Incidents in the Life of Slave Girl

It is extremely important for us as the readers of this work that we are aware that it is not fiction, but a true story. If this story were fiction, or even only partly exaggerated, it would be easy to write off the horrors in the book as things that did not really occur. Even though slavery was obviously an evil, degrading institution, we wouldn't have to think about such specific atrocities were the book fictionalized at all. Instead we are forced to imagine these things quite vividly as they are presented to us in an explicit manner. This book allows us to put a face on an institution that it is easy to think about in general terms most of the time. It is easy to simply talk about slavery without thinking of the real consequences it had for individuals who were involved. It is important that the language in this version is not cleaned up because it gives us a sense of the vulgar language and actions people had to endure on a daily basis during these times. Children were forcibly subjected to many lewd and profane things by their masters, things that were extremely degrading and dehumanizing. These sorts of things - I would contend even more than the whippings in many cases -were what caused many slaves to see themselves as truly inferior to white people. If someone is constantly hearing such degrading language, they come to see themselves in an extremely negative light. This was all part of a larger project to keep the slaves subservient to their masters. It is easier to keep someone in bondage if they do not believe they are worth anything, or that they even deserve freedom. So in this respect, it is important for us that the language is not cleaned up because it helps us understand the mental hardships the slaves had to endure, for in many ways these were every bit as damaging as the physical injustices that were forced upon them.