EPISODE 6: ELIZABETH KECKLEY

Elizabeth Keckley (1818–1907) was an African American seamstress, abolitionist, and memoirist. Born into slavery in Virginia, she bought her freedom in 1855 and became a successful dressmaker, serving prominent clients including First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckley is best known for her memoir “Behind the Scenes", which offers a personal account of her time in the White House and her close relationship with Mrs. Lincoln. This episode discusses her experiences during and after enslavement and her life as a key figure of the African American community in Washington, D.C.

Introduction

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In this episode we are going to talk about Elizabeth Keckley. Some of you may have heard of her, while others may not. Keckley was born in 1818 in Virginia as a daughter of an enslaved woman named Agnes Hobbs. Her life tells a remarkable story, which is why we are excited to explore her journey today. Join us as we uncover the inspiring path of Elizabeth Keckley, a woman who overcame adversity to accomplish her own achievements.

Historical context

Before we dive into Keckley's story, let's briefly review the historical context to better understand the political and social circumstances in the U.S. during the 19th century. Overall, the 19^th century was marked by racial segregation and slavery. President Abraham Lincoln, elected in 1860, opposed slavery and sought to abolish it. The American Civil War (1861-1865) saw fierce battles between the industrial Northern states and the Southern Confederate states, which depended on agriculture and slavery. Under Lincoln's leadership, the North declared the war a fight against slavery. Despite the Union's victory, equality for African-Americans was not achieved after the American Civil War. The introduction of the Jim Crow laws further entrenched racial divisions and disenfranchised Black people even more.

In the following, two experts on Elizabeth Keckley, social scientists Alia and Fynn, will talk about interesting elements of Elizabeth Keckley´s life starting with her experience in slavery. Let's delve into this complex era to better understand the world Elizabeth Keckley navigated.

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Keckley’s Experience in Slavery

Host 1: Elizabeth Keckley's story is one of resilience and triumph. Born into slavery, she faced brutal oppression and abuse from a young age. Yet, despite these circumstances, she displayed exceptional determination and intelligence early on. She learned to read and write, skills that were rarely allowed in slavery, and developed a talent for sewing and tailoring.

Host 2: That's right. So, these skills were instrumental in her journey. With her talent for sewing, Elizabeth gradually managed to break free from the clutches of slavery. She initially worked as a seamstress for wealthy families in St. Louis and later on Washington, D.C. Her exceptional talent, and actually connections as well, eventually earned her enough money to purchase her own freedom and that of her son, George, in 1855.

Host 1: Keckley's financial expertise is quite impressive. For her, financial reputation was more significant than respectability. She even vowed "eternal slavery" rather than being distrusted by those whose respect she esteemed. I think this perspective was crucial in how she navigated her world, wasn't it?

Host 2: It absolutely was. Keckley presented herself as a businesswoman willing to follow market rules, even though those same rules had once defined her as chattel. She viewed slavery as a national sin but one that prepared her for the postbellum economy, in the sense that she understood the ruthlessness of financial agents acting solely in the interest of profit.

Host 1: Many antebellum Americans saw African American women's bodies as public property, complicating their claims to true womanhood. Keckley fought against this perception, revealing in her book the brutality she endured, including these intense beatings by her enslaver Mr. Burwell and an acquaintance of his.

Host 2: In her memoir, "Behind the Scenes," Keckley doesn't shy away from revealing the intense violence she suffered while still showing how she prevailed through this difficult period of her life. This was a strategic move to highlight her sincerity and respectability, contrasting with the performance of fragility in white women's genteel manners.

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Host 1: Speaking of her early adulthood, Keckley relocated to St. Louis in her early twenties with her enslaver, Mr. Garland. I think this was in 1847, right? She was hired out as a seamstress due to financial issues of her enslaver. Didn’t Keckley use this situation strategically?

Host 2: Yes, absolutely correct. This was strategic. Keckley chose this path consciously to avoid her mother being hired out and facing the same fate. So during her time in St. Louis, she became an acclaimed seamstress, forging important social connections. Remarkably, she managed to support a family of 17 with the money she earned. This period was pivotal as it also led her to meet her future husband, James Keckley, and paved her way towards freedom.

Host 1: Right, James Keckley initially presented himself as a free man, but that turned out not to be the case. How did this impact Elizabeth's views on freedom and marriage, Alia?

Host 2: Yes,so James Keckley was indeed a huge disappointment in many ways. Instead of being a helpmate, he became a burden to Elizabeth. However, this prospect of marriage worked as a catalyst for Elizabeth. It made her think seriously about freedom, particularly because she didn't want to bring more enslaved children into the world. This determination propelled her to eventually purchase her and her son’s freedom.

