Cole Moore

English 11

Slavery Essay

1/29/17

Throughout the 19th century in America, slavery was a major factor for work in

the confederate states. African American slaves were being traded daily by white

plantation owners in the South who would claim to be the slaves owners. The book To

Free a Family, by Sydney Nathans gives a clear and accurate representation of how

American slavery was in the 19th century through first hand accounts with Mary walker,

a slave at the time. The book recalls real life actions that Mary Walker had to take in

order to remain freed and reunite with her family in the North.

In the 19th century, slavery was a major issue in the United States with the

slaves being treated ever so harshly and not having any freedom from their owners.

Slaves at this time in history never had any easy time with their work and never got a

break from the treatment. To Free a Family tells how it is to live as a slave in the

South, from the view of Mary Walker. Enslaved African Americans would works upwards

of 12-15 hours a day to please their owner and not get in trouble. Common tasks for the

slaves would be plowing fields, planting crops or picking cotton, often times without any

pay at all. The conditions for slaves were very harsh and unnecessary as portrayed in

To Free a Family. Slaves such as Mary Walker would constantly do chores around the

house and, this went on for 17 years of her life. Overall, the treatment of slaves proved

to be very harsh and cruel as shown in the book by Sydney Nathans.

 Another major struggle for African American slaves was trying to reunite with their

families after being separated for a number of years. Many slaves, like Mary Walker

have been enslaved for over a decade, making it extremely difficult to find her children

and loved ones. After being freed and fleeing to the north, Mary Walker faces many

struggles, using help from locals and every resource possible in order to find her family.

Ex-slaves would need to find help from locals, but without being recaptured and sent

back to slavery. The Union, which are the northern states were considered to be free but

blacks could still be captured by slave owners and taken back to work in the South. The

book To Free a Family also shows how slaves would use the underground railroad to

avoid being caught by slave owners. Slaves would use this resource by staying in local

houses with people whom are helping the ex-slaves by giving them a safe place to stay

during the day and then they would be on the move at night. The underground railroad

would also help slaves reunite with their family because the host would know who has

been to their house and who has not. It is clear from the story that ex-slaves struggled

to reunite with their family and get back with the ones they initially started their life with.

Although many thought the North was a free place for slaves, it was not

completely the case at the point in time. Even when slaves thought they were away

from the harsh treatment and gone from the plantations, they could be recaptured and

brought back to work. Many slave owners would go through anything to get their slaves

back. As displayed in To free a Family, often times slaves would flee to the north then

be captured again. This was not the case for Mary Walker, she was free and fled to

Massachusetts eventually and settled down in Cambridge. The book gives great lifelike

representations of how slavery struggles were in the 19th century.

 Slavery proved to be one of the harshest times to a certain race in American

History. Slaves never had an easy time being free, it used every bit of effort possible in

order to retain freedom. In Mary Walkers case it took every bit of effort to be free and at

the same time reunite with her family. The book To Free a Family portrays a true story

of how slavery was in the 19th century as following the journey of Mary Walker

throughout her life.