Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

The autobiography offers a poignant exploration of the struggles faced by female slaves, particularly focusing on the sexual abuse endured on plantations and the challenges of motherhood under slavery. Harriet Ann Jacobs, a young mother and fugitive slave, employs sentimental novel techniques to address critical race and gender issues. Her narrative not only recounts her personal experiences but also highlights the broader plight of enslaved women and their fierce determination to protect their children from being sold away. Jacobs later emerged as a prominent abolitionist and reformer.