1 10 7 https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/27/2566/AAS-EN_williams_young.pdf 98d984e6826600b55285ef3f088b5a6d PDF Text Text AAS/EN 4343 Studies in African American Literature The Life of William Wells Brown Jaterrica Williams and M’Nyjah Young Achievement During Brown’s lifetime he Intro William Wells Brown was one of the most profound writers of his time. Brown was said to have been born in 1814 and passed November 6, 1884. He was an abolitionist and novelist as well as a playwright. Brown was the first African-American to publish a novel. He and his works have had a profound effect on literature. Brown’s writings depicted the ugliness and brutal irony of slavery in a country founded on “freedom.” Throughout his life Brown had a yearning for knowledge and understanding. Earlier Years William Wells Brown was born on a plantation on the outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky. Brown was the son of an enslaved woman by the name of Elizabeth and his father is said to have been a relative of his enslaver. During Brown’s twenty years in slavery, he served many masters doing various trades. At one point, Brown tried running away with his mother, but to no avail. One day in January of 1834, getting another opportunity, Brown ran away from the steamboat of his owner. On his journey to freedom Brown was helped by a Quaker family by the names of Mr. and Mrs. Wells Brown. That is where his name came from. On his departure Brown was given money to help him continue his journey. Later Years After Brown's refuge with the Ohio Quakers, he used his first shilling from work to buy a spelling book which he used to teach himself how to read and write. The following 9 years, Brown worked on a Lake Erie steamboat while also a conductor for the Underground Railroad In Buffalo, NY. He married a free a woman named Elizabeth Spooner. The two had three daughters, one of whom died at birth. In 1836, Brown moved to Buffalo, where he continued his career as an abolitionist as a lecturer for the Western New York AntiSlavery Society. He then went on to become a speaker on behalf of the Women's Rights and Temperance movements. From 1849-1854, Brown lived in Europe where he gave multiple speeches and wrote Clotel. His wife passed during his stay in Europe. Brown soon remarried Annie Elizabeth Grey in 1860 and continued his literary and political career in Boston. had many profound achievements. He was internationally known as a renowned antislavery activist. He devoted his life to reform. Brown broke ground in many areas of literature for African Americans, writing the first African American novel, having the first play printed by an African American, and writing the first African American travelogue. Brown is even celebrated today having an Elementary school named after him. Works Three Years In Europe (1852) -Expanded to The American Fugitive In Europe (1855) Clotel (1853) {novel} The Escape or, A Leap for Freedom (1858) {play} The Black Man (1863) The Negro in the American Rebellion (1867) The Rising Son (1873) My Southern Home (1880) Works Cited Engledew, Devin. “William Wells Brown (Ca. 1814-1884).” Blackpast.org, 8 Mar. 2007, www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/brown-william-wells-1814-1884/. “William Wells Brown | American Writer | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020, www..com/biography/William-Wells-Brown. “William Wbritannicaells Brown – NB Historical Society.” Nbhistoricalsociety.org, nbhistoricalsociety.org/portfolio-item/william-wellsbrown/#:~:text=Brown%20personified%20the%20American%20Dream. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024. “William Wells Brown, 1814?-1884.” Docsouth.unc.edu, docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/brownw/bio.html#:~:text=William%20Wells%20Brown%20(ca . “William Wells Brown Historical Marker.” Www.hmdb.org, www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=81219. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clotel Posters Description An account of the resource Student posters from Ted Atkinson's EN 4343 class in spring 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeeDee Baldwin Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Life of William Wells Brown Description An account of the resource Poster created by students in Ted Atkinson's spring 2024 course, AAS/EN 4343, "Studies in African American Literature." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Williams, Jaterrica Young, M’Nyjah Clotel https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/27/2565/AAS-EN_sifford_sims.pdf f7da604a0fcb589f3327a16e3aa0a15b PDF Text Text AAS/EN 4343 Studies in African American Literature Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson: Relations between Master and Slave By: Audrie Sifford and Taylor Sims Who are Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson? Appearance in Clotel; Public Views Thomas Jefferson is one of the most renowned Founding Fathers of The United States. His legacy includes writing the Declaration of Independence and eventually becoming President. However, while Jefferson was writing and speaking about freedom, he was also, paradoxically, an enslaver. One of the enslaved was Sally Hemings. Sally Hemings was the daughter of John Wayles and Elizabeth Hemings. Elizabeth was enslaved by John Wayles. John Wayles was also the father of Martha Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson’s legal wife. This makes Sally Hemings and Martha Jefferson half-sisters (Monticello). Jefferson inherited Sally Hemings through his