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What a brave woman Elizabeth Keckley was. Her journey from slavery to freedom is truly a testament to her courage and resilience. That made me wonder how Keckley gained her freedom, and how she managed to survive afterwards. Let´s delve deeper into the life of Elizabeth Keckley and find out.

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How Keckley Escaped Slavery

Host 1: Let's dive into how Elizabeth Keckley managed to escape the shackles of slavery and secure her freedom. As we mentioned earlier, Elizabeth's journey to freedom was far from straightforward. She faced numerous obstacles and setbacks along the way.

Host 2: Yes. Initially, she approached her enslaver, Mr. Garland, directly, requesting to purchase her freedom from him and that of her son as well. However, Garland was initially dismissive, suggesting she could escape illegally if she was desperate.

Host 1: I think this highlights the stark reality of slavery: even the mere expression of desire for freedom was seen as an act of defiance. But, Alia, wasn’t Elizabeth determined to do things "properly,"? And what did this even mean?

Host 2: To do things “properly” meant negotiating a price with her enslaver Mr. Garland. And after much persistence, Mr. Garland finally agreed to free Elizabeth and her son for 1,200 dollars.

Host 1: I think that might equal about 30.000 dollars in our time now?

Host 2: That‘s quite a good guess, Fynn. It‘s actually roughly around 43.300 dollars. This was a staggering sum at the time and Elizabeth faced immense challenges in accumulating it, eventually even failing to do so.

Host 1: I think it was then that Elizabeth was frustrated and decided to take a leap of faith and I think she traveled north to New York, wanting to gain funds, as was customary at the time, to buy her freedom.

Host 2: So, this was quite a risky move at the time. She would have to travel on her own for this journey.

Host 1: Yes, I think that’s true. When one of Elizabeths clients (excuse me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s Mrs. LeBourgeois) heard this, she organized a fundraising effort, and in 1855, Elizabeth finally achieved her long-awaited freedom.

Host 2: Yes, it was Mrs. LeBourgeois, actually. And it's important to note that Elizabeth insisted on repaying this money that she received, or rather she had borrowed, treating it as a loan rather than a handout.

Host 1: Yes, and I think this speaks to her strong sense of independence, right? And her desire to maintain her dignity. Elizabeth's path to freedom was a testament to her determination and resilience. She defied the odds, breaking free from the chains of slavery and forging her own path towards a brighter future.

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After her time as an enslaved woman, having suffered at the hands of white people in a system that’s built on racism and exploitation, one might suggest that she would turn on the white upper class.

And yet, Elizabeth's actions tell a different story. So Fynn and Alia, what happened afterwards?

How Keckley Became the Dressmaker of Mary Lincoln

Host 2: When Keckley first arrived in the North in 1860, it was hard for her to find work, prompting her to use her connections. So she initially worked for Mrs. Davis, the wife of the Confederate president Jefferson Davis, and later on through another connection, the wife of Confederate captain Robert E. Lee.

Host 1: Right and I think it's really important to recognize that while Mrs. Davis's husband actively opposed the freedom of African American people, Keckley continued to work for them. She understood her economic influence and seized the opportunity to control her own financial situation. As a result, she prioritized her economic well-being over the racism she faced. I think furthermore, it's fascinating how she used her connections to her own benefit, establishing herself as a capable businesswoman. As the literary scholar professor Carolyn Sorisio writes, Elizabeth Keckley gained more knowledge and skills than many white women of her time.

Host 2: Absolutely, Fynn. Her connections were very crucial. So when Mrs. Lee wore one of Keckley's dresses to a dinner party in honor of the Prince of Wales, it didn’t take long before Keckley received a lot of work requests. This event significantly boosted her career as a seamstress. And through one of her clients, who needed a dress quickly, Keckley was given the opportunity to meet Mary Lincoln, which was actually her intent.

Host 1: Yes, that is interesting. Also, Alia, I brought a quote today to underline this. As Elizabeth Keckely says: "Ever since arriving in Washington I had a great desire to work for the ladies of the White House, and to accomplish this end I was ready to make almost any sacrifice consistent with propriety." And I think, that quote is quite telling of her ambition and determination, don’t you think?

Host 2: Yes, I think so too. The meeting with Mary Lincoln turned out to be quite successful.  Among three other tailors, Elizabeth Keckley was actually chosen and started working in the White House shortly thereafter, around 1861.

Host 1: Yes, and I think it’s fascinating how Keckley not only used her skills but also her social connections to navigate the complexities of her time, to  be honest. Despite the harsh realities and the societal framework built on racism and exploitation, she managed to build a reputable career.

