I have noticed that she incorporates a lot of the same lines and symbols in her poems. This mask serves as a shield.

The author is highlighting the beauty in the woman who comes with grace. She represents that little bit of good that there is.

There is good imagery in this stanza. It sets two different moods at once. The gray sea and sky make me think of a very gloomy or sad day. Then there is the peak of sunlight that touches the sea so softly. It indicates that there is always good no matter how much bad there is.

She mentions violets in many of her other writings. I am still trying to understand the significance behind them.

A sonnet is a type of poem that consists of 14 lines using any number of schemes.

I am constantly explaining that a lot of these authors include religion within their writing.

She seems to be saying that other things in nature are not as beautiful as her 'violets'. This may indicate that while there is beauty in the world, there is also ugly.

Florists' do a good job at enhancing the beauty of fresh flowers when they are in season. To relate this to reality, there are a lot of beautiful things that come within the Spring season. This includes the beauty that people find in themselves.

Flowers begin to bloom in the Spring time which is a season that is said to bring joy, happiness, and peace. The change of season can even be considered refreshing in which it gives people the opportunity to start fresh.

She mentions violets in many of of her other writings. I am still trying to understanding the significance behind them.

A sonnet is a type of poem that consists of 14 lines using any number of rhyme schemes.

She is explaining how the white Europeans started a war against the Africans in capturing them, taking them from their homeland, and selling them in America. The reason that they did this is because they thought that black people were lesser than white people.

She feels that she should be doing more than just sitting around and doing a useless task. She has aspirations to do better things.

Other than these events taking place on Easter day, I'm confused as to how this story is important to Easter.

As mentioned in a previous annotation, Easter is the celebration of Jesus' resurrection in which he rose from the dead.

God and Jesus are apart of everything that we do. Even though they are not here physically, they are here in spirit.

I wonder if there is a deeper meaning as to why this person wanted a lock of hair.

Easter always falls on a Sunday because it is one of many holidays that is celebrated by Christians. Easter is the day that Jesus was resurrected. So Christians celebrate his rebirth.

Flowers are one of many symbols that is often associated with Easter.

The rays of the sun touch everything to light up the world. This reminds me of Sundays which is the day that Christians attend church. It is said to be a joyous day that is dedicated to praise and worship to God.

Previously enslaved Africans can not forget the terrible life that they were forced to live.

This reminds me of a eulogy that is to be said in the name of the deceased. These are the ending thoughts before their soul is finally free to depart and fly to the sky.

This makes me think that the author is talking about the souls of these Africans. He talks about voices and hymns is if they are singing to their God. He even says that they are escaping to the skies.

This indicates that everything is living and prospering as it is untouched or harmed in any way.

The land of Ethiopia is where its people are able to be free. Freedom is in anything in their homeland.

The slaves were not the only things that were hurt during slavery. The African countries were hurt as well because they were stripped of their people and their fortunes.

An address to Ethiopia

A continuous fight that will eventually lead to freedom. Instead of it being 'joy or glee', it is to be relief.

Slaves have been beaten but were expected to keep moving forward.

This took a completely different turn than expected from the first stanza. The bird seems to be physically hurting itself as if it has lost its mind. I am wondering how the author knows why the bird is doing this. Maybe Paul has dealt with some problems that caused him to beat himself up.

This describes the beginning signs of the Spring season. When spring comes, the season often brings happiness to many people. Spring is often described as a season to make changes. To start over.

This like a response to Maya Angelou's poem I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.

Sympathy is defined as feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

The tree is reliving the memory of the lynching on its body. This is why it feels haunted.

The tree feels pity for the victim that was lynched. It feels as though it is dying with him. It does not see any point in growing anymore because of what it was forced to experience and witness.

This indicates that a man is being lynched on this said oak tree. The tree can feel the weight of the body as well as the great struggle as this victim is being hanged.

White people at this time did not care about the innocence of these black people. They were just being selfish.

Is this an actual prison door? It seems as though it is establishing a black person as a criminal who should be in prison.

He did what needed to be done and is giving everything up to his faith. In other words, he is surrendering.

Black people were often depicted as criminals just because of the color of their skin. This was not a true crime.

This is in reference to how Africans came to be slaves. They were once free to do as they please as well as had the right to themselves when they were on their homeland. They were lively and happy until they were captured to be forced to work for white oppressors. This is when their spirits died. They were treated like criminals even though they had done no crime.

Haunted Oak tree: should it be taken literally or figuratively?

I've mentioned in many of our discussions how important religion is in the African American culture. Black people or people in general often look to God or Christ for guidance and healing. These two powerful figures are said to be the ones who are all-knowing.

