Should writing about the ability of slaves to escape slavery be written in the present tense?

If the inquiries in question are strictly focused on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and the slavery that was taking place within the book, then it would be best to provide answers that evaluate the opportunities slaves may or may not have had in that particular context.
Since Linda, the main character, was born in North Carolina as a slave, you would want to specifically address the slavery that took place in the Americas during the 1800s. In the event that you take this particular route, answers should be written in past tense, as this particular form of slavery no longer exists in the United States.
However, it may be important to note that slavery still exists in the world today. Neo-slavery, or modern slavery, may not be a perfect match for the slavery described in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, but it is still a very real and very serious human rights issue that impacts an estimated 21 to 70 million people around the world.
Modern slavery can take many different forms. Issues such as child labor, human trafficking, forced marriage, debt bondage, and forced labor are among the most prevalent forms of modern slavery that take place today.
Though there are some differences, modern day slaves are very similar to the ones described in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. In addition to being traded and treated like property, modern day slaves are often forced to work against their will and often do so under inhumane conditions. There are still elements of control and fear as well, which often keeps them in bondage and makes escaping from their dire situation quite difficult.
If the questions that need to be answered are not specific about the slaves they are referring to, or you simply wish to add additional information about slavery, answers could be written in present tense as they pertain to modern-day slavery.
https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/