father-in-law after his death. In 1784, Jefferson was called to Paris as diplomat to France. His two youngest daughters joined him. One of them, named Mary, was accompanied by Sally Hemings. At the time Hemings was 14 years old and Jefferson was 41. Jefferson’s wife had died two years earlier. It was at Monticello that their relationship commenced. Some sources state that their relationship lasted decades and that Jefferson held a special affection for her. However, most scholars agree it is difficult to conclude what the actual nature of their relationship was because Hemings left no records. William Wells Brown, the first published African American author and writer of Clotel, was a contemporary of Thomas Jefferson. As a member of the public and a former enslaved person, he brought a unique view to the discourse surrounding Hemings and Jefferson. In the novel Clotel, he highlights the inhumanities of slavery, and Clotel, the fictionalized daughter of Hemings and Jefferson, is an excellent vehicle for this. Brown says: "Thus closed a negro sale, at which two daughters of Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration of American Independence, and one of the presidents of the great republic, were disposed of to the highest bidder (Brown 49). Brown highlights the disparity between ideals and reality. Throughout Clotel, he uses the titular character's ancestry to show that the institution of slavery corrupted everything, even things Americans at the time supposedly viewed as important, like their political leaders and their founding political documents, which promised life and liberty for all. Source: The Reagan Library Education Blog Source: Monticello.org Rumors Surrounding Their Relationship For much of history, the relationship between Jefferson and Hemings has faced scrutiny. Jan Ellen Lewis and Peter Onuf illustrate that many biographers and historians have dismissed the relationship as much as possible: "Among historians... most of those who have written about Jefferson and Hemings have cast doubt upon the likelihood of a sexual relationship" (2). During Jefferson's own time, the relationship, now confirmed by DNA evidence, was often used as a political attack. However, even through modern historians attempts to cover it up, at the time of their relationship, Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson were often discussed. As Annette Gordon-Reed states, ”…rumors among the Virginia gentry that Jefferson and Hemings were lovers. The rumors exploded onto the national scene during the early part of Jefferson’s first term as president” (Gordon-Reed 7). According to Gordon-Reed and other sources, James Callender was one of the figures who largely opposed their relationship. He was a journalist and consistently attacked both Hemings and Jefferson in his writing. The relationship between the two was a useful tool for Jefferson’s rivals during the months leading up to his presidency. While we do not know the actual nuances of their relationship, we do understand that there was definitely a power imbalance between the two. Hemings was not only much younger, but she was also enslaved by Jefferson. Hemings had 6 children with Jefferson. Some were freed by Jefferson himself. Others were freed by his will. Hemings herself was never legally freed by Jefferson. She was freed by Jefferson’s daughter, Martha, after Jefferson’s death. Source: Documenting the American South Works Cited: “Sally Hemings: Life of Sally Hemings.” Sally Hemings | Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, www.monticello.org/sallyhemings/. “‘White House Kids’ Series – the Jefferson-Hemings Four.” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, reagan.blogs.archives.gov/2023/04/03/white-house-kidsseries-the-jefferson-hemings-four/. Lewis, Jan, and Peter S. Onuf. Sally Hemings & Thomas Jefferson: History, Memory, and Civic Culture. University Press of Virginia, 2001. Gordon-Reed, Annette. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy. University Press of Virginia, 1997. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clotel Posters Description An account of the resource Student posters from Ted Atkinson's EN 4343 class in spring 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeeDee Baldwin Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson: Relations between Master and Slave Description An account of the resource Poster created by students in Ted Atkinson's spring 2024 course, AAS/EN 4343, "Studies in African American Literature." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sifford, Audrie Sims, Taylor Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024-02 Subject The topic of the resource Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884 Slave narratives American literature--African American authors Slavery--United States Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 Hemings, Sally Clotel https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/27/2564/AAS-EN_meyer_mullins.pdf 408b973a475858149d9cffd48e098db2 PDF Text Text Sentimental Fiction in Clotel AAS/EN 4343 Studies in African American Literature Autumn Meyer and Amber Mullins Examples of Sentimental Fiction Elements in Clotel What is Sentimental Fiction? Sentimental fiction, broadly defined, is a form of literature that evokes the emotions of its readers, drawing on aspects like the beauty of nature, didacticism, and often the depths of tragedy. Some of the most prevalent topics touched on in sentimental literature are societal restraints such as women’s rights, the abhorrence of slavery, and realities