_bibb_narrative_selections

Page 1: Reward Notice and Context

• Subject: Notice for runaway slave Henry Bibb.

• Details:

  • Henry Bill's name appears.

  • Reward offered: $50 for his capture.

  • The date and location of the attempt to capture him: June 1838, Louisville, Kentucky.

  • Intended action: To sell Bibb in the slave market.

• Significance: Highlights the desperation and danger faced by escaped slaves and the monetary motivation for their capture by enslavers.

Page 2: Publication Information

• Title: Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave, Written by Himself.

• Context:

  • Written by Henry Bibb.

  • Includes an introduction by Lucius C. Matlack.

  • Edition: Third Stereotype Edition, published in 1850.

  • Published By: The author, New York, 5 Spruce Street.

• Relevance: The narrative serves as an essential primary source documenting the experiences of enslaved individuals in America.

Page 3: Escape Chapter Overview

• Chapter XI:

  • Themes:

    • Attending a prayer meeting against the odds.

    • Punishment anticipated for attending the meeting.

    • Attempt to escape alone and later return for family.

  • Context:

    • Slaves were typically forbidden from assembling for worship due to fears of rebellion.

• Meeting with Deacon:

  • A Deacon allows attendance, despite societal restrictions.

  • Discussion of the importance of religion and personal conscience in maintaining hope and humanity.

Page 4: Consequences of Attendance

• Consequences for Attending the Meeting:

  • Upon return, Bibb learns he is to be punished for attending the prayer meeting without permission.

  • Possible punishment: 500 lashes.

  • Attempts to understand how he was discovered.

• Bibb's Distress:

  • Mention of Malinda’s grief upon realizing the danger Bibb faces.

  • Fear that the punishment could be fatal.

Page 5: Decision to Escape

• Bibb’s Resolution:

  • Decides to escape due to the imminent punishment.

  • Contrasts the potential pain of punishment vs. the risk of escape.

• Preparations:

  • Plans to ride away on the Deacon’s mule.

  • Nervous challenges faced during escape, including the mule’s behavior.

Page 6: Wild Encounters and Near-Captures

• Survival Situation:

  • Camped in the Red River swamp, vulnerable to wild animals.

  • Encountered sounds of horses, feared capture by overseers.

  • Slept in a cane break, awoke to hoofbeats, kept the mule quiet to avoid detection.

• Return Home:

  • Found Malinda distressed, who fearfully informed Bibb about the search for him.

  • Risk of brutal punishment and potential separation driven by slaveholder laws.

Page 7: Escape with Family

• Family Involvement:

  • Decides to escape with wife and child due to the risk of being sold separately.

  • Description of their journey through wilderness, relying on limited food sources (parched corn, wild fruit).

  • Encountered a crossing opportunity via a tree, sharing a dangerous crossing experience with family.

Page 8: Perils of Escape

• Encounter with Wolves:

  • Spent the night in a risky situation with wolves howling nearby.

  • Fearful thoughts of mortality confronted by Bibb while securing his family's safety.

• Moments of Panic:

  • The family’s terrified response as they are surrounded.

  • Desperate prayers for survival amid the threat of predation.

Page 9: Dangerous Struggles

• Confrontation with Wolves:

  • Describes the physical confrontation with wolves using a bowie knife.

  • Reference to the emotional high-stakes desperation of his family's safety versus their potential slaughter.

  • Expresses thoughts of morality and the role of religion amid existential threats.

Page 10: Continued Flight and Tracking

• Return to Travel:

  • After successfully defending against wolves, they sought a way to continue their escape.

  • Eventually faced with fresh challenges through the wilderness, extending their search for safety.

• Threat of Bloodhounds:

  • Awareness of being tracked by relentless slave hunters, hearing their approaching yelps.

Page 11: Capture and Abandonment

• Final Confrontation with Slave Owners:

  • Engaged in a frantic escape from both dogs and hunters, repleting emotional and physical strains.

  • Surrendered for family safety, anticipated serious consequences from slaveholders.

• Punishment Destination:

  • Describes the emotional turmoil of facing severe punishment from the Deacon and the implications of their capture.