Seven hours.That's all there is. Audio recordings with former slaves interviewed between 1932 and 1975 have been accumulated, and one hour of those fascinating conversations are located at C-Span. In addition, there are 2,300 first-person accounts at The Library of Congress. Those were gathered between 1936 and 1938. When we discuss the racism so prevalent here in the Lehigh Valley, it's hard to ignore the injustice and cruelty that resulted from slavery.
One story that hits me hard is the narrative of 89 year-old John W. Fields, interviewed in 1937 in Indiana, who was then working as a "domestic" for a local judge. He had been a slave in Kentucky.
"When I was six years old, all of us children were taken from my parents, because my master died and his estate had to be settled. ... I can't describe the heartbreak and sorrow of that separation. I was only six years old and it was the last time I ever saw my mother for longer than one night. ...
"My life prior to that time was filled with heartache and despair. We arose from four to five o'clock in the morning and parents and children were given hard work, lasting until nightfall gaves us our respite. After a meager supper, we generally talked until we grew sleepy, we had to go to bed. Some of us would read, if we were lucky enough to know how.
"In most of us colored folks was the great desire to [be] able to read and write. We took advantage of every opportunity to educate ourselves. The greater part of the plantation owners were very harsh if we were caught trying to learn or write. It was the law that if a white man was caught trying to educate a negro slave, he was liable to prosecution entailing a fine of fifty dollars and a jail sentence. We were never allowed to go to town and it was not until after I ran away that I knew that they sold anything but slaves, tobacco, and wiskey. Our ignorance was the greatest hold the South had on us. We knew we could run away, but what then? An offender guilty of this crime was subjected to very harsh punishment."
"... I remember one incident that I don't like to remember. One of the woman slaves had been very sickened. She was unable to work just as fast as [master] thought she ought to. He had driven her all day with no results. That night after completing our work, he called us all together. He made me hold a light, while he whipped her and then made one of the slaves pour salt water on her bleeding back. My innards turn yet at that sight."
"... The brightest man, the prettiest flower, may be cut down, and withered in an hour."
This post is one of your most important contributions. As you know from our conversations, this is not only on our national conscience, but the local as well. Reconciliation, through education and conversation, is our only defense against hate.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Blue Coyote, I first listened to the hour-long audio recordings at C-Span some time ago, but only recently was able to look at the transcripts. The stories are very sad. But it is first person history, the best source there is. I thought that now was the time to mention it. It helps me understand.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the original sin description. I'm white. Neither I nor any family in my background ever held a slave. My great grandparents had their land in Ireland confiscated and were made to work it for the benefit of their Scottish overseers. This still does not compare to the inhumanity inflicted on American blacks. Sadly, especially as demonstrated by the party purported to be more sensitive to racial issues, it appears we haven't done a thing to improve race relations - and likely won't as long as politicians purposely use race as a wedge issue instead of building bridges. The percentages of black/white vote in the PA primary demonstrate a deep well of distrust and racism. Heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad, I agree.
ReplyDeleteThis is not exactly news. But for some reason, it is very timely.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the information, Bernie. My great, great, grandaddy PaPa was the first generation of free people off of the Todd Plantation (hence my name Alfonso Todd) and I was born and have pics with him when he was alive. He was about 80-90 years old. I am only the 3rd to 4rth generation off of the plantation. Thant's why I always tell people slavery is not an incident that happened millions of years ago. In reality, it is quite recent and don't get me started on the Jim Crow laws... What Fumo said is something we Blacks have known for years, it's just surprising he said it aloud.
ReplyDeleteAlfonso Todd
I agree Mr Todd. There are times when majority rule in a vote is not a good thing. The majority will out vote the minority even though it may violate the Constitution of the USA. What Fumo said was true, the problem is no one wants to admit that it still happens. Thanks Henry
ReplyDeleteplease ad that a majority rule vote may also violate someones civil rights. Thanks Henry
ReplyDeleteBernie
ReplyDeleteWhile slavery was and still is practiced in many areas of the world, it was a particularly evil practice here in the United States. The first Africans came into Virginia and initially were indentured servants. Their status changed as the need for cheap labor on large farms and plantations grew. This cheap labor was also important to the textile industry in the north thus while slavery had all but died out in the north, it was not economically viable due to climate, it was important to northern businesses.
As to Fumo identifying gay marriage with the civil rights movement let me state that those in the civil rights movement do not appreciate homosexual marriage being compared to their struggle. And lest we forget, homosexuals are not a minority, they are a majority engaging in a minority behavior that has proven, in many cases, to be destructive due to bad behavior something that heterosexuals also do.
As to racism, I believe it is far worse today then it has ever been by both sides. I wonder if Dr. King's dream of little black children walking hand and hand to school with little white children will ever occur. There are those in and out of government who persist in using identity politics to keep the fires stoked and we fall for it on a daily basis.
Chris, Although we are in different corners on the question of gay rights, I truly appreciate your historian's perspective on the injustice done to our black brothers and sisters. And I agree that racism is alive and well. It is certainly more subtle, but just as malevolent.
ReplyDeleteSlavery was our original sin. This was debated by the writers of the Declaration of Independence. Some argued for the banning of slavery - at the beginning. The southern states said no.
ReplyDeleteCompromising on this issue was the sin. However, if we had not, the USA would never have been formed. However, as Jefferson warned, the payment would one day be paid with blood. And it was - the Civil War.
I am not into excuse making, but the historical reality is obvious.
But we have come a long way. I was at a local pub the other night and talked with two "brothers". We first talked about the basketball game and then moved into Obama and politics.
It boiled down to the simple fact that Obama had a great shot at being President until the Reverend Wright stuff hit. They agreed that you can't hate America as a message. As they said, "We are Americans." And we agreed that we need to have real conversations about race in our country.
Interestingly, they, as liberals, stated that the current batch of civil rights "leaders" were basically idiots and hurting attempts at moving forward. We talked about Dr. King's message and agreed that he was right. We are all in this together and it ain't about skin color. It's about character.
We found much more agreement than disagreement. Not bad for two Democrat African-Americans and a 'white boy' conservative.
There is more hope out there than hatred.....
This country is getting better and has made GREAT progress. WE have further to go, but we have come a long way. If we can all agree on that, the path down the road will be that much quicker.
It's amazing how you worked a Republican commercial into a discussion on race, Joe.
ReplyDeleteMy whole post is about race. Were you reading something else?
ReplyDeleteIf just shows how people who aren't partisan hacks can have real discussions - even when on "opposing sides".
I found the conversation with Eric very enlightening and enjoyable. I hope he did too and I hope I run into him again in the future for more discussions.
That is called life and being sociable when people are not Kool-Aid drinkers for either party.