of economic injustices. One of the most remarkable examples of sentimental fiction is Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Written as a direct response to the Fugitive Slave Law, the novel not only elicited compassion but also reflection and action against the prejudices caused by the slave system. Through emotional narratives, this genre helps reveal the impact of human nature and societal effects on individual lives and circumstances. Sentimental fiction. continues to serve as an instigator for societal change, inspiring readers to change systemic thinking (Samuels). Dramatization of emotions to make a political or social critique: One scene in which Brown dramatizes emotions to make a statement against slavery appears when Clotel witnesses Horatio driving past her house with his new wife. In this scene, Clotel becomes physically faint, and Brown employs strong words and emotional phrases for readers to connect with his characters and pity the countless women subjected to slavery. “Angel of the House” trope: Brown employs the “Angel of the House'' trope to point out the hypocrisy of slavery supporters. For example, Clotel embodies the ideals of the traditional “Angel of the House;” however, her race prevents her from being a traditional mother/wife, as everything in her life is uncertain. When Horatio tells her of his new wife, she must act the part of the “Angele of the House” even as she is denied a stable home: “Her head grew dizzy, and her heart fainted within her; but with a strong effort at composure, she inquired all the particulars, and her pure mind at once took its resolution” (86). Moralistic female protagonist who must navigate an immoral world: Ellen’s death scene is a prime example of this element. Rather than be taken advantage of by her white master and face “degradation” (172), she takes her own life. Brown uses this scene to show that slavery kills all that is good How Does Clotel Fall into Sentimental Fiction? Brown’s Clotel includes many of the elements that categorize a work as sentimental fiction: dramatization of emotions, “Angel of the House” trope, emphasis on emotions to make a political or social critic, a moralistic female protagonist who must navigate an immoral world, tragedy, and didacticism. Work Cited Source: Wikipedia Source: Documenting the American South Source: Documenting the American South Tragedy: One of the main types of tragedy Brown uses to convey the horrors of slavery to his readers is that of female loss. The slave trade where Currer loses her daughters (47), Jane losing her lover (173), and Clotel losing her daughter (120) are just some of the examples of female loss in the story. Source: Wikipedia Brown, William Wells. Clotel, or, the President’s Daughter. Modern Library, 2000. Samuels, Shirley. “Sentimentalism and Domestic Fiction.” Oxford Bibliographies, www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo 9780199827251/obo9780199827251-0015.xml. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024. Didacticism: Didacticism refers to literature that is written to teach a lesson or give information to the reader in order to make them realize something. Though Jefferson is not physically present in the novel, he serves as a didactic symbol, expressing just how unjust the nation was towards racial prejudice and slavery. Brown remarks, “But, sad to say, Jefferson is not the only American statesman who has spoken high-sounding words in favor of freedom, and then left his own children to die slaves” (128). This passage confronts the reader with the uncomfortable notion that important historical identities like Jefferson were complicit in the ideals and realities of slavery. Moreover, the emotional response sourced from this fact embodies the core of sentimental fiction through didacticism. Another instance of didacticism in this narrative can be found at the conclusion of Brown’s narrative. William Brown underscores the church’s ownership of slaves by directly speaking to his readers, revealing that every kind of Christian denomination in the United States owns people who are enslaved. He illustrates this for the audience by including a staggering statistic of “660,563 slaves owned by members of the Christian church” (Brown 207). � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clotel Posters Description An account of the resource Student posters from Ted Atkinson's EN 4343 class in spring 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeeDee Baldwin Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sentimental Fiction in <em>Clotel</em> Description An account of the resource Poster created by students in Ted Atkinson's spring 2024 course, AAS/EN 4343, "Studies in African American Literature." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Meyer, Autumn Mullins, Amber Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024-02 Subject The topic of the resource Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884 Sentimental novels American literature--African American authors Slavery--United States Clotel https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/27/2563/AAS-EN_mclaurin_mcdowell.pdf 7d9c3c113ec1e6ecedce1f3403f41a45 PDF Text Text AAS/EN 4343 Studies in African American Literature The Slave Narrative of Brown’s Escape William Wells Brown: The Importance of the Slave Narrative William Wells Brown wrote his own autobiography, retelling his life through the slave narrative that displays the losses and triumphs he experienced. During his period as an enslaved person, Brown attempted to escape three separate