Fredericksburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Harriet Jacobs
For seven years, Harriet Jacobs lived in this 9 Χ 7 foot, poorly ventilated space with a narrow opening through which she could view the outside world and her children. It contained a loose board floor, and its pent roof was covered only with shingles. Although the conditions of this space were suitable only for the rats living there alongside Jacobs, she stated in her book entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, penned and published under the name Linda Brent, " I would have chosen this, [unreadable] as a slave, though white people considered it an easy one."
Born in Edenton, North Carolina in 1861, Jacobs was taught to read, write, and sew. She criticized the relationship between Christianity, slavery, and money, describing a slave holder thusly, "he boasted the [unreadable] of a Christian though Satan never had a truer favor." Ultimately, Jacobs viewed American slavery, justified by Christianity, as a great hypocrysy. Go in the roduced attic and imagine living there for seven years.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 38° 19.322′ N, 77° 30.51′ W.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Voices of the Present (here, next to this marker); Henry "Box" Brown (here, next to this marker); Voices of the Past (a few steps from this marker); Middle Passage (a few steps from this marker); Acts of Bravery (a few steps from this marker); Quest For Knowledge (a few steps from this marker); Endurance Through It All (a few steps from this marker); Abolitionists (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 284 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