The discussion of slavery and hate towards the black community is often overlooked. The oppressors feel as though these problems are not that serious.

Some people are able to smile through all of the pain that they have dealt with or continuing to endure in their lives. However, that does not mean that they are no longer their. It is just that people try or do not like to wear their feelings on their sleeves. Otherwise, people might see them as weak.

People often put on a 'front' when in public to make them appear as something other than what or who they actually are. In other words, this mask can be made to hide one's truth.

The title of the poem itself has a very huge impact on the reader. These four words are very powerful.

The Nig also started each of their chapters with a poem. I feel as though they put more emphasis and express a greater meaning for the following readings.

Slaves sung negro spirituals while they were working on the plantations. They sung them to express their many emotions. If they were in their lowest, they would sing something to bring up their spirits.

Change of color or race will help the opposed come to a realization of the difference in their lives.

He is basically saying that black people are much more powerful because of all of their struggles that they have overcome.

This makes me think about our discussion of spirituals. They were heavily associated with negroes in slavery.

Slaves were abused in many ways as if they were criminals. In reality, all they have ever done was live their lives and be people of color.

Inspired by those who have endured slavery?

He is covering or shielding love that is innocent.

Smoke eventually fades as it thins out when it is rising further up into the sky. This can be compared to a soul escaping to heaven.

This makes me think about the land and the plantations that slaves working on. I get the impression that he is saying that all of that is just a memory but it will still remain apart of him.

He is literally comparing himself to smoke. He is describing how smoke moves and twirls when it goes up in the sky. This is indicating that he feels free.

Repeated at the beginning of every stanza.

Very interesting ending. Had they not added this I would have been more confused in trying to find some deeper meaning within this story.

Repetition throughout the entire song. It puts more emphasis and adds meaning to the story.

She is clearly very upset and will do anything to show that she is not to be messed with. Even if that means taking her own lover's life.

He's saying that he does not want to cause any problems but yet he is still involved. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. The bartender agrees that Johnny is doing Franky wrong and wants to be helpful.

I like that the writer of this song thought that it was important to add that the bartender was fat. It definitely helps with setting the scene of the bar.

Not typically done by a classy lady. So Frankie is definitely a free spirit and doesn't conform to society's standards.

They made it clear to everyone around them of how much they loved each other. I read this stanza a few times because at first I thought that it was indicating that this was a biracial relationship. Such relationships are often used negatively during this era and even today.

Indicates that this is a third person story about two people's relationship.

Booker T Washington completely made a change in his life after being a slave for several years. He accepted the opportunity at gaining an education for himself. Following this he became sort of a public figure and was on the verge of being accepted by a larger audience.

Him explaining that he works in a coal mine indicates that this is during the industrial revolution. This was like one of the only judges that people of color were allowed to indulge in. It’s really a shame that negroes really had no sense of education that it was even surprising to them that that was an option.

After listening to the fourth episode of the 1619 podcast, this kind of contradicts the point that was made about how people restarted their lives once they were emancipated. The podcast explained that they didn’t have anywhere to go or any jobs to go to. Instead of the emancipation bettering their lives, it only made things worse.

From what we have read, we find that a lot of African Americans during this time were born into slavery. They didn’t get to experience a life before that. In other words they were born to conform to these set standards. To be owned by another.

She should not have had to hide from doing such a harmless deed as sitting.

Frado was forced to do so much for the people that didn't really care for her. These people being Mary and her mother, whom had treated her so poorly because they did not see her as their equal.

Admonition is defined as the act or action of admonishing; authoritative counsel or warning. In times of need or desperation, people tend to look to good for forgiveness and healing.

Mrs. Bellmont deliberately forced Frado to work in the sun so that she can get darker and be seen as what she truly is. That being a black negro who has no similarities to that of white people.

This is a repetition of the first chapter where Mag was comforted and pitied by her husband for how she was treated. Now Jack is comforting and has pity for Frado because of how poorly his mother and sister are treating her.

There is a lot going on within these few sentences. First, Frado's name is being completely replaced with 'Nig'. Mary receives karma from being so hateful towards Frado.

It seems as though this was during integration period because otherwise she would not have been allowed in a school with white people. Even though she does have lighter skin but still is not privileged with as many fortunes as the white children and their families.

In other words, the man was the head of the household.

White people were considered the superior race and were allowed more advantages and fortunes than that of the supposed inferior black race.

Not the usually treatment towards mulattos since they have fairer skin than that of darker complexion negroes.