times. His first attempt was as a child, fleeing the abuse he suffered, but unfortunately he was forced to return or be killed. The second time, Brown was older and had been working around St. Louis on his master's steamboat. Brown tried again to leave with his mother, traveling for nearly eleven days to obtain freedom. However, he was caught and forced to serve again. Both times, Brown was beaten and mistreated for seeking his freedom, regardless of his age at either time. This did not deter him, for on his third try, Brown finally obtained freedom with the help of others along his journey. However, throughout each escape and later life, Brown had to run from slave catchers continuously in order to obtain or keep his freedom. Brown risked his reenslavement to spend two years working on a steamboat, helping to bring other fugitives to Canada in safety he did not have. He later married Elizabeth Spooner, a free black woman, and had three daughters. William Wells Brown displays the horrible side of enslavement throughout his narratives, including through his autobiography. Thus, allowing the slave narrative to speak for itself through his story and others that followed. https://librivox.org/clotel-or-the-presidents-daughter-by-william-wells-brown/ Alala McDowell and Colleen McLaurin https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/william-wells-brown-wildcat-banker/ William Wells Brown William Wells Brown was an African American male born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1814. At the age of 20, he was able to escape slavery by fleeing from a steamboat on the Ohio River; from there, he traveled across the state of Ohio to Cleveland. Brown is well known for his many literary contributions, such as Clotel and his biography William Wells Brown: An African American Life. Brown is also well known as a political activist and anti-slavery abolitionist. To help the fight against slavery, Brown regularly attended meetings of the Western New York anti-slavery society, where he would give many speeches. Stemming from this, Brown would travel to other local abolitionist gatherings to speak. William Wells Brown impacted the 19th century and brought about change by indeed publishing his own narrative of his life and the trials and tribulations he endured, as well as writing and publishing books about black history. Clotel: A Fictional tragedy and Truth As a well-known figure within the slave narrative, focusing on the brief fictional story Brown writes about, Clotel helps to further the importance of the slave narrative. Although fictional, Clotel’s story is no less important, for through her story, an understanding of how corrupt and exploited this system was prevails. Clotel, one of the main characters of Brown’s story Clotel: Or, The President’s Daughter’, is born of a mixed relationship between an African American woman, Currer, and her master, Thomas Jefferson. Clotel, with a few drops of her mother’s blood, is unable to escape the abuse of the slavery system for many years, regardless of her father’s standing. She loses her mother and sister, her daughter is forcefully taken from her, and she is unable to stop it at all. Until she is offered the opportunity to escape through disguise, she escapes from Vicksburg, Mississippi, as far as Cincinnati. However, she returned to Richmond, Virginia, in search of her daughter, only to be arrested and sent away for the last time. Clotel, like Brown’s, escapes one last time but is chased and cornered on Long Bridge. Nevertheless, she jumps, preferring death to slavery. https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/brown/menu.html Bibliography Brown, Williams Well. Clotel, OR, The President’s Daughter.New York, The Modern Library, 2000 edition. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clotel Posters Description An account of the resource Student posters from Ted Atkinson's EN 4343 class in spring 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeeDee Baldwin Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource William Wells Brown: The Importance of the Slave Narrative Description An account of the resource Poster created by students in Ted Atkinson's spring 2024 course, AAS/EN 4343, "Studies in African American Literature." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource McDowell, Alala McLaurin, Colleen Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024-02 Subject The topic of the resource Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884 Slave narratives American literature--African American authors Slavery--United States Clotel https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/27/2562/AAS-EN_ibrahim_leflore.pdf 5c5d6ab92f1b5de42fb65e8318d4a159 PDF Text Text Analysis of Clotel In Clotel, Brown illustrates the hypocrisy of slavery by condemning Christian white slave owners. He allows the reader to see the idiocy behind calling yourself a “Christian” and then committing heinous acts against enslaved people. As he writes in Clotel, “the very man who but a few hours before, had arrested poor panting, fugitive slaves, now read a chapter from the Bible and offered a prayer to God”. Brown also allows us to see that Christian slave owners would use the Bible to justify their behavior. Religious instruction was calculated and only preached to enslaved people to further dehumanize and subjugate them. The mulatto racial category refers to the unique social, cultural, psychological experiences of individuals of mixed racial heritage, typically one white and one black parent, particularly in societies