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2 Letter 1: Topic (Gender Inequality) Dear Linda, After reading your story, I was truly amazed and shocked about the events that went on during your experience with slavery. I wanted to discuss some of problems and conflicts you faced during your time in slavery as I would like to learn more as an interested reader of your biography. Was gender inequality very prevalent during that time period? I assume female slaves were not treated the same from others but I would honestly appreciate if you could go into more detail about that. First of all, Linda were slaves treated the same on plantations? I ask this because based on your anecdote, women were treated worse. You said that at as a 15 year old, “My master began to whisper foul words in my ear.” Also you gave many numerous other examples of women being not given the basic rights the other genders during that time period got. Reading your story, I felt that you wanted to give an underlying message that women had a harder time than men during that time. I think this because you gave more numerous examples of women being treated worse than men. If you get a chance to write back, please can you go into detail of your “underlying message” indicating that gender inequality was present during this time period. Second of all, I felt as a reader than men had it easier for them whether they were black or white. I said this because men seemed to overpower women during this time period. Also, the black man you wanted to marry for a time was free easily, while your grandma was free after decades of hard work. Do you agree with my logic or am I completely wrong with my assumption that women had it harder for them instead of men? Moreover, your narrative felt as a message to women that inequality exists in the world and they have to fight for the same rights as men. Overall, I deduced that you wanted to show that men had it easier for themselves regardless of their skin color. In addition, I came to the conclusion that white women and black women were treated less than their male counterparts. I say this because Mrs. Flint, no matter how mean and cruel she was to you, was completely overpowered and cheated on by Dr. Flint. In your story you said, “As I went on with my account her color changed frequently, she wept, and sometimes groaned.” Mrs. Flint was allowed to be cheated on without being able to do anything, but had it been her to cheat on Mr. Flint she would have had to pay major consequences. To summarize, I felt that women and men of both races were not treated equally. In conclusion, I hope you can answer my questions about gender inequality. I found this a very interesting but yet unanswered topic throughout the story. You seemed to throw major shots and shade with underlying messages about gender inequality. Your story helped me understand that although slavery was a prominent issue during that time, it wasn’t the only issue that people during that time faced. With Warm Regards, Evyavan Patel
3 Letter 2: Topic (Dr. Flint) Dear Linda, I am continuing to write to you about the topics, which I wanted to understand more about. The purpose of this letter is to ask you questions I had about Dr. Flint. I apologize if this a topic you might feel uncomfortable with because of your past with him but I am truly interested in learning more about this egregious man who mistreated you so much. As a reader, I felt that Dr. Flint didn’t realize that most of his actions caused you to push away from him rather than show attraction towards him. First of all, my first question was how you felt about Dr. Flint when you were young at the age of 14-15. I ask this because you said that at as a 15 year old, “My master began to whisper foul words in your ear.” Did you as a 15 year old understand that your master Dr. Flint was taking advantage of you? I honestly cannot imagine experiencing such horrendous words at such a young age and losing any innocence that you have. I would assume Mrs. Flint wouldn’t have known about her husband’s bad acts but maybe if you get the chance to write back you can address my questions. To summarize, my concerns were whether you understand as such a young teenager the crime Dr. Flint was committing. Second of all, I wanted to ask about how did Dr. Flint’s actions to pursue your romance affect his wife Mrs. Flint. In your memoir you mentioned, “She spoke in tones so sad, that I was touched by her grief.” How did she feel knowing that the person she gave marital vows to was blatantly cheating on her in front of her. She must also have felt degraded because her white husband was cheating on her with a black women which was severely frowned upon during that time. I say this because of the notion during the time period that white people were better than black people. Overall, did Dr. Flint’s actions affect Mrs. Flint is a very negative way? Lastly, my questions are directed towards Dr. Flint himself. Dr. Flint’s actions were all directed to impress you but they always brought you further away. Did he not realize that you did not appreciate the actions he did? As a reader, I felt that he was the type of guy who just couldn’t take a hint no matter how much the girl doesn’t like them. You were scared of him and I say this because you said “But Dr. Flint swore he would kill me, if I was not as silent as the grave.” This quotation showed that you were afraid of him and what he would do to you. How could you honestly live with this constant fear? Overall, I ask about whether Dr. Flint knew that his actions were driving you away instead of attracting you towards him. In conclusion, I hope you are able to answer my concerns and questions about Dr. Flint. It amazes and shocks me simultaneously than a man can go through so much trouble for a woman he barely knew. He might have felt like you were the best person he met and thought it was worth giving up his reputation and dignity for it. At some points, I felt pity over his countless attempts to not take a hint because that was in a slight way relatable and the feeling that he in a way knew you would never like him romantically hurt me as a reader. With Warm Regards, Evyavan Patel
