Harriet Ann Jacobs

Date of Birth: February 11, 1813

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: March 7, 1897

Biography

Harriet Ann Jacobs was an African-American writer born into slavery in Edenton, North Carolina. She is most well-known for her autobiography, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” which was published in 1861 under the pseudonym Linda Brent. The book provides a detailed account of her life as a slave and her eventual escape, highlighting the sexual harassment and abuse that female slaves often endured. Jacobs’ work was a powerful indictment of the institution of slavery and contributed significantly to the abolitionist movement. Jacobs was taught to read and write at an early age by her first mistress, which was unusual for slaves at the time. After suffering years of abuse at the hands of her second master, Dr. James Norcom, Jacobs escaped in 1835 and spent nearly seven years hiding in a tiny attic space in her grandmother’s house. She finally escaped to the North in 1842, where she was eventually reunited with her children, Joseph and Louisa Matilda. In the North, Jacobs became involved with the abolitionist movement and worked alongside prominent figures like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. After the Civil War, Jacobs remained active in social reform, focusing on the rights and welfare of African-Americans.

5 Interesting Facts about Harriet Ann Jacobs

1. Harriet Jacobs used the pseudonym Linda Brent to publish her autobiography to protect her identity and those of her children.

2. She hid in a 9×7 foot attic space for nearly seven years to escape from her master.

3. Jacobs was one of the first women to write a slave narrative in the United States.

4. After her escape, she remained dedicated to the abolitionist cause and worked for the rights of freed slaves post-Civil War.

5. Jacobs opened a boarding house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after the Civil War to support herself and her daughter.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harriet Ann Jacobs

1. “The secrets of slavery are concealed like those of the Inquisition.”

2. “There are wrongs which even the grave does not bury.”

3. “When they told me my new-born babe was a girl, my heart was heavier than it had ever been before.”

4. “I can testify, from my own experience and observation, that slavery is a curse to the whites as well as to the blacks.”

5. “Reader, did you ever hate? I hope not. I never did but once; and I trust I never shall again.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Harriet Jacobs did not accumulate significant wealth during her lifetime. Her highest net worth was primarily in her contributions to literature and social reform rather than financial gain.

Children

Harriet Jacobs had two children, Joseph and Louisa Matilda, with Samuel Sawyer, a white lawyer who was also their father. She was eventually reunited with them after her escape to the North.