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Looking Back at Slavery: Years later
Quote
William Henry Bradley: who reached freedom in Canada
“Steam engines don’t work harder than a man’s
heart and veins when he starts from his master and fears being overtaken…
If a man could make slaves of mud or block and have them work for
him, it would still be wrong. All men came of the hand of the almighty;
every man ought to have life and his own method of pursuing happiness.”
In Their Own Words: personal stories
Some people who had been slaves remembered being treated kindly by their
owners. After slavery ended, many people struggled to find work to feed
their families. Life was hard in slavery. Life was hard in freedom.
Some people even said life was easier for them in slavery, where they
worked for the Master and he gave them food, clothing, and a place to
live.
Van Moore, Texas: 1930
" I still has love for my old missy, because she loved us and sure
was good to us and it makes me feel kinda good to talk about her and the
old times"
Nicey Pugh, Alabama
" We had a master who would fight for us and help us and laugh with
us and cry with us. We had a mistress that would nurse us when we was
sick and comfort us when we had to be punished…"
One woman even said:
" I think slavery was a mighty good thing for Mother, Father,
me, and the other members of the family. I cannot say anything but good
for my old marster and missus."
Mary Anderson, North Carolina
Let’s Talk About It
- Read “More
Thoughts about Slavery,” the “In Their Own Words”
selection above. These people actually said slavery was a good thing
for them and their families! Why might someone think this? How might
freedom be more difficult than slavery for some people?
For any remarks, suggestions, or broken links:
Please email us at:
history@tds.net
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