with a history of racial segregation and hierarchy. Clotel delves into the many complexities that come from being of mixed race, especially during that time period. The book is a potent critique of slavery and its degrading effects on people and families in addition to being a work of fiction. Apart from its thematic associations with abolitionism, Clotel held a noteworthy position in the literary and cultural context of that century. Clotel and ABOLITIONISM William Wells Brown: Activism and Life as Slave Brown was born into slavery in 1814? near Mount Sterling, Kentucky by his mom Elizabeth and a white planter who was the cousin of their owner. Brown lived most of his early life as a slave learning many trades but would later escape from his owner’s steamboat, which had been docked in Cincinnati, OH. He declared himself a free man on January 1, 1834. Brown settled down in Boston where he started to get into the abolitionist movement and advocate for the end of slavery. Brown was forced to move to London, England following the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. There he wrote the novel Clotel, the first novel written by an African American. A British couple paid for Brown’s freedom which allowed him to return to the US. He would then rejoin the abolitionist movement. He spent the greater half of his life advocating for the abolitionist movement. He gave many lectures around New York and Massachusetts for the movement, and later focused on anti-slavery advocacy. AAS/EN 4343 Studies in African American Literature Minna Ibrahim and Demir Leflore Abolitionist Writings and Comparisons Clotel and Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, are two novels that help readers see the injustice and cruelty behind slavery. An instance of these novels achieving this goal is done through the portrayal of two white women. In Clotel, there is a woman named Georgiana. She lives on the plantation and she is able to see the hypocrisy and evil in slavery. Uncle Tom’s Cabin features Eva who, like Georgiana, advocates for anti-slavery. The reasoning behind implementing these characters in the novels is to show how wrong slavery is through feminine ideals and morality. The North Star was a newspaper published by Frederick Douglass. It was a newspaper where Douglass spoke out against slavery. Clotel and The North Star were both written to serve the same purpose. , the key difference between the two is that The North Star is nonfiction whereas Clotel is a fictional story. Regardless, both pieces of writing were very influential to the abolitionist movement against slavery. Works Cited Aiken, George L, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. [Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life among the Lowly. A Domestic Drama, in Six Acts. Dramatized by G.L. Aiken [from the Novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe], Etc.]. London, 1883. Fabi, M. Giulia. “The “Unguarded Expressions of the Feelings of the Negroes”: Gender, Slave Resistance, and William Wells Brown’s Revisions of Clotel.” African American Review, vol. 27, no. 4, 1993, p. 639, https://doi.org/ 10.2307/3041902. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021. Pace, Lorenzo. Frederick Douglass and the North Star. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, 15 Jan. 2015. West, Elizabeth J. “The Enigmatic “Clear Black” in William Wells Brown’s “Clotel.”” CLA Journal, vol. 56, no. 2, 2012, pp. 170–183, www.jstor.org/stable/ pdf/44325821. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024. William Wells Brown. Clotel. New York, Random House International ; London, 2000. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clotel Posters Description An account of the resource Student posters from Ted Atkinson's EN 4343 class in spring 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeeDee Baldwin Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <em>Clotel</em> and Abolitionism Description An account of the resource Poster created by students in Ted Atkinson's spring 2024 course, AAS/EN 4343, "Studies in African American Literature." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ibrahim, Minna Leflore, Demir Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024-02 Subject The topic of the resource Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884 Slave narratives American literature--African American authors Slavery--United States Clotel https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/27/2561/AAS-EN_harris_hewitt.pdf 06b8355884314da9b1659996a7323e66 PDF Text Text AAS/EN 4343 Studies in African American Literature George and Mary Green George Green is a significant character in the novel due to his race and his romantic relationship with Mary Green. He was a slave too. Horatio Green, was the first man to purchase Clotel after Jefferson's death. Brown describes George as “white as most white persons” and explains that he joined a revolt against racism (188). He pleads, “your fathers were never slaves, ours are; your fathers were never bought and sold like cattle, never shut out from the light of knowledge and religion, never subjected to the lash of brutal taskmasters” (189). George did not appear to be of African American heritage and still he was treated with violence and oppression. His character further shows a parallel of a man who is "white as most white" advocating for African Americans when we see the exact opposite with the servant Sam. The daughter of Horatio Green and Clotel, Mary, “was white” (126). George and Mary were in love, but the hurdles put