Extraordinary Life of Great Slave Harriet Jacobs

Harriet Jacobs (1813 or 1815 March 7, 1897) was an African American lady born into bondage in Edenton, North Carolina, who was sexually harassed by her enslaver. When he threatened to sell her children if she did not submit to his lust, she hid in an extremely small crawl space under the roof of her grandma's house, so deep that she could not get up in it. After remaining there for 7 years, she finally managed to run away to the Free North, where she was reunited with her children Louisa Matilda and Joseph and her brother John S. Jacobs. She found work as a nanny and came into contact with abolitionists and feminist reformers. Even in New York, her freedom was in jeopardy until her employer could pay off her rightful owner.During and immediately after the Civil War, she, along with her daughter, went to the Union-occupied parts of the South, organized aid, and founded two schools for fugitives and freed slaves.Brief SummaryAfter seven years in the attic, Harriet finally flees by boat to the north. Benny's stopover with Aunt Martha & Harriet is reunited with Ellen, who is now nine years old and lives in Brooklyn, New York. Harriet is dismayed that her girl is still being held in virtual bondage by Mr. Sand's cousin Mrs. Hobbs. She fears that Mrs. Hobbs will return Ellen to the South, putting her forever out of Harriet's reach. She finds work as a nanny for a New York family, the Bruces, who treat her very kindly. Dr. Flint continues to pursue Harriet and she flees to Boston. There she is reunited with Benny. Dr. Flint now claims that the sale of Benny and Ellen was Invalid, and Harriet is afraid that he will enslave them all again. After a few years, Mrs. Bruce dies, and Harriet spends some time with her children in Boston. She allocates a year in England caring for Mr. Bruce's girl, and for the first time in her life, she appreciates immunity from racial bias.