JennY+Journal+Entry2

Today would have been just fine except one little incident in the morning. Just as always, I was strolling down the street with my friends laughing and chatting about how we could fool our teacher Ms. Hagglestone again. But then I suddenly realized I totally forgot to feed horses. Knowing that I would get in a big trouble if my dad catches me, I quickly ran to the house.

As I got closer, half sweating from the blazing sun, I saw several slaves crouched in one corner whispering and reading something. I silently walked towards them and peaked in. They were holding a book called __Uncle Tom’s Cabin__ by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Not knowing who she was, I asked them. “Who is she?” One slave jumped and looked terrified. Perplexed by the slaves’ reaction, I shrugged and went inside the house.

Dear readers! You must understand. For a 14 years old boy, curiosity is a sin. Once you are curious, you have to get the answer no matter what it takes. I saw my dad in the dining room so I asked him. “Dad! Who is Harriet Beecher Stowe?” I soon realized I should not have asked him for he stared at me, half startled and half furious. I told my dad that several slaves were holding __Uncle Tom’s Cabin__.

He was totally suppressing his anger. I was able to tell by his hardened face. He told me that __Uncle Tom’s Cabin__ was a nonsense pointless book. It was about the character Uncle Tom, an African American who retains his integrity and refuses to betray his fellow slaves at the cost of his life. My dad explained that his firm Christian principles in the face of his brutal treatment made him a hero to the Northerners. “Criminal, slanderous, and utterly false!” he exclaimed. He then continued that the book was forced out of the town for selling copies. ‘Oops!’ I thought. Those slaves would soon get in trouble. No wonder why they were so surprised to see me few hours ago.

After listening to his brief summary about the book, I quietly went upstairs, trying not to bother him over the matter. Sitting on my bed, I heard my mom saying that anti-slavery writings were becoming more popular to support abolitionists' fight against slavery. I guess the abolitionists are now using books, newspapers, pamphlets, poetry, published sermons, and other forms of literature to spread their message. I heard my dad cursing William Lloyd Garrison for writing __The Liberator__. I sure understand him because I know for a fact that although the newspaper was published in 1831, it earned nationwide notoriety for its uncompromising advocacy of "immediate and complete emancipation of all slaves" in the United States. Now, on top of that, there were the slave narratives – personal accounts of what it was like to live in bondage. It gave northerners a closest look at slavery and provided an undeniable counter to the pro-slavery arguments and idyllic pictures of slavery described by slaveholders.

Considering recent upheavals around my neighborhood, I eventually came to a conclusion that Stowe’s novel would definitely create another mess in Southern states. There were lots of rumors going around in the town, saying that Stowe received threatening letters and a package containing the dismembered ear of a black person. Despite all these, I feel that the world is slowly changing. I think it is breaking out from its old shell and journeying through darkness, searching for a new path.