SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

w i>%
* 3W33
Interviewer Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed Mark C. Trotter. Bdmondson, Arkansas
Age 71
•'My owners was Miss Betty and Mr* Luke Trotter. I was born in Tunica
County, Mississippi. I farmed all my whole life. I did like it. One tiling
they said about slavery, you couldn f t get away. They had dogs and you get
away and have no place to go, nothing to eat. Travel was hard through the
rough wilderness. One owner would notify another about a runaway. They
would take him back or send him word to come get the runaway. Some of Y em
tried to stay in the woods. They said they never tried to get away. I
wasn't born till after freedom. They said they felt sorry when somebody got
beat but they couldn't help it. They had feeling for their color*
•I come to Arkansas in 1923. I jus 1 can make it. I f m sickly. I made
my part, three bales cotton, last year and prices was so low and provisions
so hi^h it is all gone. I don't get no help from the Welfare*
*I heard old folks set around the fire and spit and talk about them very
things but I got here too late to know well enough to tell it.
»I recollect when seed was a scarce thing. We had to save all our seed.
The women would swap around. Folks had to raise their own stock.
nothing.
*The Ku Klux didn't bother ua#
"I voted here in town. I don't bother the polls no more. I don't own
"Times and folks both been changing all my life. Some things is better
and some people as good as they always been.*