into place by systemic racism made it nearly impossible to have the hope of being married one day. The cook on the estate stated “dees white n*****s always tink dey sef good as white folks” and “ I don’t dees mularter n*****s, no how; dey always want to set dey sef up for something big” (126). This excerpt is important when acknowledging that there truly was no place for the mixed-race. They were receiving backlash from the black and white race. The Depiction of Race in William Wells Brown’s Clotel Liliana Hewitt and Maddilyn Harris William Wells Brown and mixed-raced William Wells Brown is widely known as the first African American to publish a novel. Brown’s Clotel explores the figure of the "Tragic Mulatta." There are many moments throughout this compelling novel when Brown explores the complexities of mixed-race identity in the context of slavery, in addition to the specific impact and moments of racism after slavery. The representation of the "Mulatta" is an important factor for understanding how the system of slavery operated on a foundation of racism. Not only did mixed-race people experience brutal oppression and exploitation from white individuals but also African Americans. Brown employs the dismissive attitudes towards mixed-race individuals, from those who are lighter skinned and those who darker skinned. In so doing, he shows how mixed-race identity is inherently not accepted by the black or white race. This conundrum raises the question of where they would fit into society, and it seems to be something Brown was interested in bringing awareness of through the novel. Prejudice Within Brown uses a character named Sam, who is a servant, to communicate the discrimination mulattoes were experiencing during the 19th century. Brown writes, “the nearer the negro or mulatto approaches to the white, the more he seems to feel his superiority over those of a darker hue” (103). Ironically Brown writes, "Although Sam was one of the blackest men living, he nevertheless contended that his mother was a mulatto and no one was more prejudiced against the blacks than he" (105). This could be an example of how racial discrimination starts with generations that have come before. He claims his mother had been of the lighter skin tone, and possibly the advantages she experienced because of her light skin tone, instilled in Sam that the lighter skin tone was superior. Clotel Clotel is a character of mixed-race identity and is depicted as the daughter of President Thomas Jefferson and Currer, an enslaved woman. The novel explores Clotel's tragic experiences as a mixed-race woman, and her pursuit of freedom. Clotel's story is a powerful example of the injustices people of mixed race endured in America during the 19th century. Near the end of the novel, Clotel commits suicide, as she “raised her eyes toward heaven, and begged for that mercy and compassion there, which had been denied her on earth” (182). This exemplifies the idea that the only escape for a mixed-raced woman during this time was death. “Such was the life and such the death of a woman whose virtues and goodness of heart would have done honour to one in a higher station of life, and who, if she had been born in any other land but that of slavery, would have been honoured and loved” (183). These excerpts are representative of Clotel's experience with miscegenation, and show the prevailing societal attitudes, legal restrictions, and racial ideology of the time. It is important to understand these are intentional obstacles put into place to hinder individuals like Clotel, who can only achieve freedom through death. Works Cited Johnson, Ivy. “Three Ways to Avoid Colorism in Visual Communications .” MP&F Strategic Communications, 28 Apr. 2022, mpf.com/three-waysto-avoid-colorism-in-visual-communications/. Professional Store Declaration of Independence, et al. “Declaration of Independence - Digital Files SVG, AI, PNG, EPS, DXF.” Patriot Nation Designs, patriotnationdesigns.com/professional/p/decl aration-of-independence. Accessed 11 Feb. 2024. Jones-Branch, Cherisse. “The Arkansas Association of Colored Women and Early Twentieth-Century Maternalist Political Activism.” The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, 2020, pp. 218–30. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/27019091. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clotel Posters Description An account of the resource Student posters from Ted Atkinson's EN 4343 class in spring 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeeDee Baldwin Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Depiction of Race in William Wells Brown’s <em>Clotel</em> Description An account of the resource Poster created by students in Ted Atkinson's spring 2024 course, AAS/EN 4343, "Studies in African American Literature." