31.07.2013 Views

SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

80849<br />

Interviewer Miss Irene Robertson<br />

Person interviewed Sarah Taylor» R„F»D»« Madison* Arkansas<br />

Age 70<br />

"I was born in Releford County, Tennessee, ten miles from Marfreesboro*<br />

My parents belonged to Br* Jimmy Manson. He was <strong>of</strong>f and gone from home<br />

nearly all the time* He didn't have a Negro driver* Because he didn f t<br />

they called us all Hanson's free niggers* Folks didn't like it because we<br />

had so much freedom# One day a terrible thing happened broke up our happy<br />

way <strong>of</strong> living on Br* Hanson's place*<br />

"Grandpa was part Indian* Br* Jimmy didn't whoop* He visited and<br />

he'd get a jug <strong>of</strong> whiskey, call his niggers and give them a little, make<br />

them feel good and get them in a humor for working* Dr. Jimmy had a nigger<br />

overseer* They was digging a ditch and making a turnpike from Dr* Hanson's<br />

place to Murfreesboro* They told grandpa to drive down in the ditch with<br />

his load <strong>of</strong> rock and let the white folks drive up on the dump* They was<br />

hauling and placing rock on the dump to make a turnpike* In Tennessee it<br />

was a law if a man owned a nigger he had to whoop him or have him whooped*<br />

If he didn't he had to sell him* They told grandpa if he didn't do as they<br />

said they would whoop him, then they said they would break his back* They<br />

took the fussing to Br# Jinmy for him to whoop grandpa* He sold him to<br />

aigger traders and they drove him to Mississippi* Mother never seen him no<br />

more* Grandma died <strong>of</strong> grief* She had nine girls and no boys* After<br />

freedom seven went North and mama, was Jane, and innt Betty lived on in<br />

Tennessee, and I lived some in Mississippi* That's the reason I hate<br />

Mississippi to this very day#<br />

& (X

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!