Introduction In celebration of Black History Month the University of Glasgow are proud to introduce The James McCune Smith Prize for Creative Writing in Black History and Literature This has been developed so that the creative piece you write for the prize can also be submitted as part o ID: 571219
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Slide1
The James McCune Smith Prize for Creative Writing in Black History and LiteratureSlide2
Introduction
In celebration of
Black History Month
the University of Glasgow are proud to introduce
The James McCune Smith Prize for Creative Writing in Black History and Literature
.
This has been developed so that the creative piece you write for the prize can also be submitted as part of your Higher English folio.
The best pieces will
be published in a
short
book, and winners will receive copies.Slide3
The Writing Prompt
The handout in front of you details the story of
Ann
.
Ann
was a black slave owned by Dr
Gustavus
Brown, and while visiting Scotland in the early 18
th
century, she escaped - but where did she go?
The
only evidence
we have of her existence,
her whole life
, is the runaway
advertisement
her owner took out when she escaped.
We don’t’ know
if she managed to live freely in Scotland or if she was captured and returned to America.
We want
you
to write a creative piece on
Ann
, and her experiences.Slide4
Responses could consider:
Why had Dr Brown taken this
teenager
away from her family and friends and brought her to Scotland?
It was unusual to
place collars
on slaves, especially in Britain, so why had Dr Brown done this to Ann? Had she tried to escape before, and was he
marking her
as his property?
Or was he
showing off
his success to his Scottish friends and family, showing them that he was wealthy enough to own a slave?Slide5
Slave collar (in People’s Palace Museum, Glasgow)Slide6
Responses could consider:
What caused Ann to want to escape from Dr Brown? What did she hope to achieve by escaping, and did she plan to spend her life in Scotland? Did she
succeed
, and spend the rest of her life in Scotland, perhaps raising a family here?
Or was she
recaptured
, and did Dr Brown take her back to his American plantation where she may have become a mother, and eventually a grandmother?
What
kind of stories
could Ann have told people in Scotland about the
life of a slave in America
, and what kind of stories could she have told slaves in America about
life in Scotland
?Slide7
Criteria
These pieces of creative writing
must be
no shorter than 650 words long, and no longer than 1,300 words.
Use a
simple, plain, standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial
Use point
size 12
Use alignment
left or justified
Use margins
2cm all round
Use line
spacing at 1.5 or 2
Use print
colour black, except possibly for any
images
Each
school can submit 10 entries.Slide8
Ann’s runaway advert
Edinburgh Evening Courant, 9-13 February, 1727, p.4.
Run away from the 7
th
Instant from Dr
Gustavus
Brown’s Lodgings in Glasgow, a Negro Woman, named Ann, being about 18 years of Age, with a Green Gown and a Brass Collar around her Neck, which are engraved with the Words [“
Gustavus
Brown in
Dalkieth
his Negro, 1726.”] Whoever apprehends her, so as she may be recovered, shall have Two Guineas Reward, and necessary Charges, allowed by Laurence Dinwiddie Junior Merchant in Glasgow, or by James
Mitchellson
, Jeweller in Edinburgh.Slide9
Resources
On the Pupil section of the website you can download a document that contains:
A short introduction to Ann and Dr Brown
Background and context – what was the situation in Britain in the 18
th
century, why was there slavery and who was involved
Quotes from the 18
th
century describing the conditions slaves facedSlide10
Resources
There is also a list of websites containing more information about the slave trade, slavery, and Britain during this period.
TV shows that cover the 18
th
century and can give you an insight into this period include
Poldark
and
Outlander
, and films such as
Amistad
and
Amazing Grace
and
Belle
show
aspects of the slavery situation.
Roots
and
12 Years a Slave
paint excellent pictures of what slavery was like in North America and the Caribbean, but this was
very
different
from the situation in Britain.