Fred W. Kennedy: "Daddy Sharpe"

[Betty]

The subtitle aptly alludes to the intent of this partly fictionalized memoir, "A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Samuel Sharpe, A West Indian Slave Written by Himself, 1832". The first part, 'Cooper's Hill,' occurs between 1814 and 1819, the "night I was seated in front of the Negro houses in a circle with Tacky, Mama and two of my best friends, Robert Gardner and Thomas Dove." Part 2, 'The Bay' (Montego Bay) continues between the years 1819 and 1823. Part 3 turns to his birthplace 'Croydon Estate' between 1824 and 1831, Part 4 'The Bush' leads the story to 1831 to 1832, and a Mrs. Sharpe writes an 'Epilogue' signed 1834.

Apart from the informative subtitle, the main title Daddy Sharpe raises a question about the prefix. A hint to that occurs in "The Gleaner" "Arnold Bertram | Remembering Sam Sharpe And The Emancipation Rebellion 1831-32". Memorials of his cultural importance in Jamaican life occur in Wikipedia | "Samuel Sharpe".

[Betty]

So far, I think that the author Fred W. Kennedy's approach shows more restraint in his descriptions than Marlon James did. The former also provides clues in the text about objects, such as osnaburg and those calabashes worn while dancing. Of course, other sources would provide a fuller explanation. It will be relevant to learn how the main character of this fictionalized memoir found inspiration in Baptist Christianity for his antislavery beliefs and actions. The following summarizes Sam Sharpe's intentions for the end of slavery and why events turned out differently from his plan.

•Jamaica Information Service summarizes Sam Sharpe's intentions for 'the 1831 Slave Rebellion' and its outcome.

•The Abolition Project, Case Study 4

•National Library of Jamaica: Labour Day. Samuel 'Sam' Sharpe.

[Missy J]

I just finished reading Part One of this book. It started off slowly, but I'm now completely immersed in it. Besides the narrative voice of Samuel Sharpe (the slave), we also have the journal entries of the master's wife Mrs Sharpe and the overseer Mr. Crowford.

I just have a quick question, who is Mr Henry? Is he the son of Mr and Mrs Sharpe? Is Anna his older sister, who is studying in England and Mr Henry convinced Mr Sharpe that he wants to stay on the island?

Thanks for putting up the links Asma. I think I will refer to them more when I get the the rebellion part of the book. Now, back to the book...

[James]

As usual, I'll start with posting my review:

Samuel Sharpe, one of Jamaica's "Seven National Heroes", was the leader of a large scale slave rebellion in 1831-32. He was sort of the Nat Turner of Jamaica, and this book, like William Styron's The Confessions of Nat Turner, is presented as if it were the actual narrative written by the character in prison before his execution. Although the novel sticks to the facts which are known, primarily about the rebellion itself, which is the most interesting part, the early life and many of the details and secondary characters are fictional. The book is unusual for a work of fiction in having notes and a bibliography.

The book is not bad for a first novel, although there are definite faults; the description of the plantation is somewhat stereotyped and has the cliché of the good master/cruel overseer which dates from Uncle Tom's Cabin or earlier. I can certainly believe that slave owners protected themselves from unpleasantness and possible reprisals by delegating the "dirty work" to the overseers, while taking credit themselves for any mercy or concessions, just as in a modern factory the "dirty work" is left to the bottom level foremen and the upper levels of management try to seem benevolent and reasonable. In both cases, however, the reality is that the policies are set by the owners and higher-ups and any overseer or foreman who deviated too much in either direction would soon be out of a job. So while I have no problem with the average slaves being shown believing the overseer rather than the owner is the enemy, I have a problem with the author not undercutting that at all, and with a militant character like Samuel Sharpe being taken in by it.

Other aspects I have trouble with are showing the hero as a kind of Christian version of Ghandi who wants to carry out nonviolent resistance but is forced into violence by extremists among his followers -- this represents more a liberal version of history which is uncomfortable with violent resistance of the oppressed. Although I read it a long time ago, I seem to remember a similar problem in Styron's novel. It may of course be based on the historical documents, but naturally this would be the account that any intelligent slave would give in prison who was trying to minimize his responsibility for what the whites would consider as crimes. In general, I think the white "allies" are given more credit than they probably deserve -- while there may well have been dedicated anti-slavery activists among the whites, I think they should have been shown more hesitant, and in particular the Black leaders should not be shown as taken in so completely -- frankly, I think the Blacks would have been much more skeptical and cautious with regard to white "friends". The impression the novel gives is that the white allies were ultimately, if unintentionally, responsible; which of course was the take of the white propaganda -- Blacks (and workers) are always happy to "know their place" until outside agitators arrive. . . Perhaps all these problems then were a result of the biases of the documents which the author used for his evidently very thorough research; and if these "confessions" were really supposed to be the actual apology of someone trying to defend himself it would be believable, but we are obviously intended to take the narrative as "true" and not a fiction by Sharpe just trying to get off, which means the author is somewhat responsible for the way things are presented.

