What does Incidents mean today?

When I really think about it, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl blows me away. Sometimes, I fall into the 21^st century reader trap and think, “Wow, I can’t believe Harriet Jacobs actually experienced all this. It’s awful. I’m so glad slavery is over.” Then, I try to think about what a reader of the 19^th century would think. The crazy thing about this novel is that it was published while slavery was occurring. Incidents was not published as a historical memoir; it was a current event. When Jacobs writes, “Reader, my story ends with freedom;” Jacobs is addressing people who have slavery in their daily lives (156). If I was reading this novel while slavery was occurring, what would I think about Incidents then? We have talked in class about what Incidents, as well as other novels this semester urge readers to do: to take action and change something.

I refuse to believe that this novel does not mean anything to the “reader” today. Jacobs can still motivate us to do something. Although slavery is no longer legal in this country, racial discrimination still does exist. Likewise; there are many instances of human trafficking that occur in this country and around the world. As readers, what can we do? What would Jacobs want us to do? Because we are still reading this text centuries later, I believe that Jacob’s text still has the power to motivate readers to be active and change human injustices. 

Here is a video I found about human trafficking in California. The Case Act that is being discussed will go to ballot in November. Just this month, West Virginia criminalized human trafficking. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa_Wo4hbh50&feature=related