Life of Isaac Mason as a Slave

by Isaac Mason

Reproduction of the original: Life of Isaac Mason as a Slave by Isaac Mason

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

44 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1893

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isaac Mason's biography left me feeling infuriated for him. The first half details his life as a slave, wherein he receives severe punishment for feeding a spoiled meat scrap (intended for him) to a dog. Just an example. The most revealing part of his story for me, was that he never had a safe place. There was no sanctuary. In reality this was true for all black slaves, but it really hit me reading this book. How does a person survive without this basic human need to feel safe?

The second half is a mix between redemption and intermittent failure. It's an important part of his story, as it educates the reader on the plight of the "free" Isaac Mason and his attempts at being self sufficient while fearing the Fugitive Slave Law. Talk about STRESS!

I would recommend this book after reading a few other slave narratives, for perspective. It's a brief account and I'm glad to have learned about the life of this lovely person.

[Wynsum Wise]

First person account of Isaac Mason who eventually runs away (several times) to the North. The narrative really brought home the feelings, fear, anxiety, desperation of the BODY SNATCHERS! Yes, they were real and had no regard for the status of the black person they were kidnapping.