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1. The state I was assigned to was Oklahoma. As I was reading through all the slave narratives one in particular caught my attention. The story that stuck out the most to me was Isaac Adams. He was born into slavery and went through many trials and tribulations. He stood out the most to me because his story he had to learn to be a man at a very young age.
Isaac Adams was born in Louisiana according to him, it was “way before the war.” His narrative starts off at just the young age of ten. His mom was a slaved owned by Mr. Sack P. Gee. He was a young and wealthy man that all the slaves called Master Sack. His plantation was located ten miles just north of Arcadia, Louisiana. Isaac tells us that Mr. Sack P. Gee plantation was so big that “He would leave in a buggy and be gone all day and still not get all over it.” His land was rich with supplies such as sugar cane, oats, corn, and cotton.
Isaac mom was a house slave because she was very weak and sick. Sadly at the age of four, Isaac mom died. Mr. Sack kept Isaac in the main house where he would do little chores. Isaac saw many things while working in Mr. Sack’s mansion. Isaac tells us that he didn’t know much about the field slaves. He claims that Mr. Sack kept them healthy and strong, and whenever they came to the main house he would feed them. When the war started Mr. Sack participated in it and things at the house went on as normal. Soldiers would often stop buy his plantation and buy corn, hogs, and other supplies. When Mr. Sack returned he freed all his slaves. Mostly half of the slaves stayed because they had no other place to go. After being free, Isaac found news about his father. He found out that his father had also been free after the war and was a sharecropper. After finding out this news, Isaac went to go stay with him until the age of eighteen. Isaac later moved around Louisiana a lot until he settled down and married. He had a whopping seventeen kids; twelve boys and five girls.
Isaac Adams was a phenomenal person who went through times of hardship and suffering. He saw many things and to be able to sit down and tell his story is amazing. What was interesting about his narrative was Mr. Sack was somewhat a lenient slave owner. I’m glad that Isaac didn’t have to endure some of the harsher punishments that other slaves had to go through.
2. There was a time that slaves did not have a voice. Attempting to voice any opinion or concern was considered to be disrespectful and would come with a great deal of punishment. However, slaves were interviewed to discuss how they felt about slavery as well as how they dealt with being slaves. Although living through the struggle daily, it was apparent that many of the ex-slaves attempted to suppress memories of this time.
Sam Rawls, born in Lexington County, South Carolina property of John Hiller. Although being a slave, Sam Rawls did not have many bad memories of these times. In fact, he described his slave owner as strict to his slaves, not mean. During the times that he was being whipped or disciplined he believed it was “alright”. Rawls himself as well as the other slaves not being awarded the opportunity to receive education. If any of the slaves attempted to read and write and were caught, they were whipped bad by their slave owners. Secretly, Rawls learned taught himself the alphabet. He also paid attention to what the slaves owner’s children was learning in order to receive any education. After the war, Rawls along with the other slaves would set up a place where they could come together and receive religious services and sneak in a time to educate each other in the afternoon. The opportunity to receive religious services before the war was over was not an option. As Rawls stated in his narrative “Befo’ freedom come, de patrollers was strong dere, and whipped and niggers dey kotched out without a pass; wouldn’t let dem go to church without a pass” (Sam Rawls, 1937).
Even though Sam Rawls was a slave, he could recall having plenty to eat from the slave owner’s gardens. The most common things that were grown in the garden were potatoes, greens (turnips and collards), as well as peas. He could also recall the slave owners having old brick ovens that were placed outside of the house and they would host big meals on Saturdays that would last for several days to follow. On these Saturdays, the slaves on this plantation would be allowed to catch up on personal tasks that are not normally priority such as washing their laundry.
In conclusion, Sam Rawls just like many ex-slaves at a young age were forced into work. Treated as property, told when to eat what to eat, when to sleep, when to practice religion, and what information they were allowed to learn. Not being too educated on politics, the ex-slaves were not oblivious to the standpoint of many political figures. Sam Rawls was able to find silver linings in his situation. Event though he was forced to be a slave, he appreciated the work ethic that was forced upon him and his generation. Unlike the generation to follow that worked when they want, not because they had to.
What I found to be surprising is that although the ex-slaves were forced into situations with their families, the hardship and struggles did not pass on to the generations to follow. I’m not sure if it was due to fear of believing that ensuring the following generation would feel mentally and emotionally what they felt. I also find it surprising that many ex-slaves stuck to the crafts that they knew such as farming and cropping.
