Always it gave me a pang that my children had no lawful claim to a name.

Quote by Harriet Ann Jacobs

Topics: Harriet Ann Jacobs Quotes

I would rather drudge out my life on a cotton plantation, till the grave opened...

I would rather drudge out my life on a cotton plantation, till the grave opened...

When I was nearly twelve years old, my kind mistress sickened and died.

When I was nearly twelve years old, my kind mistress sickened and died.

Every where the years bring to all enough of sin and sorrow; but in slavery...

Every where the years bring to all enough of sin and sorrow; but in slavery...

The slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear.

The slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear.

Cruelty is contagious in uncivilized communities.

Cruelty is contagious in uncivilized communities.

But I now entered on my fifteenth year - a sad epoch in the life...

But I now entered on my fifteenth year - a sad epoch in the life...

Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little...

Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little...

The secrets of slavery are concealed like those of the Inquisition.

The secrets of slavery are concealed like those of the Inquisition.

If you want to be fully convinced of the abominations of slavery, go on a...

If you want to be fully convinced of the abominations of slavery, go on a...

There is something akin to freedom in having a lover who has no control over...

There is something akin to freedom in having a lover who has no control over...

If a slave is unwilling to go with his new master, he is whipped, or...

If a slave is unwilling to go with his new master, he is whipped, or...

When they told me my new-born babe was a girl, my heart was heavier than...

When they told me my new-born babe was a girl, my heart was heavier than...

DURING the first years of my service in Dr. Flint's family, I was accustomed to...

DURING the first years of my service in Dr. Flint's family, I was accustomed to...

The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt...

The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt...

Death is better than slavery.

Death is better than slavery.

When my babe was born, they said it was premature. It weighed only four pounds;...

When my babe was born, they said it was premature. It weighed only four pounds;...

When I was six years old, my mother died; and then, for the first time,...

When I was six years old, my mother died; and then, for the first time,...

But to the slave mother New Year's day comes laden with peculiar sorrows. She sits...

But to the slave mother New Year's day comes laden with peculiar sorrows. She sits...

Dr. Flint had sworn that he would make me suffer, to my last day, for...

Dr. Flint had sworn that he would make me suffer, to my last day, for...

I WAS born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy...

I WAS born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy...