Previous
Young George
Sammy is a young enslaved Black woman who works at Henderson’s mill, though Jim mistakes her for a man at first. Henderson has sexually abused Sammy, and she decides to take her chances with Jim rather than continue to endure her enslaver’s torment. Sammy reminds Jim of his daughter, Lizzie, and her death leaves him deeply affected.
Sammy Quotes in James
The James quotes below are all either spoken by Sammy or refer to Sammy. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 2, Chapter 6 Quotes
“We’re slaves. We’re not anywhere. Free person, he can be where he wants to be. The only place we can ever be is in slavery.” She looked at Norman. “Are you really a slave?” she asked.
“I am.”
“And you’re colored,” she said.
Norman nodded.
“Who can tell?”
“Nobody,” Norman said.
“Then why do you stay colored?”
“Because of my mother. Because of my wife. Because I don’t want to be white. I don’t want to be one of them.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Jim, Sammy, and Norman pause for a rest while running away from Henderson. Jim remarks that where they run makes no difference, as they are enslaved whether they are in a free or slave state. In this passage, Sammy expands on Jim’s comment, describing enslavement as “[t]he only place we can ever be.” This suggests that enslavement is built so deeply into their identity that it is unescapable, casting understandable doubt on their prospects for gaining anything like freedom. Sammy questions why Norman chooses to identify as a Black man when he can simply pass as a white man and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Moles
Get the entire James LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Sammy Character Timeline in James
The timeline below shows where the character Sammy appears in James. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2, Chapter 4
...is put to work on the pit saw, where he works with another man named Sammy. The saw is dull and therefore more dangerous. Later, Henderson summons Jim for his lashes,...
(full context)
Jim wakes to find Sammy watching over him. Jim tries to orient himself, preparing to run without crossing Luke, whom...
(full context)
Part 2, Chapter 5
Jim rushes back to where he left Sammy and tackles the man with her. It is Norman. He has bought food for them...
(full context)
Part 2, Chapter 6
...river will land them in a slave state, but to Jim it makes no difference. Sammy agrees, saying the only place they can ever be is slavery. She asks why Norman...
(full context)
Sammy tells Jim she was born at the mill, and Henderson has raped her since she...
(full context)
The river deposits the group onto a small beach. Jim carries the lifeless Sammy and sees that she has been shot and killed. Norman says Jim should have left...
(full context)
Part 2, Chapter 7
...to find Emmett’s notebook on his chest, soaked but safe. Jim cannot stop thinking about Sammy. He tells Norman they will steal a boat and travel north. They walk through the...
(full context)
Part 3, Chapter 3
...A catfish locks onto Jim’s arm, and he is pulled underwater. He thinks of Norman, Sammy, Lizzie, and Sadie, before hallucinating John Locke again. The philosopher says Jim is in a...
(full context)
