets to serious literary works as their publications increased throughout the 19th century. What the slave narrative signifies is the preserving of the American slave experience as well as the abolitionist movement within the nation. The narratives also follow a certain structure by frequently including religion, textual mediation, and the travel narrative as trademarks of the genre. Yet another common trait of the slave narrative is that it is most commonly autobiographical. By employing real-life stories, the ex-slaves could provide strong evidence in supporting abolition.Because of the rich historical value they contain, slave narratives are the subject of study even today.

Henry Bibb's narrative is truly an embodiment of the best that the slave narrative has to offer. Following the footsteps of previous authors, Bibb incorporates religion, the travel narrative, autobiography, and textual mediation into his narrative. By using these specific elements in his work, Bibb took part in a tradition of writing for the freedom of the bonded and the promotion of the abolition of slavery.

Throughout Bibb's narrative, the presence of Christianity is never far from the reader. Pronounced as being a pious man himself, Bibb includes instances of personal religious experiences as well as the manner in which religion helped to motivate him.At one point in the narrative, Bibb's Christian character is brought up as being the reason he won't escape his master anymore if purchased by another slaveholder. In writing of his master, Bibb states, "He tried to speculate on my Christian character. He tried to make it appear that I was so pious and honest that I would not run away for ill treatment; which was a gross mistake, for I never had religion enough to keep me from running away from slavery in my life" (497). Bibb resorts to Christianity as a form of liberation and frequently alludes to the Divine as the source of his occasional good fortune.

The textual mediation provides for a small but necessary aspect of the slave narrative. Bibb's textual mediation is derived from abolitionist Lucius C. Matlack. While mostly obscure outside of Bibb's introduction, Matlack provides for the 'permission' needed for Bibb to communicate with the white audience. In vouching fr Bibb, Matlack writes, "Very few men present in their written composition, so perfect a transcript of their style as is exhibited by Mr. Bibb" (427). With these words, it was understood that Bibb's narrative was safe enough for whites to read.

The travel narrative is a heavy influence while reading Bibb's work. Bibb is frequently escaping and traveling throughout his narrative. In fact, Bibb is so good at escaping his frequent pursuers that he writes, "Among other good trades I learned the art of running away to perfection" (442). Bibb escapes the South frequently and no matter how many times he is recaptured throughout his narrative, his story always returns to scenes of traveling. Among his many stories, one of his most exciting would be when he and his wife and child attempt to escape their master but are surrounded by wolves they narrowly escape. They are finally confronted by their seekers after a terrible maze through the cane breaks and that story ends only to be followed by another similar account of another exciting escape.

The most personable aspect of the slave narrative as is expressed through Bibb's work is the autobiographical significance of having his voice guiding his own story. Bibb is able to present his life to the reader in such a fashion that anyone reading his story will be in his corner by the end of the narrative. It is this outreach to the common humanity we share as a human race that makes these narratives, and especially Henry Bibb's narrative, so effective at conveying their thoughts and opinions. It is by means of the reader's granted ability to re-live with the author his/her personal experiences and gain a sense of familiarity and warmth toward that person.

Through these examples and many more, Henry Bibb's narrative is as successful as the narratives of his contemporaries when it comes to expressing his message and molding public opinion. Bibb fully controls the slave narrative genre and successfully manages to publish an outlook on history that will last and last.

Picture courtesy of http://library.plymouth.edu/read/322518

Entry 4

Andrews, William L. "An Introduction to the Slave Narrative." North American Slave Narratives. 2004. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 19 November 2009. http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/intro.html

This article, written by William L. Andrews, highlights the importance of the slave narrative for its historical and literary contexts. The author uses historical evidence to legitimize his argument pertaining to the significance of the slave narrative and its role in the continually evolving realm of literature. Mainly, the purpose of the author is to utilize these narratives in order to explore what freedom means for both whites and blacks and how it relates to the population in general.

