Using your primary sources(with support from secondary sources only if needed), tell us about your image/object's visual appearance, its material form, its physical dimensions, its weight, its texture (as applicable), etc., with as much detail as you are able to identify from your sources.
Visual Appearance -- The constant threats were everywhere the slaves were which resulted in them hiding in the swamp. The swamp helped the slaves not be found as easily because the people who were searching for the slaves did not want to go search in that area. The dogs that are shown in this picture were used to search the slaves such as the people who were also displayed in the picture. As I have been taught on a basic top layer of slave history, slaves were categorized from people of color. The representations of the human bodies within this image expresses how the color of people’s skin represents how others are seen and treated. The man is protective of the woman in order to be seen as manly while the woman is scared for her life and relying on the man to save her life. A man and woman are always seen through an expectation of what a man is supposed to be like and what a woman is supposed to be like.
"Work for me on the terms which I offer, or stare, leaving it to him to starve if he chooses, and a very different thing, to have the right to say to him, Work for me on my terms or no terms, because I command you"(Parsons, 4)
"At that time a conflict between freedom and slavery in this country would not have ben safe; it would not have so resulted as to promote the progress of man towards freedom(Parsons, 13)
"That region became a slave region completely and thoroughly"(Parsons, 14)
Material Form -- It had visual arts and used oil paintings in order to make the image the colors to bulge.
Physical Dimensions -- The image was a 2D image that put detail into how the slaves' bodies were, the the dog hunters and the background scene of where it occurred. The man slave's body showed how thin he is around the stomach area but able to maintain his ground because of the strength he has within his arms and legs. The man was in a firm stance in order to defend himself and the woman behind him. The woman looks to be afraid for her life based on how her facial expression is due to her having to watch the situation because she has no weapon herself. Her body is mostly covered by clothing, but the one arm that is exposed does not look strong because there is not any extra details compared to the man. The dogs are vicious predators who have one job and is to bring back the prisoners to their 'owners'. With the dogs having drool coming out of their mouth and showing no mercy is determination to make their owners satisfied. The background scene are them being in a swamp because that is where the slaves typically hid from hunters. There is also a sunset on the top left showing that this scene is in the evening.
Weight -- There was a huge weight that was being carried within this image. The image held what slaves had to go through and the rest of the feelings that gets absorbed. The man and woman are craving to stay away from the slave hunters in order to receive freedom. The dogs that found the slaves have one job and is to bring the slaves back to where they belong. The slaves are fighting for their lives every moment of every day because they are never safe out in the world.
"Are you aware that this class of your fellow-subjects were originally torn from their native homes by pirates, and transported across the Atlantic by traffickers in human flesh? (magazine, 485)
Emotions -- The man seems to be in fear of what may happen. The fear of losing and letting the woman go if he gives in to the other two dogs. The fear of having to go back and be tortured if he loses to the dogs. The slaves had demands and were terrorized of all the things that they had to do which was one of the main reasons into them escaping in order to be on their own. The woman looks to be in shock because she has no weapon to protect herself, therefore watching what will happen within the fight. As much as both of the slaves do not want to give in and get taken back to those who were in search of them, only the man is capable of being able to have that happen. The dogs were able to find and track them down by usually grasping their scent from a material that the slaves have worn. The man may have had his red material that is wrapped around his shirt torn off.
"When our fathers framed it, they found slavery not only existing, but universally diffused; stronger in some places than in others, but wholly absent almost nowhere"(Parsons, 13)
"Are you aware that these unhappy victims of lawless tyranny are considered as the absolute property of their masters--are bought and sold like cattle and transferred at pleasure--are seized for their master's debts, put up to auction, and knocked down to the highest bider?"(magazine, 485)
Footnotes: Parsons, "Slavery: Its Origin, Influence, and Destiny" Spruill, "Slave Patrols, 'Packs of Negro Dogs' and Policing Black Communities" No 1 The National Magazine 2, "Colonial Slavery", No 4