On "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" (chapter 1) :
Quote the law about children of slave women. What is the result of the law? How does it contradict the argument that God cursed Ham, therefore, slavery is justified?
I know the story of Noah and Ham, but I'm not entirely sure where the law is in the story. I believe it's this:
"Frequently, before the child has reached its twelfth month, its mother is taken from it, and hired out on some farm a considerable distance off, and the child is placed under the care of an old woman, too old for field labor."
...I'm not really sure though. Help please? Thanks!
Didn't children of slave women automatically also become slaves -- even if their father was free?
Yeah. According to the story, Douglass was sent to another plantation.
That was the law -- that children of slave women were also slaves.
In "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," the law being referred to is not explicitly mentioned within the story. However, by examining the context and the experiences described by Frederick Douglass, we can understand the law's impact.
The quote you provided highlights the practice of separating slave mothers from their children at a very young age, often before their first birthday. This separation occurred when the mothers were hired out to work on distant farms, while the children were left under the care of older women who were no longer fit for physically demanding labor.
The result of this law is the profound trauma inflicted upon both mothers and children. Mothers were forcibly separated from their infants, leaving them in distress and emotional turmoil. Children, on the other hand, were deprived of the nurturing and care that only a mother can provide, leading to a disrupted sense of attachment and a lack of familial bonds.
Now, in relation to the argument that God cursed Ham and therefore justified slavery, it is important to note that this argument was often used to support the institution of slavery. According to this belief, those of African descent were descendants of Ham, who was cursed by God in the biblical story of Noah. Supporters of slavery used this interpretation to justify the enslavement of African people, claiming it was a divine punishment.
However, the separation of slave mothers from their children, as depicted in Douglass's narrative, stands in direct contradiction to this argument. The law and the practices it enforced demonstrate the deep cruelty and inhumanity of slavery. By forcibly tearing apart families, the institution of slavery perpetuated immense suffering and contradicted any notion of a just or divinely ordained system.
In summary, while the law about children of slave women is not explicitly stated in "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," Douglass's experiences and descriptions shed light on the devastating effects of separating enslaved mothers from their children. This practice runs counter to the argument that slavery is justified based on the biblical curse of Ham, as it demonstrates the inherent cruelty and unjust nature of the institution.