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Letter 3: Topic (Family) Dear Linda, Once again, I am expressing another section of my questions to you in letter. Your family was very important to you during this time period and I assume was one of the reasons that gave you hope to fight through this horrible time. Family was a very important component that gave many people the strength during this time to fight the harsh conditions. I wanted to find out more from you on the impact that family had on you. Hopefully you can tell me whether your grandmother, William, and your kids were the motivation for you to achieve freedom. First of all, my questions are as to what extent of your passion for freedom was based on your grandmother. In your memoir it said, “But what consequence was that, when she had a big heart overflowing with human kindness? She gave the old servant her freedom.” This quotation was when your grandmother was given permanent freedom after years of being a slaves. She was able to achieve freedom after years of hard work and sacrifice. Did you ever have hope that one day if you worked hard and sacrificed just like your grandmother you would achieve freedom? Overall, I was just wondering if your grandmother had any influence on your motivation for freedom. Second of all, I have questions about whether your brother William furthered your motivation to achieve freedom. William was the second member of your family to have achieved William to be free.” This showed that William was free from the chains of slavery while you were not. His achievement of freedom must have motivated you to want the same privileges andw opportunities freedom gave. Overall, I wanted to ask if William had any impact on your motivation for freedom. Lastly, as a reader, I wonder if your kids were also the fuel to your motivation for freedom. Your children were almost put into slavery which I assume was the wake up call you needed to realize that freedom was necessary. In your story it said, crying. I went to look at my children, and thanked God for their happy sleep.” Your children brought you immense happiness and the thought of them being given up of their freedom must have been the most fuel for you to achieve freedom. In conclusion, I believe you wanted to achieve freedom because of the influence of your grandmother, brother, and children. Freedom wasn’t something that was achieved easily and the fight for it was very long and extremely tedious. I truly commend you on your fight for freedom and the amazing parenting you did. With Warm Regards, Evyavan Patel
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Letter 4: Topic (Aunt Martha) Dear Linda, Once again, I am writing to you with puzzlements and inquiries about your grandmother. Your bond that you shared with your grandmother was very unique and clearly seen and displayed throughout your story. However I describe the relationship you had with your grandmother as slightly volatile. I say this because at a time she cared for you then she did not and then she did again. First of all, your grandmother was a very caring individual in your life when you were a young slave. Her acts of kindness were small and large. For example, she had “taken my old shoes, and replaced them with a new pair.” This was one of the many acts of kindness your grandmother committed towards you. She tried to care for you while you were under slavery’s chains and she was free. Were you ever jealous that she was free and you weren’t? I apologize for asking such a question but I would like to know if you ever felt your grandmother was more privileged than you. To summarize, I wanted to understand more about appreciation for your grandmother’s kindness when you were in your slave youth. Furthermore I wanted to ask you questions about that period when your grandmother did not appreciate you. This period was when she found out you were pregnant and assumed that you had got pregnant on your own will. The actual quote from your memoir brought me to tears. In the text it said, “O Linda! Has it come to this? I had rather see you dead than to see you as you now are. You are a disgrace to your dead mother." She tore from my fingers my mother's wedding ring and her silver thimble. "Go away!" she exclaimed, "and never come to my house, again.” This quote was during that time when your grandmother was ashamed when she learned about your pregnancy. You stated on an outside level how you felt about the insults she hurled at you. My question to you however, is how you felt on the inside and in your mind? Did any part of you feel anger towards your grandmother not understanding or did you feel like you should have corrected your grandmother? Overall, my questions are more concerned with how you felt about your grandmother during that stage when she disliked you. In conclusion, most of my questions to you about your grandmother including how you felt about her when she did and did not care about you. I felt in my honest opinion that your grandmother should have at least considered your situation rather than being so harsh. She should have at least talked to you about it rather than being so hostile at that time and saying she was kicking you out. With Warm Regards, Evyavan Patel
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Letter 5: Topic (Parents) Dear Linda, In my final letter to you, I wanted to ask you about the topic you rarely brought up in your narrative, your parents. I was quite fascinated with the story about your parents. I honestly apologize for them passing away at such an early age of your youth. It makes me wonder how you were able to survive those early stages of childhood without a parental figure. I understand that you had a grandmother but my opinion is that she could never given the same amount of love and affection a parent gives. First of all, I wanted to discuss your father if you do not mind. You talked about your father’s occupation saying “my father was a carpenter, and considered so intelligent and skillful in his trade.” You seem to have been very proud of your father and his job which is something I would expect of a loving child at the time. The respect you have for your father even though your time with him was very limited earns you my respect for always keeping him close to your heart. You also mentioned that your father’s biggest wish during his lifetime was to purchase his children with all his life savings. Why was he not able to do that? You said that he made more than $200 a year and after a few years of hard work he would have been able to at least purchase one of his children. Did he want to purchase them all at once? Overall, my questions and concerns are about your father and his intentions to purchase his children from the slave owners and masters. Additionally, I wanted to talk about your mother who you did not seem to mention too much. The main point I learned about your mother with what you talked about is that “When I was six years old, my mother died.” Your mother seemed to have the parental values which I deduced using context clues. She did not want you to get pregnant before you got married. I came to this conclusion because your grandmother felt of you as a disgrace to your mother because you got pregnant before marriage. I understand that it wasn’t your fault for becoming pregnant with a baby because Mr. Flint constantly sexually abused you and raped you to the point where you ended up having a baby who ended up dying very shortly after it was born. This was a time during the story where I felt true sadness because reading about a poor baby dying close to birth is very melancholy. Mainly, my questions dealt with your mother who you lost at the age of 6. In conclusion, this letter was mainly concerned with your parents including your mother and father. You lost both of these figures at an early age and you being able to survive through a rough childhood without them is absolutely commendable. Not having your mother and father around for your childhood may have given you the motivation to want to be there for your kids when they were growing up. With Warm Regards, Evyavan Patel