Due to the fact that it was extremely dangerous and harsh, African Americans were rarely able to find ways to resist the dangerous limitations of slavery. Throughout the history of American slavery, blacks attempted to resist whenever possible, despite the odds that slaves would revolt or escape permanently. Because of the power exerted over them, slaves tried to find ways within the limits in which they could resist the owners, however, these efforts were highly ineffective in making a dent in the slave system. In "Incidents in the Life of a Slave" by Harriet Jacobs there is evidence of how this resistance is evident but certainly unsuccessful. Harriet Jacobs, strong-willed and persevering, faced Dr. Flint's inevitable grip on displaying his dominance in mind, body, and spirit. Based on the fact that Jacobs grew up not knowing she was a slave, it shaped her independent mindset. One notable event involved Jacobs falling in love with a free black carpenter who lived in her neighborhood. Her lover wanted to buy her freedom but Doctor Flint did not agree. Jacobs was again reminded of the power Dr. Flint had over her, granted to him by the institution of slavery. When she argued that it was "right and honorable" for her and her lover to feel mutual affection, Dr. Flint struck her for the first time. Dr. Flint was ultimately given the power to do whatever he wanted to punish his disrespect, bringing out the overall theme that the power of slavery ultimately prevailed. Another example of the ineffectiveness of resistance is Jacob's attempt to allude to Dr. Flint and his offer to build her a house. Dr. Flint's plan to build Harriet a small house in a secluded spot outside of town is so she can continue writing... middle of paper... This tactic has severely hindered efforts to rebel based solely on the fact that most slaves were not intelligent. This led to the common belief of the time that blacks were indeed the inferior race. Jacobs attacks the common assumption by writing that he actually agrees that the black man was inferior, but only because whites made him so through their denial of education. Although the risk of rebellion against slavery was immense, African Americans still attempted to resist within the confines of the institution of slavery. The success of these efforts was highly unlikely as the system of slavery grew ever larger, supported by the laws of the land and ever-increasing spread throughout the states. Harriet Jacobs' overarching theme in her autobiography is the realization that the power of slavery proved conquerable from the slave's perspective..