Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Race Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Chapter.Paragraph

Quote #7

O, the hypocrisy of slaveholders! Did the old fox [Dr Flint] suppose I was goose enough to go into such a stupid trap? Verily, he relied too much on "the stupidity of the African race." (34.3)

Ideas about racial superiority backfire when they make you underestimate your slaves. Over and over, Linda proves herself to be smarter than Dr. Flint.

Quote #8

[B]ut everywhere I found the same manifestations of that cruel prejudice, which so discourages the feelings, and represses the energies of the colored people. (35.5)

Northern prejudice oppresses the spirits and energies of black people—just like slavery oppresses their bodies.

Quote #9

[T]he colored servants ought to be dissatisfied with themselves, for not having too much self-respect to submit to such treatment; that there was no difference in the price of board for colored and white servants, and there was no justification for difference of treatment. (35.7)

It was true in 1850, and it's true now: you have to stand up for your rights.