Genovese and Northup

A detailed Summary of Genovese and Northup

Essay written by Joe Masters

Slavery as a global institution tends to have an unreal aura surrounding it. Modern

perspectives cannot be empathetic because it is not an institution even partially

realized in the last century of American life. This is why even through reading Eugene

Genovese's Roll, Jordan, Roll and examining most of the aspects of slave life, slavery

still remains a mystery in the personal sense. Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave,

in addition to being one of Genovese's own resources, fills this void with its brutally

honest personal story of a slave's life. Northup's account enlightens and strengthens

Genovese's arguments, specifically those concerning labor, the master-slave

relationship, and rebellion, by putting global descriptions in a personal perspective.

One of the main advantages of 12 Years a Slave is that Northup is a slave himself, and

in that respect does not have to be an apologist for slavery and slaveholders. It is not

that Genovese himself is an apologist, but as a modern Caucasian, he must approach

the subject of casting any light that might be perceived as positive on slaveholders

with trepidation. Although Genovese

in Bayou Boeuf has some aspects of paternalism: slaves are more locked into their

This overwhelming weight can then be applied over the millions of slaves who could not

Northup's tale hones in more on what the individual experience is in slavery; and it is

his debate with Bass7. On the other hand, Epps clearly sees himself as a father to his

alone. Northup agrees with Genovese at least to the extent that the system of slavery

The details of working cotton and sugar cane differ little from Genovese to Northup.

powerful. Both show poor whites as using the patrols as an advantage to assert their

his slaves reciprocated. In fact, Northup recounts a conversation with Ford's slave

by purchase or otherwise. And the slaves that run away, as described by Northup, go

The white power structure as defined by both Genovese and Northup overwhelmingly

Approximate Word count = 2577
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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