Our Nig - (book review)

(image source: nyashajunior.com)

Our Nig; Or, sketches from the Life of a Free Black, in a Two-Story White House, North.

By Harriet E. Wilson

I love books about black history, politics, and demonstrations of how far we’ve come to living liberal through literature and custom to our own selves, whether in South Africa or internationally. This book is a fictional autobiography by Harriet E. Wilson.

You get a feeling that there is quite a lot a black being had to adhere at the same time you get to see that not every white madam wore the devils horns as a crown.

The title of the book is quite a lengthy one, but the first two words ‘Our Nig’, straight away I sensed slavery and injustice towards those of colour. What an old read it is.

The author carefully plays it safe by making this fiction one that involves family and the community. The Nig transitioned from being a dark, curly-haired little girl to a married woman after enduring the harshest upbringing. Frado was her name. Oh what a beautiful name she had.

Although this book has been reviewed by many critics, Our Nig was largely forgotten soon after its publication in 1859, possibly due to its criticism of abolitionists and the controversial portrayal of an interracial marriage. 

Frado is born from a white mother, Mag, and a black African father Jim. After Jim dies, Mag befriends Jim’s friend but can no longer take care of little Frado, so they abandon her with the Ballmonts.

At just the tender age of 7, she was already accustomed to working on the fields and seen an object as she was always referred to as a thing by the ever-so-cruel Mrs. B.

Frado seems to be followed by darkness and misfortune. Her mother abandoned her, she is a slave and a prisoner to Mrs. B, everyone who meets her pities her, punishment is her every day routine, her job is to keep working.

“No mother, father, brother or sister to care for me, and then it is, You lazy nigger, lazy nigger- all because I am black! Oh, if I could die!” (pg.136)

Frado could only find comfort in her dog (Fido) and her little Bible. It is good that the author brought religion and belief into this reading because believing in something can sometimes be our only escape from reality, especially when you’re lonely.

The word nigger is repeated almost on every page of this book, with hopes that it does not offend anyone in this era. But, to my knowledge tensions were quite high at the time between the white and the black.

Being black was seeing as a sin. Segregation existed for the superiority of the powerful one, the educated ones; the one’s whose skin was clean.

“You know these niggers are just like black snakes, you CAN'T kill them. If she wasn’t tough she would have been killed long ago. There was never one of my girls could do half the work.” (pg.160)

Frado’s goodwill was taken for a ride, she was oppressed and given the idea that that’s all she’s good for- working.

But we witness a very strong woman who wants to do something of herself hence she started going to school, then read the Bible, then ministry meetings. Her wounded spirit never a day stopped revealing her good nature and submissiveness.

Towards the closing chapters, Nig, who is no longer little, falls ill but still determined of helping herself get better. She lost many of those who cared for her and once again going almost lonely like the first few days she waiting on her mother’s return.

Her letter she wrote to her mother speaking of her burdens, touching, almost feeling like I was beside her whilst she jotted each word. I realised I became part of her memories as a young woman of colour.

“Then I flung myself on the bed and cried, until I could no longer.”(pg. 243)

Wilson, the author, took black literature and tried so hard to make it not a racist one but one where you can put yourself in Frado’s shoes and begin to shape your understanding on the pain and suffering those referred to as Negros had to abide.