DISCUSSION LEADERSHIP ENG 465

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DISCUSSION LEADERSHIPENG 465
The Slave Book, pg 61-127 Echoes of Slavery, pg
47-57 64-86
Elizabeth Buecher Emily Thomas
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IdentityWhat defines a persons identity?
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What defines a persons identity? -names
-family -nation -friendship
-language -history -Intellect -food -a
ctivities -ethnic group -religion
-language
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Somiela

• Somiela is stripped of her identity when she is
  taken away from her mother, her hair is cut off,
  her lace from her dress, and the bracelets her
  mother made her are taken away.
• Somiela still has her literacy as she reads to
  the twins, and maintains her dignity through
  reflecting back on her mothers advice and with
  the guidance of Rachel.
• Even though her hair and nice clothing is taken
  away, she till has her desirability but in her
  situation this part of her identity is
  threatening to her well-being.
• She is still an adolescent struggling to find her
  identity and is stuck between two sometimes
  opposing mother figures. 
• There were other white men who went after slave
  women, and there were slave women who trusted
  them, like Rachel had done and ended up with
  Arend, and there were women like her own mother
  whod been brutally taken against their will and
  also ended up with child. Did she fall somewhere
  between these two womenone who trusted too
  easily, and one who rejected a man outright?
  (pg. 115)

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Andries

• Power is an important part of Andries indentity,
  but who has the power as things begin to change
  in the novel. Sangora loses the chains and
  regains his name in a symbolic scene that is
  probably a big turning point in the novel
• Andries hadnt thought of the risk which he ran,
  going to town in a wagon with makeshift repairs,
  and studied the men
• waiting anxiously for his instructions. Arend,
  run up to the house and get Sangoras pap. Hes
  coming with us.
• Everyone stared at the farmer. He had just used
  Sangoras real name. (p. 111)
• -Possessions are another defining aspect of his
  identity, and it reveals a lot about his
  character as we see how he treats his slaves as
  possessions. He doesnt view them as humans and
  isnt concerned about Somelias well being.
• Let them be, Andries said, coming up behind
  them. We need slaves. If theres a child, whose
  is it? (p. 104)
• Andries is a businessman but he doesnt utilize
  his resources to the full extent. He views the
  slaves as all the same and not as individuals
  with individual traits and skills that could be
  used for his benefit. Harman points out this
  flaw
• Their keepers knew little about who their
  slaves were. The DeVilliers family know Sangora
  was a carpenter and could read and write. They
  didnt know that he came from a line of caliphs
  and sheikhs and had a high religious background.
  They knew Salie had woodworking skills. They
  didnt know he was also a tailor, and made mens
  vests in his spare time which Arend sold in town
  on market day. They didnt know Hanibal could
  draw well enough to get himself work as a
  sketcher of human events (p. 109-110).

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Sangora-Andries
attempts to strip Sangora of his identity by
renaming him February. Sangora defies Andries
and introduces himself with his full name. He is
proud of his identity and refuses to lose his
identity and dignity no matter the consequence.
Sangora Salamah. From Java, he announced in a
calm tone. Andries stepped up to him. What did
you say? Sangora Salamah. From Java.Didnt
I change your name?Sangora Salamahs my name,
Seur. (p. 97).-religion-Sangora constantly
looks out for his family. He cant believe
Norias suggestion that he find someone
elseShe would think such a thing? Five
years is nothing if theres something waiting for
you at the end of it (pg. 98).-Sangora is a
natural leader through his own strength, dignity,
and forgiveness. His nature begins to rub off on
some of the understandably unhappy and bitter
slavesSalie wasnt as heartless as he wanted
others to believe, and Sangora had seen the
change in all of them except Hanibal. But he
understood Hanibal also (pg. 100)
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Harman

• Forthright with his beliefs, denies job at first
  because Sangora is in chains.
• religion He takes Somielas religion seriously
  and has a more general belief himself If you
  have a conscience, you have God. I think that
  makes sense (pg. 121).
• He influences Andries the way that Sangora
  influences the slaves.
• Kind and generousgoes out of his way to help
  Somelia and Noria reconnectsees slaves as humans
  with families instead of property.

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Gender and Identity

• Somiela is objectified not only as a slave but as
  a woman, stripped of her sexuality by Andries,
  Marietta and Elspeth.
• And why are you wearing that dress? Didnt
  I tell you I didnt want to see it on you again?
• Somiela looked up, and from somewhere inside
  her, the devil reared its head. It had happened
  before at the previous farm when the owners
  daughter had smacked her, and she had smacked her
  back, resulting in severe punishment. Because I
  wont wear your fat daughters ugly dresses!
  (p. 66)
•  
• Petroos feminine change as a result of Kanangas
  assault (p.53)

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Social Death

• Slaves dreaded being sold out away from the
  country and into the city because there was
  little protection from abuse and because there
  was limited social action.
• Social death was the worst fate for the slaves
  because they lived through their relationships
  with family, friends and religion.
• Many slaves preferred long spells of hard
  labour in irons with their friends on the public
  works to a speedy return to their irascible
  masters (pg. 65, Echoes of Slavery).
• Religion turning to Islam gave them a way to
  avoid social death as well as avoiding complete
  compliance with white norms.
• Interdependence of slaves and masters (resistance
  chapter in Echoes they would petition to get
  them back no matter what they did)