Slavery in New York : Through the Lens of James Fenimore Cooper ’ s Written Works
slavery saturated all of the colonies ; after declaring independence , fewer areas of the country had slavery as a common practice . 16 Cooper maintained throughout this text that the black slave and the free black in America had more rights than some European citizens , stating “ They are provided for in their age , are never seen cumbering the approach to the alters , objects of misery and disgust , imploring alms and exhibiting their ails and wants .” 17 Thus , there were numerous justifications for slavery , although Cooper did not believe that slavery could — or should — continue to exist within a free , democratic society .
Cooper worked black characters into the main story plots in his novels , which was a progressive action on his part as a novelist . However , Cooper also created a prescribed , caricatured format for his black characters : misshapen , dense , simple , superstitious , and always smiling — even in the face of danger or serious situations . 18 This is also found in Coopers Defense of Slave-Owning America , where it is stated that blacks are a “ race proverbial for their light-heartedness . The laugh of the negro is merriment itself .” 19 This is intended to demonstrate that the position of a slave — or a black society member — was not a cause for misery . It was the institution itself that was unjust . This depiction of blacks was present in various other works of Cooper . In the novel , The Red Rover , the character of Cassandra is a minor character ; she is a slave , but she also plays an important role . She succeeds in helping rescue her mistress , Gertrude Grayson , through an act of rebellion , by distracting the men aboard the pirate ship , against the objections of Wilder . In this manner , Cooper portrays Cassandra as a rebellious slave , which aligns with the fear that many Americans had regarding the enslaved : that they would rise up in rebellion against their respective authority figures , either individually or en masse . 20 This fear is a vivid example of the contradictory nature of the public assessment of slavery . On the one hand , slavery is immoral and contradicts the very principles of individualism , freedom , and democracy . However , those who have been enslaved are viewed as prone to violence and rebellion as a reaction to their unfortunate condition , so there must be a remedy before slavery can be abolished , as there are safety concerns for the remainder of society .
Cooper also allowed for some characters to display an open hostility toward white characters . In addition , there are instances where white characters defend the “ good qualities ” of black characters , bemoaning the fact that they are black and thus innately inferior despite their good qualities . 21 Cooper placed all black characters — whether free , slaves , or of mixed race — in subordinate roles throughout the texts , although some actions taken by these characters contribute to the success of the main white characters . This is a reflection of the contradictory sentiment regarding the position of blacks in society , social equality , and the injustice and immorality of slavery . These sentiments were in contrast with one another , but continued to be prevalent .
James Fenimore Cooper was an important figure in central New York .
11