Book Review of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman"
Summary:
In "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" the author evolves from a vulnerable, weak slave into a powerful, black woman.
Like any other person, culture, species, and or breed, Jane Pittman, whose account is the basis of the award winning novel, "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," survived and evolved with the present and future, never staying in the same mindset, and always willing to learn what was new. In this wonderful book, in which the subject, Jane Pittman, must go from being a slave to a free citizen, and must fit in to an ever-growing society. In the beginning she is a weak slave child, who will have to quickly mature when she is abandoned with a young boy, Ned (whose mother was killed in a massacre), and must find her way to a home in Ohio. Ned, only two or three years old at this time, already knows that his mother is dead, and that white people did it, and why they did it, this, and the way Jane will raise him, helps him grow into a very educated man. It is all too sad that this education and his strong beliefs are what led Ned to an early grave. From this Jane must continue to grow, spiritually, mentally, and physically.
Before Ned died, she had already suffered the tragedy of losing a husband, and then she lost Ned, a son to her. Jane continues on her journey to find a home, when she ends up in a small town, in which she raises her own crops and chickens, and encounters a unique fellow who is a hit man of sorts for the KKK, it is he that will kill Ned, and will become terrifyingly scared of Jane Pittman, which allows Jane to grow much more confidant, and helps her realize that she deserves respect. Throughout Jane's life she encounters many tragedies, but sometimes a something good would happen, such as her finally joining the church and becoming very religious. Also she is so respected, that she holds conversation and evens dines with the white family she works for, and gives them advice for everyday life. It seems that everyone Jane encountered throughout her life helped her become more mature and intelligent, although she never learned to read or write, as well as helping others to realize that not all black people are alike. Miss Pittman also grows with the times, when she was a slave she wanted to be free, when she was on a plantation she wanted to work as hard, and earn as much as anyone else, when she was a cook, she wanted to be treated like anyone else, and when the chosen one from the quarters wanted to stand up for Negro rights, she encouraged him to do what is right. No matter the times, Jane Pittman always took them as another step in life, not just a plateau.
This is the complete article, containing 466 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
