1. Kindred Genres
Slave Narrative

2. Genres in Kindred Science Fiction? Fantasy? (“Grim Fantasy” – Butler)
Historical Fiction?
Neo-Slave Narrative?
“new” slave narrative
Account of ante-bellum slavery in 1st person, but written in contemporary times – author relies on research, firsthand slave narratives, imagination, historical documents, etc. to CREATE a narrative
This is considered fiction (a novel) rather than “non- fiction” or “memoir” (actual slave narratives)

3. Slave Narratives Written by slaves who had escaped to the North
Significant part of the abolitionist movement
Drew on Biblical Allusion, graphic imagery, traditions of the captivity narrative, spiritual autobiography
Written for mostly white audiences
Expose the evils of slavery and galvanize support for abolition movement (in the 1820s-1850s)
Approx 65 slave narratives published before 1865
From , more than 200 published

4. Slave Narratives – general pattern
Abruptly brought from state of protected innocence to confrontation with the evil of slavery and captivity
Dehumanized at hands of slavery
Tries to resist, but fails
Balances yearning for freedom against perils of escape (yearning for freedom generally grows with self-reliance due to education, slave-led religion, or exposure to escape networks)
Sees his/her condition as a symbol of the suffering condition of all lowly and oppressed
Grows in moral and spiritual strength as result of suffering
Major trigger or terror – gains new resolve to resist/escape despite former setbacks
Fight or escape and journey to redemption (NORTH)
Generally must establish credibility as the real author of the narrative (audiences may not believe them)

5. Kindred as neo-slave narrative
Narrator (Dana) is a 20th century woman travelling back to slavery – complicates the traditional slave narrative AND the neo-slave narrative tradition.