Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
                        --by Harriet Jacobs   

Jacobs was six years old when her mother died, but it wasn't until the death of her kind mistress that Jacobs began to feel the real sting of slavery. Jacobs was willed to a five-year old niece, where Jacobs endured cruelty from the Mrs. Flint and sexual harassment from Dr. Flint (Dr. James Norcom in real life). Determined to fight the advances of her master and eventually obtain freedom, Jacobs entered into a relationship with an unmarried, white neighbor who was attracted to her. The relationship produced two children. In desperation to escape Dr. Flint, Jacobs planned escape, first for herself, and then for her children. The "escape" plan turned into seven years of hiding for Jacobs, in a cramped attic space in the home of a friend! Finally, Jacobs is aided in escape to the north. She continued to write letters and seek help from friends until she saw her children safely moved to the north also. Ironically, Jacobs's own freedom did not actually come until long after she arrived in the north. To secure Jacobs's freedom, her employer, Mrs. Bruce, arranged the purchase of Jacobs (in the free state of New York!) and then set her free.