Celia, a Slave

This book explores the moral dilemmas of a slaveholding society by telling the story of Celia, a young slave who was sexually exploited by her master and executed for his murder. Celia's case reveals the tensions in antebellum southern society and how one master's abuse of power forced whites to make moral decisions about slavery. The book also examines the role of gender and how female slaves were sexually exploited and the inability of male slaves to defend them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2021
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Celia, a young slave, was acquired by John Newsom, an aging widower and a prominent citizen of Callaway County, Missouri. Their relationship soon turned abusive, with Newsom raping her on their journey back to his farm. He then established her in a small cabin near his house and visited her regularly, likely with the knowledge of his son and two daughters. Over the next five years, Celia bore Newsom two children. At the same time, she became involved with a slave named George, who urged her to end her relationship with her master. When Newsom refused, Celia, in a moment of desperation, struck him fatally with a club and disposed of his body in her fireplace.

Her act was quickly discovered, and Celia was brought to trial. Despite a vigorous defense by her court-appointed attorneys, who argued that women had the right to use deadly force to defend their honor, the court upheld the tenets of a white social order that exerted almost total control over the lives of slaves. Celia was found guilty and hanged.

Melton A. McLaurin uses Celia's story to explore the moral dilemmas that lay at the heart of a slaveholding society. Celia's case demonstrates how one master's abuse of power over a single slave forced whites to confront the moral implications of slavery. McLaurin also focuses sharply on the role of gender, examining the degree to which female slaves were sexually exploited and abused.

Celia's story is a haunting reminder of the brutal reality of slavery and the profound moral dilemmas that it presented. It serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820360966