Powerful First-hand Accounts and Narratives of Enslaved People

I have not written my experiences in order to attract attention to myself; on the contrary, it would have been more pleasant to me to have been silent about my own history. Neither do I care to excite sympathy for my own sufferings. But I do earnestly desire to arouse the women of the North to a realizing sense of the condition of two millions of women at the South, still in bondage, suffering what I suffered, and most of them far worse. I want to add my testimony to that of abler pens to convince the people of the Free States what Slavery really is. Only by experience can any one realize how deep, and dark, and foul is that pit of abominations. May the blessing of God rest on this imperfect effort in behalf of my persecuted people!

Harriet A. Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself

It is still important for us today to read these first-hand accounts of slavery. These testimonies of the realities of slavery break our hearts, make us sick to our stomachs, and urge us to hold fast to the values set forth in the U.S. Constitution: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

We have endeavored to put together a list of some of the most powerful and poignant narratives that have been published. These stories are weighty and heart-breaking, therefore, we recommend them for older teenagers under the mentorship of a wise teacher or parent.

Booker T. Washington

Up From Slavery

"Up from Slavery is the 1901 autobiography of American educator Booker T. Washington. The book describes his personal experience of having to work to rise up from the position of a slave child during the Civil War, to the difficulties and obstacles he overcame to get an education."

Esperanca Garcia

Frederick Douglass

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an 1845 memoir and treatise on abolition written by famous orator and former slave Frederick Douglass during his time in Lynn, Massachusetts. It is generally held to be the most famous of a number of narratives written by former slaves during the same period. In factual detail, the text describes the events of his life and is considered to be one of the most influential pieces of literature to fuel the abolitionist movement of the early 19th century in the United States. It encompasses eleven chapters that recount Douglass's life as a slave and his ambition to become a free man."

Harriet Jacobs

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is an autobiography by Harriet Jacobs, a mother and fugitive slave, published in 1861 by L. Maria Child, who edited the book for its author... The book documents Jacobs’s life as a slave and how she gained freedom for herself and for her children. "

Harriet Tubman

Harriet: The Moses of Her People

This biography of Harriet Tubman was written by a woman who was Harriet's friend and who clearly admired, loved and respected her. It provides an intimate "first person" look into the mind, heart and mission of Harriet. At times, the reader can sense that the author is quoting Harriet directly which allows for a much more intimate portrayal and understanding of her.

Henry "Box" Brown

Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown

"This is his memoir, originally published in 1851 in England, as fresh and compelling today as it was 150 years ago. This extraordinary narrative paints an indelible portrait of life in slavery. With a keen sense of irony, Brown examines the "peculiar institution"—from the hypocrisy of slave-owning Christian preachers, to the system of bribery that forced slaves to purchase the rights to their own belongings, to the practice of separating slave families with no warning. The story also describes one of the most audacious, creative escapes ever completed."

John P. Parker

His Promised Land: The Autobiography of John P. Parker, Former Slave and Conductor on the Underground Railroad

"This narrative, never before published, was told to a newspaperman after the civil war. It follows John P. Parker (1827-1900), a determined young slave who at the age of eight was forced from his family in Virginia and made to walk to Alabama."

Olaudah Equiano

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African

" A compelling account that has gripped and fascinated readers since its original London publication in 1789, the narrative describes Equiano's formidable journey from captivity to freedom and literacy."

The Kidnapped Prince: The Life of Olaudah Equiano

The autobiography of Olaudah Equiano adapted by Ann Cameron and written at a lower intermediate reading level.

The Slave Who Bought His Freedom

The autobiography of Olaudah Equiano adapted by Karen Kennerly and written at a lower intermediate reading level.

Phillis Wheatley

Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley, a Native African and a Slave

"Born in Africa in 1753, Phillis Wheatley was kidnapped at the age of seven and sold into slavery. At nineteen, she became the first Black American poet to publish a book, Poems on Various Subjects: Religious and Moral, on which this volume is based."

Solomon Northup

Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup

"Twelve Years a Slave is an 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup. Northup, a black man born free in New York state, details being tricked to go to Washington, D.C., where he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South. Held in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana, he secretly got information to friends and family in New York, who secured his release."

In Chains to Louisiana: Solomon Northup's Story

The autobiography of Solomon Northup adapted by Michael Knight and written at a lower intermediate reading level.

William W. Brown

Narrative of William W. Brown, A Fugitive Slave

"The Narrative of William W. Brown ranks alongside Frederick Douglass' memoirs as an influential force in the abolition movement and a lasting testimonial to the injustice of slavery. The simple, straightforward style of Brown's Narrative offers a sincere and moving account of life in bondage, recounted 13 years after the author's escape."

Compilations

Slave Narratives of the Underground Railroad

"During the 1850s and 1860s more than 100,000 people escaped slavery in the American South by following the Underground Railroad, a complex network of secret routes and safe houses. This inexpensive compilation of firsthand accounts offers authentic insights into the Civil War era and African-American history with compelling narratives by Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and lesser-known refugees."

To Be a Slave

"The major portion of the text has been constructed from the memories of ex-slaves—written down both before and after the Civil War. These are set as quotations within Julius Lester's clear and forceful commentary on the history of black Americans from the time of their abduction from Africa, through their experiences on board ship, the auction block, their labour on the plantations their futile attempts at resistance. The book culminates with the Civil War and Emancipation—but the victorious North failed to ensure equality between black and white, and the Ku Klux Klan and segregation inevitably followed. The emotions of the people who lived through these events are timeless."