Henry
Bibb
was born in
Shelby County, Kentucky in 10th May, 1815. His father was state senator
James
Bibb. His mother, Mildred Jackson, a slave, worked on the plantation
owned by Willard Gatewood, and had seven children. As a child, Bibb
saw his brothers and sisters sold to different slave owners. As a
child, Bibb was hired out to various slave holders and had little
contact with his mother.
Bibb married in his late teens but was furious when his wife's owner
forced her to become a prostitute. After making several attempts to
escape he was finally successful in 1837. Six months later he returned
and helped his family escape, but they were caught and sold to a plantation
owner in Vicksburg, Ohio. Once again the family attempted to escape
but were captured after being attacked by wolves. Bibb was then sold
to a group of Native Americans. After escaping from them he began
his long and unsuccessful attempt to rescue the rest of the family.
In 1842 Bibb began lecturing on slavery and along with Frederick
Douglass and William Wells Brown,
became one of the best known of the African American activists. Bibb
also worked for the Liberty Party in
Michigan. During one lecture tour he met Mary Miles of Boston
and the couple married in June, 1848. The following year the Anti-Slavery
Society published his autobiography, Narrative
of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave.
In January 1851, Bibb joined with Josiah
Henson to form the Refugees'
Home Colony in Canada for escaped slaves. He also established Canada's
first African American newspaper, the
Voice
of the Fugitive.
Martin Delaney, was one of the newspaper's
regular contributors. During this period Bibb led the campaign to
persuade fugitive slaves and free African
Americans to settle in Canada. Henry
Bibb died during the summer of 1854.
(1)
Henry Bibb, The Life and Adventures of an American Slave (1849)
A
slave may be bought and sold in the market like an ox. He is liable
to be sold off to a distant land from his family. He is bound in chains
hand and foot; and his sufferings are aggravated a hundred fold, by
the terrible thought, that he is not allowed to struggle against misfortune,
corporal punishment, insults and outrages committed upon himself and
family; and he is not allowed to help himself, to resist or escape
the blow, which he sees impending over him. I was a slave, a prisoner
for life; I could possess nothing, nor acquire anything but what must
belong to my keeper. No one can imagine my feelings in my reflecting
moments, but he who has himself been a slave.
(2)
Henry
Bibb, The Life and Adventures of an American Slave (1849)
Slaves
were not allowed books, pen, ink, nor paper, to improve their minds.
There was a Miss Davies, a poor white girl, who offered to teach a
Sabbath School for the slaves. Books were supplied and she started
the school; but the news got to our owners that she was teaching us
to read. This caused quite an excitement in the neighbourhood. Patrols
were appointed to go and break it up the next Sabbath.
(3)
Henry
Bibb, The Life and Adventures of an American Slave (1849)
If
my wife must be exposed to the insults and licentious passions of
wicked slave-drivers and overseers; if she must bear the stripes of
the lash laid on my an unmerciful tyrant; if this is to be done with
impunity, which is frequently done by slaveholders and their abettors.
Heaven forbid that I should be compelled to watch the sight.
(4)
Henry
Bibb, The Life and Adventures of an American Slave (1849)
A
poor slave's wife can never be true to her husband contrary to the
will of her master. She can neither be pure nor virtuous, contrary
to the will of her master. She dare not refuse to be reduced to a
state of adultery at the will of her master.
(5)
In
1837 Henry Bibb managed to escape from slavery. He wrote about this
in his book, The Life and Adventures of an American Slave (1849)
One
of the most self-denying acts of my whole life was to take leave of
my affectionate wife, who stood before me on my departure, with dear
little Frances in her arms, and with tears of sorrow in her eyes as
she bid me a long farewell. It required all the moral courage that
I was master of to suppress my feelings while taking leave of my little
family.
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