Autobiographical narratives of slavery

Abstract This chapter examines autobiographical narratives of slavery as literary, historical, and political texts that demonstrate how formerly enslaved Black people used literacy to pursue freedom and to emphasize firsthand experiences with the daily horrors that slavery presented. It analyzes how these narratives blend genres, use authenticating devices, and rebut racist disbelief in Black authorship while advancing abolitionist causes. Key examples include Solomon Northup’s Twelve Years a Slave, Frederick Douglass’s Narrative, and Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents. These works highlight themes of literacy, Christianity, gender, and bodily autonomy while addressing abolitionists’ support, antagonists’ challenges, and editorial mediation. Finally, the chapter underscores their rhetorical ingenuity, literary legacy, and enduring significance for Black freedom struggles.