Brooding over Bloody Revenge: Enslaved Women’s Lethal Resistance

In her fourth book, Howard University professor of history Taylor (Driven Toward Madness) challenges the prevailing assumption that enslaved Black women resisted slavery solely through passive means. Although the women Taylor profiles typically first practiced nonviolent resistance, such as intentional work slowdowns, feigned illness or pregnancy, and arson, they finally resorted to violence to defend themselves against the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse they suffered at the hands of their enslavers. Because these seven women were criminally charged for their actions, details about their lives have been preserved, unlike the experiences of the majority of their enslaved peers. In particular, the women’s confessions, which often appeared in newspapers, as well as trial records and proceedings from coroner’s inquests, amplify their voices, ensuring their experiences, thoughts, and emotions can be heard today.