Black Beauty 3

After having read Black Beauty, I clearly see a connection between slavery and horses. In the earlier chapters of this section we are introduced to the world of horse fairs, in hearing the description of the day’s events I can’t help but think of the slave auctions that took place in colonial America. Like the inspection of horses, slaves were also thoroughly inspected. After being bought horses like slaves were to “be used up; that is what they are doing, whipping and working with never one thought of what I suffer; they paid for me, and must get it out of me” (pg 170 ch 40). It amazes me that this can encompass the treatment of slaves and horses. Slaves were truly treated like animals and they were considered only objects to white people. Some of the statements made a few chapters later by a war horse also help show the similarities between the journeys to a land of cruelty. For a military horse his experience in times of war almost sounds like a firsthand account description from slaves about their thoughts on America, “the country we had come to was very different from our own and that we had many hardships to endure besides the fighting” (pg 140 ch 34). So much around both slaves and horses changed because the conditions that surrounded them were forced upon them by those that now held control over them. As Black Beauty talks about all the pains of being a cab horse he again emphasizes the similarities in little ways.



He and other characters in the book make several different comments about the conditions of animals. In one comment Beauty talks about his commitment to his work “I did my best, as I always had done, in spite of cruelty and injustice” (pg 203 ch 47). In another, the sentiments shared about not being able to have control of yourself and having someone else ruling over you “for ‘tis a poor thing not to be one’s own master” (pg 185 ch 44). Another comment made which is never really related to slaves but I think makes sense. “To be punished and abused when I was doing my very best was so hard, it took the heart out of me” (pg 198 ch 46). It is rarely talked about but it is most likely true that slaves did all they possibly could with the conditions they were given. It has been said that slaves were really proud of their work but we never stop to think that they were never recognized for the good they did and only abused upon a mess up. We are also shown the perspective of owners. “I say ‘tis a mockery to tell a man that he must not overwork his horse, for when a beast is downright tired there’s nothing but the whip that will keep his legs agoing- you can’t help yourself- you must put your wife and children before the horse, the masters must look to that, we can’t” (pg 167 ch 39). I know this sounds wrong because its justifying the ill treatment of animals but it make sense, if you’re working for a living and depending on the assistance of another you will go to whatever limit to get the task accomplished even if it means inflicting pain.