"Every where the years bring to all enough of sin and sorrow; but in slavery the very dawn of life is darkened by these shadows"

Harriet Ann Jacobs, in her poignant quote, clarifies the pervasive and deep-seated effect of slavery on human life. When Jacob writes, "Everywhere the years give all enough of sin and grief", she acknowledges an axiom: life is naturally filled with difficulties, struggles, moral failings, and suffering. This opening statement shows an understanding that adversity is a common thread in the human experience. Every person, regardless of their status or scenario, is bound to experience their share of problems throughout their lifetime.

Nevertheless, Jacobs juxtaposes this universal experience of hardship with the condition of those subjected to slavery. By asserting that "in slavery the extremely dawn of life is darkened by these shadows", she emphasizes the distinct and profound injustices faced by enslaved individuals from the very beginning of their presence. The "dawn of life" represents the childhood and developmental years of an individual. In the context of slavery, these years are naturally tainted by the overbearing and dehumanizing reality in which they are born. Unlike the basic difficulties experienced by the larger population, the trials of those in slavery are not random or natural but are enforced systematically and institutionally.

Jacobs highlights the acquired injury and immediate imposition of sadness on those oppressed, suggesting that their suffering is multifold-- deeply embedded into the fabric of their lives before they have any possibility to sculpt their own futures. The expression "darkened by these shadows" evokes imagery of an innocence eclipsed and corrupted by the systemic monstrosities of slavery.

In essence, Jacobs contrasts the universal nature of human suffering with the specific, intensified, and premature suffering enforced by the institution of slavery. Her words underline the seriousness and necessity of acknowledging and dealing with the distinct and compounded oppressions faced by enslaved individuals to achieve true human dignity and equality.