A review by jordannchloee
Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson

4.0

its short and impactful and gutting and just good. i think the light this book shines on the subversive racist terror of the North. i was thinking about in this read (which is my second read) the way Frado is forced to perform slave despite technical freedom (according to the law). i think the way in which this text operates as a non slave slave narrative is super keen. the Christian propaganda of it all was differently framed but I'm still concerned around it. i think there's something to be said about the feeling of unsaveability and the framing of these white characters as constantly trying to save, not the body, but the soul of the black servant. idk more thoughts forthcoming in this whole PhD bit.

it feels odd to rate such violence but for its prose and its approach I think this book is a solid 3.75 stars. i think it leaves some gaps in things but that is of course a byproduct of narrating experience in memorium. i may come back to this and change my mind but I find it to be so good. the GoodReads rating has been rounded up bc goodreadds and fractions