Mclaurin, a historian, argues that celia s case offers us important insights into how together, gender and racial oppression render enslaved women. Mclaurin, is an historiographical book that explains life events of slaves in the antebellum era in missouri and politics that surrounded the ownership of slaves. Mclaurins book length 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. Does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version. For the next five years, she was cruelly and repeatedly molested by her abusive masterand bore him two children in the process. Melton mclaurin references an enormous number of historical events in his book celia, a slave, which tells the story of slavery through the eyes of a female slave. 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. Mclaurins celia offers readers a detailed study of the trial of a slave who was convicted and executed by the state of missouri in 1855 for murdering her master. A young hot shot with aspirations of protecting her. Newsom purchased celia with the intention to purchase a replacement for his wife 18.
Celia, 19, had endured five years of assaults by robert newsom, the missouri widower in his 70s whod purchased her when she was 14. 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. Celia had been bought at the age of fourteen by a male slaveholder named robert newsom. Celia died december 21, 1855 was an enslaved woman found guilty of the firstdegree murder of robert newsom, her owner, in callaway county, missouri. Mclaurin uses celias story to reveal the tensions that strained the fabric of antebellum southern society. Jameson realizes that celia stands a very high likelihood of being executed before the supreme court responds. There are two ways in which to look at mclaurins book.
Adele logan alexanders is a much broader study, covering some ninety years and several georgia counties, to examine the lives of several generations of free women of color. Celia, a slave trial 1855 for nineteenyearold celia, a sl ave on a missouri farm, five years of being repeatedly raped by her middleaged owner was enough. 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. Celia a slave download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Flores, kimberly history 1218 11292017 celia, a slave in the book titled celia, a slave, written by melton a. Buy a cheap copy of celia, a slave book by melton a.
For nineteenyearold celia, a slave on a missouri farm, five years of being repeatedly raped by her middleaged owner was enough. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Mclaurin details the events of a 19 year old slave girl who killed her master while defending herself against his sexual advances. 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. Celia killed robert newsom on accident in self defense to stop newsom from raping her, which was a controversial argument at the time. Celia s defense team drafts an appeal to the missouri supreme court, but its exact contents arent known. In 1850, fourteenyearold celia became the property of robert newsom, a prosperous and respected missouri farmer. The callaway sheriff arranges for two men, thomas shoatman and jefferson jones, to interrogate celia about having accomplices. 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. This is the case of celia, an enslaved woman in 1850s america, and based on the work of.
The inquest is conducted by two justices of the peace. Oct 19, 2017 she warned the white slave owner that the rapes had to stop. They represent events where the lawful system never truly works, and are evidence to africanamerican struggle at the time. The true crime case that rocked the american slave power dig. 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. This is a great book to read if you are interested in what it was like to bea slave, or even if you need to do some kind of report.
Celia, a slave summary from litcharts the creators of. Celia, a slave is a book written by melton mclaurin in 1991. The murder trial of the slave celia, coming at a time. Celia, 19, had endured five years of assaults by robert newsom, the missouri widower in. The book is based on the trial of celia, slave girl to robert newsome, who was tried for his murder in callaway county, missouri, during the 1850s. Meltons account of her trial documents the hopelessness of a slaves plight. Celia, a slave theme moral paradox and ambiguity the books main focus is on the moral ambiguity of chattel slavery and how the sexual element of celias case forces the people around her to confront the morality of slavery with regard to rape. 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. What is known is that by early december, the supreme court hasnt made any reply to the appeal.
Celia, a slave 9780380803361 by mclaurin, melton a and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Celia was only fourteen years old when she was acquired by john news. He eventually cracked and gave up valuable information on the whereabouts of celia, and she was later captured. 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. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. 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. This book was well written and well researched but was a very dry read. The themes presented in this book were seen throughout all areas where slavery was common. Celia was provided with a lawyer, which was another important situation.
Celia, a slave quotes from litcharts the creators of. From elite protest to popular revolt, 17631783 21 terms. Find the quotes you need in melton mclaurins celia, a slave, sortable by theme, character, or chapter. 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. Robert newsom is in many ways typical of his missouri community. In the year 1850, a prosperous missouri farmer named robert newsom buys a teenaged slave named celia. But in 1855, driven to the limits of her endurance, celia fought back. Celia endured her masters attentions for years, until she became involved with a fellow slave named george and demanded that newsom stop. Mclaurin, the story of a young slave woman is narrated. 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. Mclaurin, the accounts of one womans life are bound together in a vivid way to relay the circumstances surrounding a female slaves cruel life.
The trial was the climax of a tumultuous three decades in missouri and neighboring state kansas. Best of all, if after reading an ebook, you buy a paper version of celia, a slave. Shoatman is relatively poor, and owns no property or slaves. 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.
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. Celia, a slave summary and study guide supersummary. Celias case demonstrates how one masters abuse of power over a single slave forced whites. Mclaurin, a historian, argues that celias case offers us important insights into how together, gender and racial oppression render enslaved women. The blow proved fatal and a terrified celia disposed of his body in her fireplace, a crime. She warned the white slave owner that the rapes had to stop. Nov 01, 1991 celia, a slave, a true story by melton a. Celia was found guilty of the killing, and sentenced to death. Celia, a slave quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Celia, a slave was an 1855 murder trial held in the circuit court of callaway county, missouri, in which an slave woman named celia was tried for the firstdegree murder of her owner, robert newsom. Chapter 1 quotes many journeyed by foot, plodding mile after mile along widened footpaths that hardly deserved to be called roads. Celias case demonstrates how one masters abuse of power over a single slave forced whites to make moral decisions about the nature of slavery.
Celia, a slave is and always will be a great and wellwritten historical hook which is actually fun to read. 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. It is based on the true story of celia, a slave who was bought and sexually molested by robert newsom, a resident of fulton township in calloway county, missouri. Mclaurin uses celia s story to reveal the tensions that strained the fabric of antebellum southern society. A book report on celia, a slave essayscelia, a slave by melton a.
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