This reminds me of when Harriet Jacobs was hiding out in the attic of her house where there was very little space for her to even move around or stretch.

The problems of the oppressors.

This is where we discover the meaning behind the title of the story. I had my theories in assuming that this was a label as well as an abbreviation of the word 'nigger'.

Clearly the complete opposite of Mag and his wife. Not usually expected from a white man during this era.

I feel that Frado regrets even coming back after she went missing for that short period of time. It must painful to know that she could really be abandoned by her own mother at such a young age.

Mag is completely neglectful of her children. It is kind of shocking, with the way that she talks about them, that she is showing so much concern when she realizes that her daughter want missing.

This is a very ignorant and hateful thing for a mother to say about her own children that she bore.

She constantly shows that she cares about what other people think of her but clearly not enough is she was agreed to marry a black man and have mulatto children with him.

Black people during this time have developed psychological abuse in which they have been forced to believe that they are no good for or at anything. Therefore, they would constantly question if any good would ever become apart of their lives.

Definitely a complete plot twist but makes it more understandable as to why she was alone before and nobody liked her. But her being a white woman marrying a black man makes things worse.

White is often referred to purity whereas black equals to anything bad. So, he is saying that despite his supposed bad colored skin, he still has a pure heart on the inside.

This is indicating that Jim only has love for Mag because he feels pity for her being that she is alone with no help.

I thought it interesting that she compared slavery to a competition. Even though they are all fighting and working for the same things, they get different treatments based on only few aspects.

it is best to assume that the subject of this context are unborn negro children. They are technically born with morals in which they do not yet know of the bad that will come to them in their near futures. So, their mothers or caregivers have to show them signs of hope and positivity.

God is a woman in her eyes.

It makes it difficult to understand who her supposed love is. However, it seemed as though she was describing a weird toxic relationship with her master. I gathered this theory from her labeling herself as a 'victim'.

This indicates that she was stripped away from her family at a very young age. So she doesn’t truly know what the term family means. So she was forced to live her early life in solitude only at the expense of her master. Being that she was a woman, she had no other mother figure or role model to teach her about womanhood.

Women are often thrown to the side when it comes to them opening about the wrong that was done against her. She feels that she isn’t heard so she resorts to other options. This is out of pity for hersel that no one else will give her.

This is like how the Europeans didn’t believe that POC deserved to have fortunes. So they made great efforts to take from them.

Mothers scream at the lost of their children whether it is through death or if they are being sold. Their feelings are often ignored because they don’t really matter.

Even though she gave birth, she being an enslaved women has no right to herself or any of her possessions. Everything belongs to her master.

To be able to bear a child shows great strength in which the women is taking a huge risk. Women were stripped of their children to be sold all over the southern area.

God has a plan for everyone. If people believe, they will have the guidance and protection of Him.

Women who are considered beautiful were taken more advantage of. Their masters would rape them and have them please them.

Americans are mocking their country in which they don’t follow the laws and regulations that they created. Or rather these documents only apply to some but not all.

I would like to assume that she is speaking about a white man when describing his pale skin. This is irony because we know that they were not fair. Or at least there was a majority that were not.

An enslaved woman who bears a child is only causing my hurt to herself along with her child. This is why women didn’t really care to have children with the knowledge that their child would be born a slave as well. She would literally be preparing them for death because slavery was such a hard thing to endure or even escape.

God is a powerful figure along with religion being a powerful aspect within slavery. As often mentioned, slaves looked to religion for hope and motivation in their tragic lives. God is a healer and provider.

People were enslaved in the Southern states whereas the Northern states were considered the free states.

These beasts are the white Europeans in which they have evil mannerisms to them. The ‘mercy and pity’ of these slaves are in the hands of their masters in which they have the choice to give these to them.

Children were robbed of their innocence in which they were not allowed a childhood. They were born into a form of ‘hell’ one may say. Once they reach the acceptable age, they are immediately put to work.

Children often maintain their childhood up until a certain point in their lives. It shows innocence and it is hard to tear something like that down.

Holding your held high shows signs of hope and positivity. Hanging your head low shoes signs of defeat. People often look up to the skies as if they are looking up to God for strength.

Slaves were bonded not only physically but through mind, body, and soul. Their sense of self was destroyed through the destruction of their identities. Only God is powerful enough to relieve all of these troubles they had endured.

African countries are worth much more than what the white Europeans made it out to be. It shouldn’t have been taken advantage of. These supposed bleeding hands are like the roots of Africa which were torn about due to all that was taken away. These things including their people and their fortunes.

