The Hidden Histories of 'White' Slave Children in New Orleans
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Chapter 1: Unveiling the Truth of Sexual Slavery
Slavery represented an unchecked system of sexual exploitation—an unspoken horror that society has yet to fully confront.
Celia's Plight
In a sweltering June night in 1855, Celia, a 19-year-old enslaved girl in Calloway County, Missouri, reached her breaking point. Pregnant for the third time, she was already burdened by two children, both fathered by the man who enslaved her. Ill and weary, she could barely hold down food or water, and the relentless advances of her rapist, Robert Newsome, became unbearable.
On June 23, 1855, Celia could no longer endure his presence. Overwhelmed by disgust from his whiskey-laden breath and the sight of his frail figure, she resolved to take action against the man who had stolen her autonomy.
Robert Newsome's Desire
Before the death of his wife in 1849,