When I was writing my essay Protection for the Mind, Defending your Captor, I really wanted to dig deep into the mental health of the enslaved. Often when discussing the relationship between the slave masters and the victims, it was almost as though some were romanticized. Many believe that slaves were treated as people like others had respect for them. This was not true. They were treated as objects, and no environment was decent enough for that of an enslaved person. It was important to use strong tools and details to make it accurate. 

When I was looking for evidence and outside information on Stockholm syndrome in slavery, I couldn’t find a substantial amount of data. It occurred to me then that this wasn’t being addressed the way that it should. Unfortunately when an enslaved person clings to their master, many think it is because of the home and plantation life. There is no such thing as a good treatment for an enslaved person. The fact that they are even in that situation is damming. My essay focuses on the importance of giving a voice to the enslaved as well as shining a light on the mental health of those in that time period.

My essay relied on the use of pathos and logos. These tools were important in getting my claims and points across to the audience. With the emotional appeal to the reader, they understand the true severity of the psychological damage and pain that the enslaved endured. This was why I chose to use the narrative by Frederick Douglass. It provided the details and stories needed to prove that Stockholm syndrome did exist in that period of time. Although the story of the enslaved was pathos, it also explained the logistics of it. It gave an insight into the way that the enslaved thought.

It was difficult to find solid statistics and figures as there’s been little research on Stockholm syndrome for the enslaved. There were no percentages or examples like “ two out of then of enslaved people suffer from the syndrome. “ There was no research on acts like this.

I was very passionate about this topic and felt it was important to talk about mental health for those who didn’t have a voice.