He is discussing God's duties to humanity. God is known to be a healer and a provider. He is there to heal the pain and sorrow. He then helps provide pleasure and joy in peoples lives.

He is comparing day and night to the good and bad in peoples lives. When people are in a good mood, everything appears to be bright. Light indicates positivity and goodness. Dark indicates negativity and gloom.

From my understanding, he is talking about a really heartbreak that may ruin the soul. In this case, it is to the point where the subject no longer wants to move on. They are putting their life in God's hands in hope for some sort of guidance.

No one is going to always be there to hold your hand through your trials and tribulations. It can be hard to avoid all the bad along the way and it is only best to move through it because there is still a life to live ahead of you.

It is important for one to remain on their path to success.

This is self-reliance defined in a poetic manner

Good ending because with all the bad that has happened, he remains hopeful. He maintains a positive mindset that the said 'inferior' race will have vengeance.

As mentioned in an earlier annotation, religion was a very important aspect in the lives of the oppresses. It would give them hope that maybe someday they would be rid of these cruel punishments they had endured. I feel that these lines are indication that the oppressors have no religious part in their body's because of what they had allowed to occur as well as participated in. At the end of the day, only God is the one who is allowed to judge.

Families were stripped from each other because no master ever wanted a group of slaves. They had no sympathy or even considered their careless actions. One could only imagine the thoughts going through these enslaved minds. They had no way of knowing whether their loved ones were alive or dead.

Wretchedness defined: very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable. This is a word that David Walker constantly brought up in his appeal. With this he is saying that the oppressed has self-pity and are miserable because of the lives that they are forced to live at the hands of their white oppressors.

In one of our readings, the author mentioned that slaves could only ever be free through their death. Only God could help heal their pain.

The American flag is the biggest symbol of America.

They were born free in their native lands but were captured and treated like prisoners in which they were often held captive. In reality, their kidnappers were the real criminals.

This shows that Whitfield was influenced by David Walker. Walker criticized these said rights that were meant to be bestowed upon all people of America. However, they were unjust and tricky.

This makes me think about how the enslaved women were seen as vulnerable in the eyes of their white masters. They were greatly taken advantage of because they knew they could not fight back. Otherwise, more cruel consequences would be met. These women would be raped and bare a child by the master. This is how mulattoes were made. They had both African blood and 'Anglo-saxon' blood running through their veins. This would allow for some leniency but only but so much.

Whitfield paints this picture of the great sacrifice that slaves were forced to make. He sets this mood of sarcasm when stating that they 'shed their blood' but it was for something that wasn't or could never be there's. Meaning that they did not have any rights to themselves or the land that they were forced to work in more than live on. At this time, White people had the mindset that they had the immediate right to wealth and other fortunes simply because of the color their skin in comparison to the slaves' skin. White usually indicates purity.

Here he criticizes the supposed expectations that come with the American culture. He specifically he lights "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" which is meant to be bestowed upon all Americans as well as immigrants. The immigrants in this case being the slaves. All men were meant to be created equal as said in the Constitution and these 'pale face' Americans even disobeyed God. Religion seems to be a key aspect in these older writings

One would not expect white people to have stood up for a slave unless in the free North states. But Aunt Marthy clearly made an impression on the people whom she was surrounded by.

This greatly indicates how poorly slaves were treated. They were sold with horses as if they both fall into the same category in society.

She indicates that their are many 'badges of slavery'. Slaves were expected to wear a certain attire when in the presence of their oppressors. It was meant to show decency because their own clothing I am sure was considered indecent. The most obvious badge of slavery is simply the color of their skin. It is the most clear difference among the slaves and their masters/mistresses.

Considering their situation, Jacobs remained hopeful and tried her best to stay in high spirits while also giving herself time to mourn. Her brother on the other hand does not really believe that it is possible for them to buy their freedom. There is a lot that comes with doing. Especially, since they make very little for their services.

this was a very heartbreaking experience. even if her master and mistress had any knowledge of her father's death, they clearly have sort of sympathy in which they treat they slaves exactly the way they feel that they are meant to be treated. 'he was merely a piece of property' but they don't care because they have to power and ability to buy another. they are also possess many others.

a home is meant to be a place of warmth and love but in this case it is quite the opposite. there is a complete change in tone and setting when Jacobs and are brother were introduced to their new master, Dr. Flint.

her dialect makes these few sentences a bit confusing to understand. this distinction of the father figure has great significance. Willie knows that he has to listen and obey these two men, this including Dr. Flint and his actual father. Brent made it seem as though Dr. Flint is meant to be looked at as a father figure as well as a master.

