Black History Month: Time to learn about the ground we stand upon.

 Before we begin our next piece, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, I wanted to share something else with you. The Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B. Dubois

 As you listen to this introduction I want you to take some time and respond to the following questions: What do you enjoy about Black History Month? What does being Black mean to you? Turn these in after you have completed them.

Who was Harriet Jacobs?

 Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813 near Edenton, North Carolina.  Jacobs died in Washington, D.C., in  At the age of 6 her mother passed away. She was then taken in by her father’s mistress who taught her to read, write and sew.  When Ms. Horniblow died Harriet was then willed to her niece at age 12. That is where her life began to change.

 Her new adopted mistress’ father, Dr. James Norcom (“Dr. Flint” in Incidents), subjected Jacobs to aggressive and unrelenting sexual harassment.  At age sixteen, Jacobs began a relationship with a white neighbor, Samuel Tredwell Sawyer (“Mr. Sands” in Incidents).  She had two children while still in her teens  In 1835, Jacobs was sent away to a life of hard labor on a plantation where her children could possibly become field hands.

 To escape slavery Jacobs hid in her grandmother’s attic for 7 years where she was unable to sit or stand. She permanently suffered from this.  In 1861, the year the Civil War began, Jacobs publishedIncidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself, under the pseudonym Linda Brent.

1. Plague 2. Harboring 3. Mulatto 4. Benefactress 5. Malice 6. Proposition 7. Fervently 8. Provocation 9. Constable 10. Parlor 11. Tidings 1. Peril 2. Tyrant 3. Oppressed 4. Conceal 5. Distressed 6. Fatiguing 7. Prattle 8. Legible 9. Subscriber 10. Sympathetic

 For this assignment, I would like you to take the role of a newspaper reporter.  It is your job to interview an older family member who has been a part of some event in history. (For example: The Civil Rights Movement, Death of JFK)  Ask them any questions that you like as long as you walk away with an understanding of what it was like to be there.

 What you turn into me should include a typed copy of your interview, a cover page and your response to the following question: After interviewing your family member what do you believe the saying, “You never know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been” means?  This response should be at least 25 sentences. (7 words per sentence min.)