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Paternalism and Slavery
The slaves in early America were far better off than many of the factory workers during the same time period.In exchange for food, clothing, and healthcare, which the slaveholders provided the slaves, slaves were expected to give their labor and obedience in return.Slaveholders saw themselves as custodians of the welfare of society as a whole and the black families who depend on them.Is this really what happened?The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass gives the reader an excellent example of how life was for a slave.Frederick did not look at his masters as paternal figures as most of the slaves did.In general, there are things that slaveholders did to act as parents or caretakers such as giving their slaves food, clothing, and even at times working for rewards.There are also many instances that Douglass narrates where slaveholders act like horrible, inhumane animals.Overall, there is a sense of paternalism at times on the plantations, more than you may think.
Slavery is something that was necessary for the United States to develop into what it is today. It may have been atrocious and awful, but it got the job done.In taking a closer look at slavery and the relationship between slave and slaveholder, we see evidence of paternalism.There are instances where Frederick Douglass is "…working for the first time with the hope of reward."1.This was unheard of to Frederick.White children had the same opportunities to work for a reward with their parents.Frederick was 7-8 years old at this time; he has not felt the utter terror of being a slave yet, although he has witnessed some terrible acts against his people.His master at this point in time was Colonel Daniel Lloyd, he owned a massive Plantation where all mechanical operations were located on site and preformed by the slaves.Frederick writes about the slaves on their way to serve at Colonel Lloyds' Plantation, there were three to four hundred slaves there at any given time.He writes, "While on their way, they would make the dense old woods, for miles around, reverberate with their wild songs…".The slaves were ecstatic about going to serve on Colonel Lloyd's plantation.The time that Frederick spent on this plantation was not incredibly tedious; he had a great deal of leisure time there.He says "The most I had to do was to drive up the cows at evening, keep the fowls out of the garden, keep the front yard clean, and run of errands for my master's daughter".All children, whether white or black, have particular chores to do such as Frederick had.He spent most of his time helping Master Daniel find his birds after he had shot them, which helped Frederick make a connection with him.So much that Douglass writes, "He became quite attached to me, and was sort of protector of me.He would not let the older boys impose upon me, and would divide his cakes with me"4.There is clearly evidence of paternalism here.
Most families have a sense of belonging, maybe even some competition between families.This is exactly what Douglass writes in his narrative, two groups of slaves arguing over whose master is richer or smarter than the other.I find it amusing that slaves are attaching themselves to the people that hold them hostage.Douglass writes; "Many, under the influence of this prejudice, think their own masters are better than the masters of other slaves…"5.The slaves often fought over whose master was richest or the smartest."They seem to think that the greatness of their masters was transferable to themselves"6.Douglass does not agree with the actions of the others, even at this young age he seems to see the "big picture".Never the less, there is a sense of belonging to their master, and a feeling of paternalism in the air.
On the other side of these terrible times in America, there were gruesome attacks on Douglass's family and friends.He speaks of witnessing slaves being shot, whipped, and beaten.These actions are definitely not humane.Although punishment goes along with paternalism, the consequences for slaves were far beyond what was necessary.Douglass writes about what is required to be a slaveholder, "It required extraordinary barbarity on the part of an overseer to affect him, he was a cruel man, hardened by a long life of slaveholding"7.Here, he is talking about punishment, which his overseer at the time Mr. Plummer, did to all the slaves, even for no reason.At times the overseer hurt the slaves too much, and if it were bad enough, Captain Anthony would tell Mr. Plummer to settle down. This was only because if the slaves were hurt badly they would not be as productive.
Eventually, Douglass gets a break and is sent to Baltimore.Frederick was not sad when he left the plantation after two years with Colonel Lloyd; it was not a home to him.He is really lucky at this point; he has escaped the brutal life of working on the farm at a plantation.In Baltimore he is to live with Mr. Auld.Sophia Auld was the person who lit up his world when he first arrived there.She began to teach Frederick the alphabet, a typical gesture for a mother figure to do. This opportunity for Frederick was enormous.By the time Frederick left the Auld home, he learned to read and write.Mr. Auld eventually found out what was going on and said, "If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell.A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master-to do as he is told to do.Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world"8.From this point Frederick knew he could never be a slave again.Now he understood the pathway from slavery to freedom.There is evidence of a barbaric train of thought here, far from paternalism.Although the Auld family did feed and clothe him well, better than the plantation, he could not continue to be a slave.
Eventually he left the Auld family, and eventually Mr. Frederick Douglass achieves freedom.His story shows what slavery was really like.There seems to be two sides to the story. One where slaveholders are barbaric and awful, and another where they act as parents and take care of their slaves.There is evidence of both in the Narrative
of the life of Frederick Douglass.
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