The Narrative of Frederick Douglass, first published in 1845, is an illuminating and incendiary text. Born a slave, Douglass became the preeminent spokesman for his people during his life; his tale is an unprecedented account of the inhumane effects of slavery and Douglass's own triumph over it. His use of vivid language depicting violence against slaves, his personal insights into the dynamics between slaves and slave owners, and his naming of specific people and places made his book an indictment of a society that continued to accept slavery as a social and economic institution. Like Douglass, Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery, and in 1853 she published Letter from a Fugitive Slave, now recognized as one of the most comprehensive antebellum slave narratives written by an African woman -American. Jacobs' story broke the silence on the exploitation of African American slaves. As the United States grew, the institution of slavery became a way of life in the Southern states, while the Northern states began to abolish it. While the majority of free blacks lived in poverty, some managed to create successful businesses that helped the black community. Racial discrimination often meant that black people were unwelcome or mistreated in white businesses and other establishments. A comparison of Douglass's and Jacobs's accounts demonstrates the full range of demands and situations that slaves experienced, as well as the mistreatment they suffered. Jacobs suffered continued sexual harassment at the hands of James Norcom, just as many enslaved women experienced sexual abuse or harassment during the slavery era. Another problem blacks faced was the incompetence of white slave owners and people. Middle of paper ......f Jacobs' account is the sexual exploitation that she, along with many other enslaved women, had to endure. Her narrative focuses on the domestic problems faced by African American women. She even declares: “Slavery is bad for men, but it is much more terrible for women.” Therefore, the genre separated the two narratives and gave each a distinct view of slavery. Douglass showed “how a slave became a man” during a physical fight with an overseer and the journey to freedom. Jacobs' gender determined a different course and how women were affected. The lives of Douglass and Jacob may seem to have evolved in different directions, but it is important not to miss the common desire proclaimed by their stories to achieve freedom. They never lost their determination to achieve not only freedom from slavery, but also respect for their individual humanity and for other slaves..