Considering Linda’s means of escape from slavery by hiding in the garret in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, think of a technology today that allows you to run away without going anywhere.
Linda’s means of escape, hiding in the garret above her family home, allowed her avoid her slaver, while also letting her stay right by her family, keeping an eye on them and getting regular updates, even being able to keep watch on the man trying to find her. In today’s society, while people have a lot less to run away from, they have many more means of doing so. One such way of doing this is through social media.
Social medias today such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram each give their users a means of escape while sitting right where they are. Facebook allows each person to connect to, chat with, and call loved ones and acquaintances from across the world. Snapchat takes people’s focus off of their day to day lives, by keeping up “streaks” with friends, and putting entertaining filters over their faces. Finally, Instagram allows people to portray a life they do not in fact lead, through impressive selfies and photos of their travels, leaving out the mundane every-day. Each person puts their best foot forward on social media, running away from the reality of their life and escaping from its monotony.
Black Matter 