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Despite the harsh realities of racism and exploitation, Keckley built a successful career. Her story is also told in her autobiography, where she defends herself and Mary Todd Lincoln from criticism. I‘m curious about that. Let's look at how her book challenged societal norms and the reactions it received.

A Book About her Time as a Slave and the White House

Host 2: Talking about Elizabeths Keckelys autobiography, one of her primary goals with the book was to defend herself and Mary Todd Lincoln from public ridicule. Critics were very harsh, with the New York Times even suggesting she should stick to sewing rather than writing.

Host 1: Yes, and I think it wasn’t just the media, though. A cruel parody implied that although Keckley might be free, she would always be judged by her race, using derogatory language. This really highlights the racism she faced, even after achieving so much in her life.

Host 2: Absolutely, I totally agree. In her text, Keckley aimed to challenge the fragile veneer of bourgeois culture in mid-nineteenth-century America. She exposed the racial, gendered, and class ideologies tied to the social status of white bourgeois Americans.

Host 1: And it’s really ironic that despite perceptions that her role threatened class and race structures, Keckley embraced capitalism and upward mobility.

Host 2: That’s true. Still, even the African American community, her own community, was divided in their reaction towards her autobiography. Some supported Keckley and her presentation of the presidential family and confidential information on their lives. However, most of the people condemmed her for her work, believing that the African American community would bear the negative consequences of angering white people through this book.

Host 1: After intense criticism, Keckley actually had to remove her book from stores and return to sewing. So, she faced this struggle alone, especially after her son died in the American Civil War.

Host 2: So, in a nutshell, Keckley's life is a profound reflection on the intersection of race, class, and gender in America. She navigated these immense challenges yet remained steadfast in her pursuit of self-determination, dignity and respect.

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Keckley's life and story offer a powerful glimpse into American history, particularly in relation to race, class, and gender. Hearing about her book, one might expect that she must be pretty famous and known, living with the presidential family and writing her own autobiography?!

Host 1: Elizabeth Keckley's book and the story of her life are rather well-known for shedding light on the lives of the Lincolns, especially Mary Todd Lincoln.

Host 2: That's true. However, the broader story of Black people, from Keckley's time until now, is told far less compared to white people's stories. Black perspectives and experiences have been silenced and suppressed for a long time.

Host 1: Exactly. Because of Keckley's story, as a Black woman, it's crucial that her story and suffering are shared and remembered. In a nutshell, it's not just about her relationship with the Lincolns, as I just said, especially Mary Todd Lincoln, but about her own experiences and struggles as a formerly enslaved woman who succeeded in freeing herself and build a life based on skills as a seamstress and businesswoman which she developed entirely on her own.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, you can say, the biography of Elizabeth Keckley is a remarkable tale in American history, especially considering the challenges faced by a woman of color in the 19th century. Her path to success was anything but straightforward. Born into slavery, Elizabeth Keckley eventually purchased her freedom through her exceptional skill in sewing and the support of her white clients. Her strong sense of self-determination, but also her genteel demeanor and impeccable character played a significant role in establishing social ties that facilitated her journey to freedom.

And now a little take-away from our experts.

Host 1: So, Keckley's story underscores the importance of engaging with primary sources that center the voices of Black people and understanding their historical context. It is vital to emphasize the value of reading their own narratives rather than relying on secondhand accounts mostly written by people in positions of power.

Host 2: Furthermore, immersing oneself in such biographies is essential for comprehending the origins of social issues we are struggling with today and for fostering a commitment to advocating for systemic change and equity for all.

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Literature:

• Edelstein, Sari. "Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley (1818–1907)." Legacy: A Journal of American Women Writers, vol. 29, no. 1, 2012, pp. 148–159.
• Lewis, Janaka B. "Elizabeth Keckley and Freedom's Labor." African American Review, vol. 49, no. 1, 2016, pp. 5–17.
• Santamarina, Xiomara. “Behind the Scenes of Black Labor: Elizabeth Keckley and the Scandal of Publicity.” Feminist Studies, vol. 28, no. 3, 2002, pp. 515–537.
• Sorisio, Carolyn. “Unmasking the Genteel Performer: Elizabeth Keckley's Behind the Scenes and the Politics of Public Wrath.” African American Review, vol. 34, no. 1, 2000, pp. 19–38.

Sources:

• Keckley, Elizabeth. Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House. The University of North Carolina Press, 2011 [1868].
• Elizabeth Keckley: https://virginiahistory.org/learn/elizabeth-keckley

Sounds:

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