Bearden, Romare. "Slavery--the Peculiar Institution." African American Odyssey. n.d. 19 November 2009. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart1.html

In connection with the Library of Congress, this web page focuses its main point on the institution of slavery and its related struggles. The author provides in-depth information regarding geography, history, rebellions, and avenues of escape in order to provide a basic, yet inclusive, illustration of slavery. The audience is unrestricted and the purpose is largely to inform the reader of the intrinsic characteristics of slavery, both well-known and obscure.

Miller, Steven F. "Freedmen and Southern Society Project." Freedmen and Southern Society Project. n.d. 19 November 2009. http://www.history.umd.edu/Freedmen/index.html

The website is focused chiefly on emancipation after the Civil War and Freedmen Society. Historic documents, a timeline, and access to publications are all provided to secure authenticity and preserve history. One of the main points enlisted by the website is the "first-person immediacy" that is provided by documents written anywhere between 1861 and 1867. With its various resources and chronological compilations, this website provides a means of learning and preserving history simultaneously.

Sage, Henry J. "Expansion and Manifest Destiny: America in the 1840s."2005. Henry J. Sage. 19 November 2009. http://www.sagehistory.net/antebellum/topics/1840s.html

The 1840s, a time period heavily involved with slavery and the publications of slave narratives, are the core of this website. The author summarizes main events of the epoch, including the Presidential election of 1848 and the Compromise of 1850. The slave narratives' purposes cannot be fully appreciated or understood without an understanding of the time period in which they were written. Familiarizing the reader with the climate of the 1840s is the author's purpose for publishing the web page. Links to other time periods are available as well.

"The Underground Railroad." Africans in America. n.d. 19 November 2009. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html

The Underground Railroad was for many, including Bibb, a great ally in escaping the bondage of Southern slavery. This source provides information on the Underground Railroad as well as race-based legislation and other ex-slaves and their narratives. The site explores various subjects with varying depth, all to the point of spotlighting the condition of America during legislated bondage. Along with pictures and other illustrations, this source proves useful in learning more about American slavery and its direct victims.

Third Entry

Three scholarly articles involving the life and achievements of Henry Bibb:

Gara, Larry. "The Professional Fugitive in the Abolitionist Movement." The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Vol. 48, No. 3 (Spring 1965): pp.196-204. Published by Wisconsin Historical Society. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4634052

In his article covering the abolitionist movement, Larry Gara accentuates the importance of the fugitive slave within the abolitionist movement of the mid-nineteenth century. Gara expounds on his subject by recounting the contributions of a handful of fugitive slaves, including Henry Bibb and Frederick Douglass. The author goes on to assert that the personas of the "professional fugitives" were vital resources in arousing sympathy and building a case against slavery. The article targets everyone from the occasional reader to the devout historian. Clearly, the author does not want the contributions of the featured abolitionists to slip into insignificance.

Hite, Roger W. "Voice of a Fugitive: Henry Bibb and Ante-Bellum Black Separatism." Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 4, No. 3 (March 1974): pp.269-284. Published by Sage Publications Inc. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2783657

Roger Hite's article is dedicated to exploring Henry Bibb's role in promoting Canadian separatism among African Americans. Hite addresses the main points of his topic by highlighting the roots, rhetoric, and implementation of Canadian emigration. His audience is universal in range and his purpose with them is to enlighten the facts and events that surrounded Bibb's ultimate failure in promoting the Canadian alternative.

Landon, Fred. "Henry Bibb, a Colonizer." The Journal of Negro History, Vol.5, No. 4 (Oct. 1920): pp.437-447. Published by Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, Inc. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2713678

First seen in October of 1920, the magazine article by Fred Landon strives to highlight the story of Henry Bibb and his efforts toward establishing a permanent Canadian colony for African Americans. The author accurately re-tells Bibb's life story by implementing the use of Bibb's own words and ending with an account of the fate of African American emigration to Canada. Landon's target audience would have been African Americans and his purpose would have been to publicize Bibb's "service on behalf of the race in Canada."

