Sunday, March 9, 2008
Response Question: A lack of justice (41-69)
In Chapter 4, Douglass writes about several situations where masters killed their slaves but never faced criminal prosecution. Describe one of these situations. Why wouldn't arresting or trying these cruel masters have made a difference? What can we infer about a society that wouldn't hold white citizens accountable for what they did to their black slaves?
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Mr. Giles Hicks wife brutally whipped Frederick Douglass' wife's cousin with an oak stick, to her stage in life where she said her final goodbye. Attemping to arrest her would not had sparked justice because the people could have made a diiference were slaveowners and one slaveowner (Mr.Gore) said "a dozen slaves should suffer under the lash, than overseers be convicted. We can infer that the people who did these groutes things to slaves were the guys who made the law.
I think that the white men didn't get arrested or tried for murder because the court knew that the slaves weren't equal to the white man. Also, most of the places where slaves were held were smaller counties and everybody mostly knew each other and would probably get off anyway. We can infer that the society did not think slaves were actual humans because if they can be killed by another human and not be arrested, then the slaves just workers and not seen as a human.
The reason why white men weren't arrested or they haven't faced prosecution when they killed a slave, because everyone that was around usually knew each other and back then slaves weren't seen as not important. An example was wen one day, Mr. Gore had whipped a slave name demby, and demby ran to a nearby creek and he refused to come out so Mr. Gore had shot him and killed him.We can infer that usually the sheriff or judge made up the rules for the town and since slaves weren't seen as important it didn't seem as bad when white people had killed them.
Sadly Fredericks' mistress' cousin was beaten with a oak stick, such brutality. Now she didn't get arrested for nearly killing or even for cruel and unbearable punishment. The only reason why she didn't get arrested was because that was apart of thier society. And if you did arrest her she'd probably get right out of court any way. We can infer that thier society was based on slavery, including income and maintainance.
Think about the song, "Amazing Grace." What long-term effect did slavery have on slave traders and owners?
i think there lack of justice was bad. seeing as the people that ran the country didn't care about the slave they didn't care if they killed or beaten the slaves.
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