what challenges did the slave girl face? in chapter one

Harriet never realized she was a slave until she attained the age of six. In Chapter One, she speaks of her family.... her father, brother, mather, and beloved Aunt Marthy. When she was five years old, Harriet's mother passed away, and she went to work for her mother's mistress, who was a good and kind woman. While there, she learned to read and write, but the mistress died seven years later and Harriet was once again sent to a new place of service (she was a part of her mistress' will). Thus her youth was happy, and unlike the lives of many other slaves it was spent with mother, father, and an extended family. The death of her mistress changed her life, as you will see in the coming chapters.