The quadroon girl. The Quadroon Girl by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 2022-12-14
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The quadroon girl was a term used in the antebellum United States to describe a person of mixed African and European ancestry, specifically someone who was one-quarter African and three-quarters European. This term was often used to describe people who were born into slavery, as the term "quadroon" was used to denote the percentage of African ancestry an individual had. The term "quadroon" was also used to describe people who were of mixed race but were not considered fully African American, as they had a higher percentage of European ancestry.
During the antebellum period, there was a significant cultural divide between people of African and European ancestry in the United States. African Americans were often treated as second-class citizens and were subjected to a number of discriminatory practices, including slavery, segregation, and Jim Crow laws. The quadroon girl, being of mixed race, often found herself caught in the middle of this divide.
Many quadroon girls were born into slavery and were treated as property, much like their African American counterparts. However, due to their mixed-race heritage, they were often given more privileges and opportunities than other enslaved individuals. For example, they might be allowed to work as house slaves rather than field slaves, or they might be given more comfortable living quarters.
In some cases, quadroon girls were used as a means of financial gain for their owners. They were often sold to wealthy European men as concubines, or they were sent to work in brothels. These girls were often treated as sexual objects and were subject to abuse and exploitation.
Despite the challenges that quadroon girls faced, many of them were able to rise above their circumstances and achieve success. Some were able to purchase their freedom or gain their emancipation through other means, and some were able to attain education and become successful professionals.
Today, the term "quadroon" is no longer in widespread use, as it carries with it the baggage of a painful and discriminatory past. However, the experiences of quadroon girls serve as a reminder of the complex and often painful history of race relations in the United States. It is important to remember and learn from this history in order to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
The Quadroon Girl. Poems on Slavery. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 1893. Complete Poetical Works
Poems on Slavery The Quadroon Girl T HE S LAVER in the broad lagoon Lay moored with idle sail; He waited for the rising moon, And for the evening gale. The Slaver led her from the door, He led her by the hand, To be his slave and paramour In a strange and distant land! Under the shore his boat was tied, And all her listless crew Watched the gray alligator slide Into the still bayou. TheSlaverledherfromthedoor, Heledherbythehand, Tobehisslaveandparamour Inastrangeanddistantland! And on her lips there played a smile As holy, meek, and faint, As lights in some cathedral aisle The features of a saint. And on her lips there played a smile As holy, meek, and faint, As lights in some cathedral aisle The features of a saint. Andonherlipsthereplayedasmile Asholy,meek,andfaint, Aslightsinsomecathedralaisle Thefeaturesofasaint.
The Slaver in the broad lagoon Lay He And for the Under the And all her Watched the gray Into the Odors of orange-flowers, and spice, Reached them from time to time, Like airs that Upon a The Planter, Smoked The Slaver's He He said, 'My ship at In I only wait the And the Before them, with her face upraised, In Like one half curious, half amazed, A Her eyes were large, and full of light, Her arms and neck were bare; No And her own long, And on her lips As holy, meek, and faint, As The 'The soil is barren,--the farm is old,' The Then And then upon the maid. The Planter, under his roof of thatch, Smoked thoughtfully and slow; The Slaver's thumb was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. The Slaver in the broad lagoon Lay moored with idle sail; He waited for the rising moon And for the evening gale Under the shore his boat was tied And all her listless crew Watched the gray alligator slide Into the still bayou Odors of orange-flowers, and spice Reached them from time to time Like airs that breathe from Paradise Upon a world of crime The Planter, under his roof of thatch Smoked thoughtfully and slow; The Slaver's thumb was on the latch He seemed in haste to go He said, "My ship at anchor rides In yonder broad lagoon; I only wait the evening tides And the rising of the moon. Under the shore his boat was tied, And all her listless crew Watched the gray alligator slide Into the still bayou. Odorsoforange-flowers,andspice, Reachedthemfromtimetotime, LikeairsthatbreathefromParadise Uponaworldofcrime. The Slaver led her from the door, He led her by the hand, To be his slave and paramour In a strange and distant land! Then pale as death grew the maiden's cheek, Her hands as icy cold. Her eyes were large, and full of light, Her arms and neck were bare; No garment she wore save a kirtle bright, And her own long, raven hair.
The Planter, under his roof of thatch, Smoked thoughtfully and slow; The Slaver's thumb was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. He said, "My ship at anchor rides In yonder broad lagoon; I only wait the evening tides, And the rising of the moon. His heart within him was at strife With such accursed gains: For he knew whose passions gave her life, Whose blood ran in her veins. ThePlanter,underhisroofofthatch, Smokedthoughtfullyandslow; TheSlaver'sthumbwasonthelatch, Heseemedinhastetogo. Before them, with her face upraised, In timid attitude, Like one half curious, half amazed, A Quadroon maiden stood. And on her lips there played a smile As holy, meek, and faint, As lights in some cathedral aisle The features of a saint.
The Planter, under his roof of thatch, Smoked thoughtfully and slow; The Slaver's thumb was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. Her eyes were large, and full of light, 25 Her arms and neck were bare; No garment she wore save a kirtle bright, And her own long, raven hair. Complete Poetical Works Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807—1882. Under the shore his boat was tied, And all her listless crew Watched the gray alligator slide Into the still bayou. Her eyes were large, and full of light, Her arms and neck were bare; No garment she wore save a kirtle bright, And her own long, raven hair.
The Slaver led her from the door, 45 He led her by the hand, To be his slave and paramour In a strange and distant land! Undertheshorehisboatwastied, Andallherlistlesscrew Watchedthegrayalligatorslide Intothestillbayou. Odors of orange-flowers, and spice, Reached them from time to time, Like airs that breathe from Paradise Upon a world of crime. But the voice of nature was too weak; He took the glittering gold! Your browser does not have Javascript enabled. And on her lips there played a smile As holy, meek, and faint, As lights in some cathedral aisle The features of a saint. He said, "My ship at anchor rides In yonder broad lagoon; I only wait the evening tides, And the rising of the moon.
The Slaver led her from the door, He led her by the hand, To be his slave and paramour In a strange and distant land! Odors of orange-flowers, and spice, Reached them from time to time, Like airs that breathe from Paradise Upon a world of crime. But the voice of nature was too weak; He took the glittering gold! Odors of orange-flowers, and spice, Reached them from time to time, 10 Like airs that breathe from Paradise Upon a world of crime. Tags: This entry was posted on Friday, January 21st, 2011 at 05:10Z and is filed under. His heart within him was at strife With such accursèd gains: For he knew whose passions gave her life, Whose blood ran in her veins. Under the shore his boat was tied, 5 And all her listless crew Watched the gray alligator slide Into the still bayou. .