as mentioned in an earlier annotation, African slaves were not given the privilege of an education. their masters didn't really allow it because in this time white people did not see fit for an African to have an education because they are believed to not be worthy to possess such a good quality

i understand that her mistress raised her but it's so odd to think that a slave could love her owner.

because of how her mother was known, she was treated woth respect and kindness at the hands of her mother's mistress. she was not forced into hard labor which is why she compared herself to that of a 'free-born white child'

as mentioned in earlier annotations, a slave did not have the right to themselves. when her grandmother had children, they too become property of her mistress' family. no matter if they had worked for something on their own, whatever they gain from it still does not belong to them

even with all the good that her grandmother possesses, she could never really do enough to be able to provide for her family. her intelligence and faithfulness allowed for leniency in which she also received respect for the good work that she has done. as a slave, you would only be paid but so much which is why she created a side business of baking crackers. of course because she can do anything on her own terms, she had to ask permission of her mistress to be able to sell them to the public. she made this huge effort to be able to pay for all of her children whom were the property of other masters

This highlights how different of an experience it is when you are born into slavery and then initially introduced to slavery. As Brent was a child, she had a little more freedom to do what she wanted and live what seemed to be a normal life. I'm sure that it was very difficult to come to terms with the fact that she had no self-autonomy in which she discovered that she was in fact a slave like the rest of her family.

As Linda Brent was a slave, she did not necessarily have the pleasure of obtaining an education. So she had the help of Lydia Childs in which she wrote Brent's story for her.

as she mentions, the North was wear the free states were. slaves stuck in the south have tried to escape to the north for refuge. this was also a cry for help to convince the people of the north to help with abolishing slavery or at least help free the slaves.

having read this before, i know that Jacobs deemed it necessary to include this within her preface so that readers will truly understand that her story is more real than fake. With her including several chapters that highlight the events within her childhood to her adulthood, she does not hold anything back. It also was not very common for slaves to take such a huge risk in criticizing the wrongs that was done by them during this act of slavery. This is why she used the pseudonym Linda Brent to maintain her identity.

I'm not sure as to why he is saying 'she' and 'her' but in reference to himself, this may mean that he wants his story to be heard.

This is an autobiographical poem. So, in a sense, Horton wrote this poem as like a letter to himself.

Who is this 'she' that he is referencing?

It seems as though he wants to become closer to God or further embrace his religion.

He cannot relive his past or take back the years where he was enslaved. He just hopes for a better and more pleasurable future to come

Horton didn't have the immediate pleasure to an education. He was taught to read and write when he was an adult. This then led him to the path to writing poetry

Folly means fololishness and repent means regret or remorse. The president can’t take back all that he has allowed to occur when the time for the slaves revenge comes

This indicates that the slaves are taking back what is rightfully there’s. White people and Europeans were greedy and stole many valuables from the African lands.

This makes me think about the whips that are used for slaves punishment. The whips are made and taken from trees. Vengeance is another word for revenge. So this could man that the slaves are switching roles and putting the weapon formed against them into their own hands.

This context insists that this poem is about war. But I am viewing as war between the black people and the white people. Black slaves lose so much blood at the end hands of the white people through abuse both verbal and physical. Otherwise, psychological and physical abuse/violence

Conscript is defined as enlist (someone) compulsory, typically into the armed services. Male slaves were forced to fight for the country that did not allow them autonomy. They had to leave their wives and children behind to work and fend for themselves.

This poem, like his others, was written during the time of his enslavement. He believes that because slavery was evenallowed to happen, there is no hope for the future. In other words, the country should be ashamed of itself. Obviously excluding the slaves who have no autonomy.

this is a poem about her critiquing and enjoying this Young African Painter's art

Aurora is constantly mentioned in several of her poems. most of them highlighting the Sleeping Beauty aspect

this kind of answers my last annotation. she seems be saying that his work will live on even after his death

this makes me wonder if this painter was deceased at the time of her writing this poem

ardent means enthusiastic or passionate. so i'm assuming that she is asking him to continue to express passion for his art

this makes me think of self-portraits. when creating these, you have to do your best at making it look realistic as if you're looking in a mirror

a hymn id a religious song or poem of praise to God or a god. throughout the poem, Phillis Wheatley gives praise to God for giving the Earth night and day

Aurora also has the name "Sleeping Beauty". This basically states that that the light of the day is the special kiss to wake everyone up

God is often referred to as the light of the world in which he shined light upon the darkness that Earth once ways. He allows for a new day and when time gives us night

at the end of the day, we often hear birds giving their last calls before they go to rest for the night