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hewitt, Liliana Harris, Maddilyn Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024-02 Subject The topic of the resource Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884 Slave narratives American literature--African American authors Slavery--United States Racism Colorism Clotel https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/27/2560/AAS-EN_crook_harris.pdf 75ce71047d140bbc1195f310c985fdad PDF Text Text AAS/EN 4343 Studies in African American Literature Beyond the Cover: Unraveling Clotel; or The President's Daughter By: Shalarria Crook and Crissharia Harris Tracing the Publication History: Clotel; or, The President's Daughter is a novel written by William Wells Brown, an African American abolitionist, physician, and author. It was first published in 1853, making it the first novel written by an African American. This novel was published in London, as Brown faced difficulties finding a publisher in the United States due to the controversial nature of the content. The novel is often considered a work of historical fiction, and it explores the life of Currer, a mixed-race enslaved woman who is believed to be the daughter of Thomas Jefferson, and her daughters, including Clotel. The novel was serialized in The National Era, an abolitionist newspaper, before publication as a book. Brown used the pseudonym "William H. Smith" for the initial publication, as he was a fugitive slave at the time, and he did not want to risk capture. Brown went on to publish three additional versions and with “each edition the author made changes to the characters and the narrative” (Mulder 1). For example, in the American editions, there is not a Jefferson storyline. This was because “he did not want the Jefferson controversy to overshadow his larger message, which was that slavery existed in large part because those men with the most power, influence, and moral credibility in U.S. society had refused to condemn it” (Mulder 1). However, in each novel, there was a consistent theme of providing insight into antebellum slave culture. Today, this novel is widely studied in literature courses, particularly those focusing on African American literature, 19th-century American literature, and the abolitionist movement. The novel's themes and its status as the first novel by an African American author contribute to its enduring importance in the literary canon. Critical Reception: Works Cited: Bullen, Ross. “William Wells Brown, Wildcat Banker.” The Public Domain Review, publicdomainreview.org/essay/william-wells-brown-wildcat-banker/. “Clotel; Or, the President’s Daughter | William Wells Brown | Lit2Go ETC.” Etc.usf.edu, etc.usf.edu/lit2go/161/clotel-or-the-presidents-daughter/. Farrison, W. Edward. "The Origin of Brown's Clotel.”Phylon (1940-1956) 15.4 (1954): 347354. https://www.jstor.org/stable/272843 Mulder, Megan. “Clotelle, by William Wells Brown (1867).” ZSR Library, 26 Aug. 2013, zsr.wfu.edu/2013/clotelle-by-william-wells- brown1867/ Schweninger, Lee. "Clotel and the Historicity of the 21-36. https://www.jstor.org/stable/467905 Anecdote." Melus 24.1 (1999): “Slave Auction Poster by Photo Researchers.” Fine Art America, fineartamerica.com/featured/slave-auction-photoresearchers.html?product=poster. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024. Clotel; or The President's Daughter received attention for its powerful depiction of the harsh realities of slavery, as well as its critique of the institution, and its impact on individuals and families. The novel is often praised for its bold exploration of the complexities of race, class, and gender. However, due to its challenging themes and direct criticism of slavery, Clotel faced limited mainstream success during its initial publication. It was not widely reviewed at the time, and the book's controversial content likely contributed to its relative obscurity. One predominant aspect of the novel's critical reception revolves around its authenticity, with some doubting its accuracy. This would particularly pertain to the claim that the main character was Thomas Jefferson’s daughter. A criticism states, “Indeed, despite all his other allusions, quotations, and references and despite the availability of newspaper accounts concerning Jefferson's having a daughter sold into slavery, Brown does not attempt to authenticate what would seem the single most important aspect of his narrative” (Schweninger 22). This critic suggests that this omission weakens Brown’s credibility. However, other critics such as W. Edward Farrison argue against this by stating, “He used them for their sensational value to illustrate the ironical inconsistencies that existed between the theories and the practices of soi-disant democratic American slaveholders, of whom the famous author of the Declaration of Independence might be taken, he thought, as an archetype” (Farrison 354). This would imply that Brown used these examples to illustrate the hypocrisy of individuals such as Jefferson who advocated for democracy but still engaged in slavery. Both sides of the argument are still largely debated. Over time, scholars and literary critics have reevaluated works from the antebellum period, and the novel has gained recognition for its historical significance and its contribution to African American literature. It is now considered an important work that provides valuable insights into the experiences of enslaved individuals and the social and political climate of the time. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clotel Posters Description An account of the resource Student posters from Ted Atkinson's EN 4343 class in spring 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeeDee Baldwin Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Beyond the Cover: Unraveling <em>Clotel; or The President's Daughter</em> Description An account of the resource Poster created by students in Ted Atkinson's spring 2024 course, AAS/EN 4343, "Studies in African American Literature." Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Crook, Shalarria Harris, Crissharia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024-02 Subject The topic of the resource Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884 Slave narratives American literature--African American authors Slavery--United States Clotel