Protection for the Mind, Defending Your Captor

The underground railroad by Colson Whitehead describes the life and ordeals of an enslaved woman named Cora. Done in a hauntingly and historically accurate manner, audiences are captured into the reading. Much of the reading entails shocking details of the treatment of the enslaved by their masters. Being abused physically and mentally, those held captive are treated not as humans, but as property. It is this abuse that elicits a certain syndrome known as the Stockholm syndrome. This is when a hostage/ captive develops a psychological ‘alliance’ with their capture. This is seen as a common theme within the novel, it can be seen in some of the characters throughout the plot. Stockholm Syndrom affected many enslaved people and was ignored because of the benefits it provided for the slave masters.

All of the characters play an important role. Each detail is imperative to the true history and grotesque that was slavery. The enslaved were sold multiple times, some of their value is less than 20 dollars. Cora’s grandmother is an example of an enslaved woman who was forced into being sold multiple times. Being fondled in front of the bidders, she was made to feel as though she was nothing more than property. It was actions like these that raised questions when the enslaved held no hard feelings towards their captor. Keeping in mind the environment and treatment of slaves, it is a wonder why some would feel the need to defend and even stay with their master. This can be seen in the case of Homer. Homer was a young boy when he was bought out of slavery for a mere $5. When a slave finds freedom, they are most likely to take advantage of that and to go as far north as possible. Unlike most slaves who decide to leave once they find their freedom, he decided to stay. This confused Cara who hoped for even the chance of being able to escape. The willingness of Homer is not to be confused with him believing Ridgeway had the best intentions for him in mind, but that he knew no other life than that of what he lived.  

 The misconception with Stockholm syndrome is that many believe that the victim longs for a more intimate relationship, that they wish to be with their captures in an actual partnership. This psychological effect can be seen in different forms. This includes defending the perpetrator, wanting friendship or just wanting to be in their presence. Because of the psychological pain that the mind endured, it’s almost a way for the brain to protect itself. It acts as a barrier between the real world and sanity. It is believed that the syndrome begins when the captor makes the decision not to kill the captive. According to the BBC, it is described as “The hostages experience a powerful, primitive positive feeling towards their captor. They are in denial that this is the person who put them in that situation. In their minds, they think this is the person who is going to let them live.”That gratitude turns to an unguided feeling of trust. This would explain Homer’s behavior in wanting to stay with the very man that kills and uses his victims as trophies. 

  Ridgeway is an example of a cruel, selfish man who wants nothing more than to prove himself as the ultimate slave catcher. His decision to cut off the ears of those he catches to wear as a trophy says a lot for the man he wants everyone to believe he is. “If niggers were supposed to have their freedom, they wouldn’t be in chains. If the red man was supposed to keep hold of his land, it’d still be his. If the white man wasn’t destined to take this new world, he wouldn’t own it now.” as well as “Here was the true Great Spirit, the divine thread connecting all human endeavor—if you can keep it, it is yours. Your property, slave or continent. The American imperative.”Ridgeway (Chapter 3) These are examples of the way Ridgeway thought. He constantly stated that slaves were property. It is these actions that confuse others about Homer’s decision. Homer even seems to become less empathetic towards the others that are enslaved. Being the book-keeper he is responsible for logging all of Ridgeway’s losses and gains. During this, he witnesses the cruel actions of Ridgeway, yet this does not deter him from deciding to stay with him. It is almost as though he has separated himself from the others, viewing himself not as someone who can relate to their ordeals. This separation is part of a much larger picture. His identity, the man he believes he is, does not align with the people who have his skin tone, the people who have been subjected to the pain he has also felt. The answer is not black and white. It’s years of abuse, it’s embedded in his DNA. All of his history and that of his family is tied to one of the cruelest and inhumane era of all time. 

       The problem with Stockholm syndrome is that many believe that because its first documentation was in August of 1973, that it hadn’t been possible or had occurred before then. This is simply not true. There has long been documentation and witnesses to this type of behavior. Because it made things easier for slave masters, it wouldn’t be questioned. Slave masters would not want to change the behavior and psychological issues of the people they want to control. If an enslaved person abides by everything, even going as far as going to other slaves saying they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, they wouldn’t want that to stop. Life was made that much easier for them. The mental health of an enslaved person wasn’t even a thought, the effects of being abused both sexually and physically meant nothing to the white people. They knew the enslaved were being affected, if they didn’t they wouldn’t feel horrible if a white women were to be raped and taken advantage of in front of a crowd. The distinction was clear, they believed Black Americans were made for labor, that they were less superior. An example of early Stockholm syndrome can be seen in Fredrick Douglass’ self-written narrative, he discusses the strange behavior of slaves who believe their master is the better, more superior one. He stated, “Indeed it is not uncommon for slaves even to fall out in quarrel among themselves about the relative goodness of their masters, each contending for the superior goodness of his own over that of the other.” Some slaves felt a sense of responsibility to defend their slave masters. However, those people are the reason for their captivity. They are the ones behind the abuse, the reason they are there.

The importance of understanding what Stockholm syndrome is the end of the idea that there can be a healthy workplace for a slave. There is no such thing as a slave working in “healthy” standards because they’ve already been reduced to being less than human. The mental health of slaves was never addressed, and the false narrative portrayed of some slaves being comfortable and in a healthy environment with their slave masters is a negative one. It is important to realize that although Stockholm Syndrom wasn’t recorded until after slavery it does not mean that it did not affect thousands. There are multiple cases in history that address these issues, but don’t fully acknowledge the severity of it. It is never too late to discuss what the enslaved went through because it still affects current America. 

Work cited

Whitehead, Colson, and Bahni Turpin. The Underground Railroad. 2016.

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895. Narrative Of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston :Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003.

Westcott, Kathryn. “What Is Stockholm Syndrome?” BBC News, BBC, 22 Aug. 2013, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22447726.