Mclaurin, the story of a young slave woman is narrated. Illuminating the moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of a slaveholding society, this book tells the story of a young slave who was sexually exploited by her master and ultimately executed for his. Celia was an ordinary slaveuntil she struck back at her abusive master and became the defendant in a landmark trial that threatened to undermine the very. Newsom purchased celia with the intention to purchase a replacement for his wife 18. Celia, a slave is a story that takes many different historical facts from the era that the book was placed in, and uses a slave named celias story to tie them all in and show how these events that didnt directly. All librivox recordings are in the public domain in the usa and available as free downloads on. Celia s defense team drafts an appeal to the missouri supreme court, but its exact contents arent known. Furthermore, celia was unable to write, meaning that she couldnt narrate the details of her own life. Illuminating the moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of a slaveholding society, this book tells the story of a young slave who was sexually exploited by her master. Celia, a slave quotes showing 16 of 6 the sixman inquest jury assembled was composed of local residents, men whose lives strikingly resembled that of the murdered robert newsom. This book was well written and well researched but was a very dry read.
Celia, a slave ayjhoffman177 celia, a slave in the summer of 1855, a slave named celia committed a crime that would test the laws and precedents placed on slaves in missouri. Jameson realizes that celia stands a very high likelihood of being executed before the supreme court responds. For nineteenyearold celia, a slave on a missouri farm, five years of being repeatedly raped by her middleaged owner was enough. As he gives us celia s story, mclaurin clearly explains the history of slavery in missouri and how it intertwined with the national politics of slavery. Getty imagesistockphoto she warned the white slave owner that the. The blow proved fatal and a terrified celia disposed of his body in her fireplace, a crime that was quickly discovered and brought to trial. Mclaurin uses celia s story to reveal the tensions that strained the fabric of antebellum southern society. Nicholas mcgee w1073395 history 320 fall 2012 how history exposes the system a significant portion of africanamerican history in the western new age democracy of the americas over the past four hundred years is a reminiscence of stories from the. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is.
Chapter 1 quotes many journeyed by foot, plodding mile after mile along. Celia was only fourteen years old when she was acquired by john newsom, an aging widower and one of the most prosperous and respected citizens of callaway county, missouri. At the time, thorough records of slaves lives were very rare, because they served little practical purpose for the slaves owners. Celia was facing the gallows when she went on trial in 1855 for the murder of the white slave owner who had been raping her. The inquest is conducted by two justices of the peace. Mclaurins booklength analysis of the trial and execution of celia, a slave in callaway county, missouri who kills her master and burns his body in her fireplace. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Very little is known about celia s life before she lived on newsoms property, but its known that when newsom bought her, she was fourteen years old. Librivox founded in 2005 is a community of volunteers from all over the world who record public domain texts. Celia, a slave is a story that takes many different historical facts from the era that the book was placed in, and uses a slave named celias story to tie them all in and show how these events that didnt directly affect her, would indirectly affect her, and the other slaves in this time as well. Illuminating the moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of a slaveholding society, this book tells the story of a young slave who was sexually exploited by her master and ultimately executed for his murder.
Find the quotes you need in melton mclaurins celia, a slave, sortable by theme, character, or chapter. The true crime case that rocked the american slave power published by sarah handleycousins on january 28, 2018 january 28, 2018 today, were talking about a very real murder that was committed by a very real woman who lived in missouri in the 1850s. Paradoxically, the entire book revolves around celia, but celia herself remains a mystery. As he gives us celias story, mclaurin clearly explains the history of slavery in missouri and how it intertwined with the national politics of slavery. Celia, a slave quotes from litcharts the creators of. Includes bibliographical references pages 166174 and index. Celia was only fourteen years old when she was acquired by john news. On the night of june 23, 1855, she would later tell a reporter, the devil got. Celia s case demonstrates how one masters abuse of power over a single slave forced whites to make moral decisions about the nature of slavery. Very little is known about celias life before she lived on newsoms property, but its known that when newsom bought her, she was fourteen years old. Celia, a woman who cohabits with a man who she is not married to because of social class toussaint louverture. Celia, a slave ayjhoffman177 celia, a slave in the summer of 1855, a slave named celia committed a crime that would test the laws and precedents placed on slaves in missouri during this time period celia was only fourteen when purchased by a slave owner, robert newsom in 1850. The callaway sheriff arranges for two men, thomas shoatman and jefferson jones, to.
Celia cruz celia cruz was born on october 21, 1924 in havana, cuba to simon cruz and catalina alfonso. For the next five years, she was cruelly and repeatedly molested by her abusive. This riveting and slim book tells what it can of the story of celia, a slave whose tragedy played out in rural missouri in the 19th century. Illuminating the moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of a slaveholding society, this book tells the story of a young slave who was sexually exploited by her. As he gives us celias story, mclaurin clearly explains the history of. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience.