Finally, the rebellion, like that of Nat Turner and many others in the U.S., Jamaica and elsewhere had a strong religious ideology, and it is correct to emphasize that from a historical point of view -- Sharpe's rebellion was after all called "the Baptist War" -- but from the point of view of the modern non-religious reader, there were just too many sermons. These were the only places where I lost interest.

All in all, though, this was a good contribution to my understanding of Jamaican history and ultimately an inspiring book, which I would recommend.

======================================

Missy, if I remember rightly -- I had to bring the book back to the library because one of my coworkers is also in this group and needed to read it -- it is deliberately left ambiguous what Henry and Anna's relationship to the Sharpes is; they treat them as their children but there is a suggestion they may not be. But maybe I'm mis-remembering this.

[Betty]

Missy J wrote: "...Besides the narrative voice of Samuel Sharpe (the slave), we also have the journal entries..."

Mr. Crawford's and Mrs. Sharpe's journal chapters bring their perspectives about events and themselves to the reader. They introduce their two voices, distinct from the narrator, into Part I. Before their voices occurred, the overseer Mr. Crawford perpetuates awful deeds, even Sam's mother attempting to inform Mr. Sharpe of it. The owner's wife Mrs. Sharpe describes Sam's mother as a woman who obtains the necessary items and so forth through her indulging Mr. Crawford. Crawford's journal broadens the impression about himself, revealing his fright and bewilderment about his physical illness, likely something which obeah might fix. He also addresses some different opinions about plantation matters from Mr. Sharpe.

From the perspective of Mrs. Sharpe's journal, a reader learns numerous viewpoints held by Mrs. Sharpe. Her husband gives the servant Sam too much independence and learning, for example. Her entries further talk about the children -- her own, Mr. Sharpe's through infidelity, and adopted ones -- and her childbearing role as a life's purpose.

[Betty]

James wrote: "...Samuel Sharpe, one of Jamaica's "Seven National Heroes," was the leader of a large-scale slave rebellion in 1831-32. He was [...] the Nat Turner of J..."

I, too, read The Confessions of Nat Turner years ago. A Goodreads' synopsis indicates some similarities with Daddy Sharpe (1831 rebellion year; educated and religious main character experiencing slavery). The two men's motives appear to diverge either as a peaceful way or a violent way.

In the previously read The Book of Night Women, authoritarian characters (owner, overseers, and Johnny-jumpers) made manifest uncontrollable tempers or desires toward slaves. The exception fell to the Irishman overseer of a double-sided temperament -- harshness during his job and love and patience for Lilith. Perhaps what you say, James, that the foreman had to carry out the expectations of his position, even in this instance of frequent friendship between the two men. Too, his origin gave him a prior taste of serfdom and black status in Jamaica and perhaps led to some fellow feeling.

About your next point where responsibility for the rebellion lay, Night Women differed, too. In that story, the group of negro house women with obeah and myal religious belief plots the insurrection for freedom, retaliation, or both, aiding its coordination with the simultaneous revolt over eastern Jamaica. I gather that the sources of rebellion in Daddy Sharpe emanated from the white religious community.

[Missy J]

James wrote: "Missy, if I remember rightly -- I had to bring the book back to the library because one of my coworkers is also in this group and needed to read it -- it is deliberately left ambiguous what Henry and Anna's relationship to the Sharpes ..."

Thanks for the clarification, James. I tried to find the sentence that first mentions Henry in the book. But alas, I think the author did leave the relationship between the Sharpes and Henry ambiguous.

Asma, thanks for posting the remaining Jamaica books for January to April 2018! It's quite a list :)

I also found myself thinking about Lilith and the Book of Night Women while reading about the Baptist War led by Samuel Sharpe. In Kennedy's novel, we learn of the historic influences on slave rebellion. The missionary teaching of Christianity led the slaves to think of themselves as humans just like their white masters. Some even learned how to read and write due to the church and/or friendly master. On top of that, there were rumors of the British King handing out emancipation papers soon and that the folks in Britain were advocating for the end of slavery.

Both novels also mention the Maroon people and how they would capture runaway slaves and sell them back to the whites. However, Marlon succeeded in showcasing the complexity of the slave's personality, survival and interactions with others.

[Betty]

Missy J wrote: "...In Kennedy's novel, we learn of the historic influences on slave rebellion..."

Those arguments among the planters at the end of part 2 narrate their conflicting outlooks, as England's discussion about abolition and Baptist missionaries reach the colony of Jamaica. The former's adamant, inflamed disagreement with each other about emancipation lead to the de-escalation of a duel. Similar descriptions of persuasion might have happened anytime in history.

Though the author has portrayed the actions of a decent, independent Sam Sharpe with some faults, Sam's conversations lend him the impression of a milquetoast.