Tag Archives: abolitionist

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THE ANTI SLAVERY ALPHABET- DONALD NG

It is really interesting how each alphabets resemble things that relate to slavery. What is more interesting that each letter resembles a different category within slavery. I feel that this book is entitled for kids whose parents are abolitionist (as discussed in class today). The reason why is because of the fact that a child whose parent that is not an abolitionist would think that this book is not relevant. This book is to spread the belief to families that are abolitionist and let their children know that it is wrong to enslave people. This book is from passionate abolitionist authors to make younger people feel that slavery is wrong and that it should end soon. The title and the first alphabet already gives the answer to who the author wants to express this to. For the age content I would believe that if would be for non adults because of the fact that the text would be hard for a very young children to understand. The last alphabet Z caught my attention as the author stated

    "Z is a Zealous man, sincere,
      Faithful, and just, and true;
    An earnest pleader for the slave--
      Will you not be so too?"

This message is to express that we are all not being faithful, we are no zealous, 
and we are not sincere. The author is appreciating the slaves for what they do.
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The Anti-Slavery Alphabet

The Anti-Slavery Alphabet was very interesting to me. The fact that such a political piece was directed at children and attempting to catch their attention is interesting. The author seems to want to influence the younger generation, which is something many do now. By using language the author attempts to both entice the child reader as well as make sure they understand the basic principles of what an abolitionist is standing up for. The rhyming of the poem also makes the grim topic somewhat enjoyable for the child reader, which is important.

 

” ‘E’ is the eagle, soaring high; An emblem of the free; But while we chain our brother man; Our type he cannot be.”

” ‘I’ is the Infant, from the arms of its fond mother torn, And, at a public auction, sold with horses, cows and corn.”

” ‘L’ is the Lash, that brutally he swung around its head, threatening that “if it cried again, he’d whip it till ’twas dead.”

 

These quotes all stood out to me. The first seems to be calling upon the child’s sense of humanity. The fact that the symbol of the country is the symbol of hope and freedom, however there are people who are no different then themselves who are not able to enjoy this freedom. The next two were some that I found to be a very harsh reality to be in a children’s “alphabet” book, however it was probably quite effective. To bring up the selling of children from their families, mothers in particular, this puts the children reading this in the shoes of those who is living this. The power in these last two quotes makes it apparent how important and urgent the author felt this issue to be.

I would really love to learn more about this book, I never knew about it before this and would love to get more of a background on it.