Celia, a slave trial 1855 for nineteenyearold celia, a slave on a missouri farm, five years of being repeatedly raped by her middleaged owner was enough. Celia endured her masters attentions for years, until she became involved with a fellow slave named george and demanded that newsom stop. Celia, a slave important quotes yet the lives of lesser figures, men and women who lived and died in virtual anonymity, often better illustrate certain aspects of the major issues of a particular period than. Celia was an ordinary slaveuntil she struck back at her abusive master and became the defendant in a landmark trial that threatened to. Melton alonza mclaurin discusses the trial in 1855 of eighteenyearold slave celia for the murder of her sexually abusive master robert newsom in missouri. Celia had been bought at the age of fourteen by a male slaveholder named robert newsom. The true crime case that rocked the american slave power dig. Celia, a slave quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. On the night of june 23, 1855, she would later tell a reporter, the devil got into me and celia fatally clubbed her master as he approached her in her cabin. Mclaurin uses celias story to reveal the tensions that strained the fabric of antebellum southern society. In 1850, fourteenyearold celia became the property of robert newsom, a prosperous and respected missouri farmer. Celia, a slave summary from litcharts the creators of. Browse celia demures bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Celia demure audio books, best sellers, author bio.
Growing up, celia was surrounded by cubas diverse musical realm, and many of the musicians that she listened to as a child influenced her in her later years as a musician herself. Very little is known about celias life before she lived on. Mclaurin is a wonderful book about a single example of the sufferings slavery caused. Celia, a slave important quotes yet the lives of lesser figures, men and women who lived and died in virtual anonymity, often better illustrate certain aspects of the major issues of a particular period than do the lives of those who, through significant achievement, the appeal of the orator or the skill of the polemicist, achieve national. In 1850, fourteenyearold celia became the property of robert news. Robert newsom is in many ways typical of his missouri community. Flores, kimberly history 1218 11292017 celia, a slave in the book titled celia, a slave, written by melton a. Based on court records, correspondences and newspaper accounts past and present, celia, a slave is a powerful masterwork of passion and scholarshipa stunning literary achievement that brilliantly illuminates one of the most extraordinary events in the long, dark history of slavery in america. The murder trial of the slave celia, coming at a time. Nov 14, 2015 does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version. Celia, a slave ebook by barbara seyda rakuten kobo. Celia, a slave summary and study guide supersummary. This is the case of celia, an enslaved woman in 1850s america, and based on the work of historian melton mclaurin in celia, a slave.
The nook book ebook of the celia, a slave by melton a. Mclaurin, a historian, argues that celias case offers us important insights into how together, gender and racial oppression render enslaved women. Barbara seydas stunningly theatrical celia, a slave is a vivid tableau of interviews with the dead that interweaves oral histories with official archival records. The true crime case that rocked the american slave power. Robert newsom of missouri, who raped her before they even reached her new home, purchased celia in 1850 at the age of 14. Both a welltold historical narrative about a slave girl sexually exploited by her master, whom she later kills, and a thoughtful examination of the moral tensions that strained the fabric of the antebellum. This moving and masterfully told true story details the abuse and execution of a female black slave in antebellum missouri. Mclaurin details the events of a 19 year old slave girl who killed her master while defending herself against his sexual advances. Oct 19, 2017 celia was facing the gallows when she went on trial in 1855 for the murder of the white slave owner who had been raping her. This riveting and slim book tells what it can of the story of celia, a sl ave whose tragedy played out in rural missouri in the 19th century. Best of all, if after reading an ebook, you buy a paper version of celia, a slave.
Nicholas mcgee w1073395 history 320 fall 2012 how history exposes the system a significant portion of africanamerican history in the western new. In the year 1850, a prosperous missouri farmer named robert newsom buys a teenaged slave named celia. Reading the cup is essentially a domestic form of fortunetelling to be practiced at home, and with success by anyone who will take the trouble to master the simple rules laid down in these pages. The winner of the 2015 yale drama series playwriting competition was selected by nicholas wright, former associate director of londons royal court. It is based on the true story of celia, a slave who was bought and sexually molested. Celia was granted a courtappointed attorney named john jameson, a highly respected member of the. Nov 01, 1991 celia, a slave, a true story by melton a. Slave narrative from the federal writers project of 1938 duration. Buy a cheap copy of celia, a slave book by melton a. Based on court records, correspondences and newspaper accounts past and present, celia, a slave is a powerful masterwork of passion and scholarshipa stunning literary achievement. What is known is that by early december, the supreme court hasnt made any reply to the appeal. To have empowered slave women in the domestic arena, to have recognized their right to control their sexuality, would have undercut the power of the master to a degree that would have threatened the very survival of the institution.
5 487 295 387 766 84 1196 1591 116 221 1462 204 198 1481 1052 703 1392 1215 916 923 825 1050 118 223 1342 917 1243 466 1256 624 1329 1065 835 1141 1333 331 1121 123 970 82 1206 351 654