ABSTRACT
The slave narrative is a particularly important part of the tradition of African American literature as it has evolved from the necessity of survival experienced by oppressed persons while utilizing the language of slaves’ capturers as a source of rebellion. The narrative of Mary Prince is a particularly ample resource for looking at the past as an historical reminder of the cultural, ancestral, and religious influences of Africa for people of the diaspora. The History of Mary Prince, A West Indian Slave, Related by Herself was published in 1831 by anti-slaver Thomas Pringle. Exploring experiences of both male and female slave narratives such as these brings clarity to all issues of oppression, as gender plays a key role in the kinds of restraints and forms of resistance recorded in these histories. The conscious efforts toward embracing traditional African culture fostered respect for history and aided both personal and community survival.
