In "Behind the Scenes," Elizabeth Keckley recounts a heartbreaking incident where a mother was punished for crying out for her child. One poignant quote from the book that illustrates this situation is:

“Stop your nonsense; you’re a slave, and you must expect to suffer,” said my old mistress to my mother, as she was beaten for crying for her child.

This quote highlights the cruelty and inhumanity of slavery, showing how even the basic emotion of a mother longing for her child could lead to punishment and violence. Keckley uses this painful example to illustrate the harsh realities faced by enslaved individuals, particularly mothers, during that time.

Sources

Keckley, Elizabeth, ca. 1818-1907. "Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty ...Excerpt from Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four ...From Slavery to the White House: The Extraordinary Life of Elizabeth ...Behind the Scenes Quotes by Elizabeth Keckley - GoodreadsElizabeth Keckley - WikipediaElizabeth Keckley Facts for KidsWe Shall Overcome: Elizabeth Keckley and Harriet Tubman

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