Second Entry

Various images included in original text:

Henry Bibb's title page:

Henry Bibb's frontispiece:

Henry Bibb's narrative is preceded by an introduction from Methodist abolitionist Lucius C. Matlack. The introduction is followed by 10 pages of letters from various senders who affirm the authenticity of the contents in Henry Bibb's narrative. Matlack's input provides for the expected textual mediation while the included letters from both supporters and adversaries allow the reader to be fully involved in the situations Bibb recounts.

In 1849, Bibb published his work, Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave, in New York. Once it was made public, the narrative quickly gained popularity and was in its third edition the following year. As Bibb's fame spread, he decided to try public speaking and by 1851 he began publishing a newspaper called Voice of the Fugitive. On top of all this, Bibb concentrated his efforts on the creation of an African American colony in Canada. Bibb would ultimately die before seeing his task accomplished.

Sources Used: Scott Giusto, Heidi L.. "Bibb, Henry W.." Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass. Ed. Paul Finkelman. Oxford African American Studies Center. Tue. Nov. 17 4:55 2009. http://www.oxfordaasc.com/article/opr/t004/e0054.

Images scanned by Fiona Mills and Katherine Anderson. Property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It maybe used fully by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text. http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/bibb/bibb.html.

Narrative of the Life of Henry Bibb

The narrative of the life of Henry Bibb begins with his birth in Kentucky in May of 1815. Bibb develops a knack for running away while in his youth and would remain notorious in the art of escape throughout his life. Bibb decides early on in life that he "must forsake friends and neighbors, wife and child, or consent to live and die a slave." At the age of twenty, Bibb begins a life of continual escape and pursuit when he flees to the North in 1835.

Instead of remaining outside the panorama of slavery, Bibb decides to return to Kentucky in an attempt to rescue his wife and daughter. During the process, Bibb is captured temporarily just before making another escape and return Northward. He does not remain there for very long and returns once again to attempt to gain his family. While in hiding at his mother's house, Bibb is given up by a young slave girl. This action causes his owner to at once take Bibb, his wife, and daughter to New Orleans to be sold. In New Orleans, after many months of waiting, Bibb and his family are sold to a Deacon who "was far more like what the people call devil, than he was like a deacon."

While at his new home, Bibb would run away two more times with each outcome ending in his recapture. Due to his flighty nature, Bibb is sold to a group of gamblers in 1840. The gamblers take a liking to Bibb and attempt to purchase his family, but the Deacon refuses any offer to sell Bibb's wife. That would be the last time Bibb sees his wife and child.

The gamblers soon choose to sell Bibb to an Indian. During his stay with the Indians, Bibb concludes, "All things considered, if I must be a slave, I had by far, rather be a slave to an Indian than a slave to a white man, from the experience I have had from both." This Indian master would soon die, allowing Bibb the opportunity to once again steal away to the North. The outcome of his journey is a success and he decides to attempt a career at public speaking.

One final trip to Kentucky is afforded in order to learn the whereabouts of his family. Bibb discovers that his wife, "was living in a state of adultery with her master," and he considers their relations dissolved from then on. In the final events of the narrative, Bibb remarries and resolves to spend his days traveling to advance the anti-slavery cause.

Bibb's narrative provides priceless commentary on the religion, customs, and condition of America during the early to mid-1800s. The tone of Bibb's narrative is pocked with desperation and occasional angst. The style of the narrative is reminiscent of the works of Frederick Douglass as well as other slave authors. Bibb makes use of common stylistic traits, such as directly addressing the reader and the implementation of the travel narrative. While reading the narrative of Henry Bibb, the reader is presented with an effective argument against slavery through the use of religion and the depictions of the effects it placed on him and his contemporaries. Henry Bibb embodies a man who fights for liberty and promotes equality between two diverging races.