10.1 Harper's life and major works

Frances E.W. Harper, a pioneering African American writer, used her experiences to fuel her activism and literary works. Born free in 1825, she became an influential voice in the abolitionist and women's rights movements, shaping the discourse on race and gender in 19th-century America.

Harper's diverse body of work, including poetry, novels, and essays, addressed the complexities of African American life during and after slavery. Her most famous novel, "Iola Leroy," and popular poems like "Bury Me in a Free Land" continue to resonate, offering insights into the Reconstruction era's challenges.

Influences on Harper's Life and Work

Early Life and Education

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• Born free in Baltimore, Maryland in 1825 during widespread slavery in the United States
• Orphaned at a young age and raised by uncle William Watkins who ran the William Watkins Academy for Negro Youth
  • Academy greatly influenced her education and literary development
  • Exposed Harper to advanced education uncommon for African Americans at the time
• Became the first woman to teach at Union Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio in 1850
  • Marked the beginning of her career as an educator and public speaker
  • Provided platform to develop oratory skills used in later activism

Activism and Social Movements

• Involved with the Underground Railroad in the 1850s
  • Exposed Harper to harsh realities of slavery firsthand
  • Fueled her passion for abolitionism and racial justice
• Passage of Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 prompted increased political activism
  • Led Harper to lecture extensively on anti-slavery causes
  • Expanded her work to include women's rights advocacy
• Participated in various reform movements shaping her multifaceted approach to social justice
  • Temperance movement (advocated for alcohol prohibition)
  • Suffrage movement (fought for women's right to vote)
  • These experiences informed themes in her writing and speeches

Personal Life and Relationships

• Married Fenton Harper in 1860, widowed in 1864
  • Brief marriage and widowhood influenced her perspective on women's issues
  • Shaped her views on family life and independence for women
• Religious background and spiritual beliefs
  • Reflected in moral undertones of her poetry and prose
  • Incorporated biblical allusions in much of her writing (Moses: A Story of the Nile)
• Personal losses including early orphanhood and widowhood
  • Contributed to themes of resilience and perseverance in her characters
  • Informed poetic subjects dealing with grief and overcoming adversity

Harper's Literary Works

Poetry Collections

• First collection "Forest Leaves" published in 1845
  • Established Harper as a promising young African American poet
  • Explored themes of nature, spirituality, and social issues
• "Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects" (1854) became her most popular poetry collection
  • Included famous poem "Bury Me in a Free Land"
  • Addressed topics of slavery, freedom, and racial injustice
• "Sketches of Southern Life" (1872) depicted experiences of newly freed slaves
  • Set in Reconstruction-era South
  • Used dialect and storytelling to humanize former slaves' struggles
  • Poems like "Aunt Chloe's Politics" and "The Deliverance" highlighted social changes

Novels and Fiction

• "Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted" (1892) considered one of first novels by an African American woman
  • Explored themes of race, gender, and identity in post-Civil War America
  • Protagonist Iola Leroy navigates complex racial dynamics as a mixed-race woman
• "Minnie's Sacrifice" (1869) serialized novel addressing issues of racial passing
  • Examined challenges faced by mixed-race individuals in post-Civil War society
  • Critiqued racism and colorism within both white and black communities

Non-fiction and Essays

• "Moses: A Story of the Nile" (1869) reimagined biblical story as allegory for African American liberation
  • Drew parallels between Moses leading Israelites and the fight for black freedom
  • Blended religious themes with contemporary social commentary
• Essays and speeches articulated views on racial equality and social reform
  • "The Great Problem to Be Solved" (1875) addressed challenges of Reconstruction
  • "Woman's Political Future" argued for women's suffrage and political participation

Personal Experiences in Harper's Writing

Race and Identity

• Experience as free-born African American informed nuanced portrayal of race relations
  • "Iola Leroy" explored complexities of racial identity and passing
  • Poems like "The Slave Mother" and "The Slave Auction" drew from Underground Railroad involvement
• Early education at uncle's academy reflected in emphasis on literacy and education
  • Characters in novels often use education as tool for empowerment and social mobility
  • Poems like "Learning to Read" celebrated newly gained literacy among freed slaves

Gender and Women's Rights

• Experiences as 19th-century woman shaped advocacy for women's rights
  • Poem "Woman's Political Future" argued for women's suffrage
  • Strong female characters in fiction challenged gender norms (Iola Leroy, Minnie)
• Personal losses including widowhood influenced themes of female independence
  • Characters often navigate life's challenges without relying on male support
  • Explored complexities of marriage and family life for African American women

Southern Travels and Social Observations

• Travels through South as lecturer informed realistic portrayals of Southern life
  • "Sketches of Southern Life" captured dialect and customs of freed slaves
  • Depicted challenges faced by African Americans during Reconstruction
• Activism in various social movements reflected in multifaceted approach to reform
  • Characters often engage in temperance, education, and racial uplift activities
  • Essays addressed interconnected nature of various social issues (race, gender, class)