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Two Women Remember
Quote:
Anna Harris, age 91. Interviewed in Virginia in 1937
" No white man ever been in my house. I don’t allow it. They
sold my sister Kate. I saw it with these here eyes. Sold her in 1860 and
I ain’t seen nor heard of her since. Folks say white folks is all
right these days. Maybe they is, maybe they isn’t. But I can’t
stand to see them. Not on my place."
In Their Own Words: personal stories
Mrs Christopher Hamilton
Most fugitive slaves were men. Often, women couldn’t run away because
they had little children. This woman told her story:
" The slaveholders say their slaves are better off than if they were
free….I do no, and never saw any one that wished to go back….I
had rather live in Canada on one potato a day than to live in the South
with all the wealthy they have got. I am now my own mistress….I
can do my own thinkings, without having anyone to think for me –
to tell me when to come, what to do, and to sell me when they get ready.
I wish I could have my relatives here. I might say a great deal more against
slavery and nothing for it."
Let’s Talk About It
Read Anna Harris’ quote above first, then think about this question:
- Around the world,
many people like to trace their families back hundreds of years. People
love to find out if they had famous ancestors. There are even clubs
for people whose ancestors came on the first “pilgrim” ships
from England. Because of slavery, finding the history of their families
is very, very difficult for African-Americans . Why do you think this
is true? What other ways can you think that slavery hurt black families?
For any remarks, suggestions, or broken links:
Please email us at:
history@tds.net
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