Florida history: an overview of key events and themes

Palmetto Leaves and Egalitarianism

Harriet Beecher Stowe has a historical link to the politics of slavery. Through her regionalist work Palmetto Leaves she gives an artful yet impassioned plea for the education and equality of freedmen.

In the work she examines life and state-building in Florida. Her personal style of describing events and purpose through the everyday events of her surroundings come out in the book. Stowe preaches an early minimalist ideal of taking personal and collective responsibility for ones life, surroundings and desires are also expressed.

Stowe foreshadows her topic of interest, the fair treatment of freed slaves, in the first chapter with her plea for the welfare of a desperate stray dog. Using the language of the Bill of Rights she expresses not knowing if the poor stray dog from the steamer wanders with, "...no rights to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness." (Stowe, p. 10) With this sentiment and language Stowe is telling her reader that we all must feel some concern and responsibility toward our fellow man, black or white, rich or poor.

She then goes on to tell of the assumed responsibility of a group of Christian women to raise money for the shelter of ownerless dogs, feeling that this is a Christian duty, "...to give such a refuge, till they find old masters or new, seems only a part of Christian civilization." (Stowe, p. 11) Her expression of civic pride is repeated frequently in the daily trails and tribulations of the story. The issues of, who will provide labor and who will pull together to build a homey, pick'nicky sort of community is her style.

In the second chapter Stowe alludes to freedmen as liken to orange trees in that they can be killed down to the ground and still spring forth again without much help from anyone, though they may grow in an un-pruned fashion where all the saplings first sprouted. (pgs. 16-19) Stowe makes use of these analogies as she goes on to discuss the need for such examples when going about to build programs and services for a new colony. She gives warning to newcomers to not expect to live in luxury and that the finery of life should not be expected. Though the hospitality and community feel is present individual people must take care of their own needs, expect simple outcomes and involve themselves in community building with civic duty and egalitarianism.

Assisted by the Freedman's Bureau the church/school was erected and services were held on Sundays while a separate school for whites and blacks was offered during the week. Stowe laments the difficulty of keeping the money available to pay a teacher and then sadly reports that the building was burned down. Describing all these difficulties with a stiff upper lip as the community comes together to rebuild. With the narrative of this work Stowe is discussing the personal sacrifices and commitments that must be borne to maintain even the most minimal services for children, both white and black. (pg. 20-25) The civilizing force that can be seen in many historical works by women of this era can be seen here.

Stowe moves on to talk about the preconceived notions about Florida that lead all tourists to believe that it provided unceasing beauty and then they are sadly disappointed by the fact that they see abject poverty against a backdrop of beauty and nature. Stowe wishes people to understand that everywhere there is both rich and poor and that the lessons of nature tell us that we should all be content with what we have and not ask for more than we need, especially at the cost of other's lives. She does speak of conspicuous consumption with a certain disdain as she applies her words of wisdom to tourists and hopeful winterers but it is also clear that though she sees herself as a minimalist she is also a genteel member of white society.

Stowe becomes progressively more political in her narrative as she begins to get nearer the end of the narrative. When she describes black laborers in the field and of coarse the decrepit figure of Cudjo the nearly broken old man from the black settlement in the region, Stowe speaks of the industry of the Negro colony and all that they had built for themselves is a short time. She expresses both the customary patronizing attitude, describing Cudjo as a baboon, a missing link and yet speaks admiringly of his accomplishments. (pg. 269) Stowe's evidence is only her own observation and through the eyes of a genteel woman of antebellum culture, though she was often seen as kind to blacks she also leaves a great deal of hard reality out. Through history this patronizing tone, speaking of these men as if they were children to be observed as they try to build their lives, for themselves and against the prejudice of the whites is repeated over and over.

Yet, the case is made that in almost all ways the Negro colony is fighting the same fight, all be it starting with less, to build a community. She expounds on their building of their church, the erection of their homes and fences just as she does the same for the builders of her own new community. The case is believable and it seems that her final understanding are as progressive as they could have gotten in her time. Though any narrative based upon only personal observation is innately limited and given to generalizations it should be believed that Stowe's style was very persuasive, especially among her equals.