Chapter 12

While reading chapter about the Old South and the life of the slaves during the 1800's, I felt that it was interesting how the slaves did not have that much rebellious events. Or if they did other slaves would actually ruin their plans and have them executed. In the case of Denmark Vasey and his abolitionist group, other slaves actually told the authorities that they were going to seize ammunition and rebel against their master. I found that it was interesting how the blacks saw freedom only as a dream and not actively make it into reality. Although there was the abolitionists who helped blacks escape, these hideouts were actually the first place their masters would find their slaves. Also, because the free states in the North was much more urban and had foreign immigrants competing with the blacks for work, it was actually better for the free blacks to become skilled artisans in the South. I feel like the life of a slave with a family is definitely holding them back from claiming their independence. Black people would much rather work and be with their children than risking for freedom, which seems so hopeless and uncertain. Actually their life in general is very hopeless, even if they had a family, many times, their youngest child would die due to malnutrition, diseases, hygiene problems, other times slave families would be sold off to different slave owners since law does not protect black slave families.