ANONYMOUS
"In most of us colored folks was the great desire to [be] able to read and write. We took advantage of every opportunity to educate ourselves. The greater part of the plantation owners were very harsh if we were caught trying to learn or write. It was the law that if a white man was caught trying to educate a negro slave, he was liable to prosecution entailing a fine of fifty dollars and a jail sentence. We were never allowed to go to town and it was not until after I ran away that I knew that they sold anything but slaves, tobacco, and wiskey. Our ignorance was the greatest hold the South had on us. We knew we could run away, but what then? An offender guilty of this crime was subjected to very harsh punishment." ("Born in Slavery: Ex-slave Stories 3rd ed. Vol. XVI" Print)
TEMPIE CUMMINS
"The white chillun tries teach me to read and write but I didn' larn much, 'cause I allus workin'. Mother was workin' in the house, and she cooked too. She say she used to hide in the chimney corner and listen to what the white folks say. When freedom was 'clared, marster wouldn' tell 'em, but mother she hear him tellin' mistus that the slaves was free but they didn' know it and he's not gwineter tell 'em till he makes another crop or two. When mother hear that she say she slip out the chimney corner and crack her heels together four times and shouts, 'I's free, I's free.' Then she runs to the field, 'gainst marster's will and tol' all the other slaves and they quit work. Then she run away and in the night she slip into a big ravine near the house and have them bring me to her. Marster, he come out with his gun and shot at mother but she run down the ravine and gits away with me." (Tempie Cummins "Born in Slavery: Ex-slave Stories 3rd ed. Vol. XVI" Print)
WINSTON DAVIS
"The punishments, as I said were cruel—some masters would hang the slaves up by both thumbs so that their toes just touched the floor, women and men, alike. " (Winston Davis "Born in Slavery: Ex-slave Stories 3rd ed. Vol. XVI" Print)
CLAYBORN GANTLING
"Before freedom we always went to white churches on Sundays with passes but they never mentioned God; they always told us to be "good niggers and mind our missus and masters" (Clayton Gantling "Born in Slavery: Ex-slave Stories 3rd ed. Vol. XVI" Print)
JOHN HENRY KEMP
"One day when an old woman was plowing in the field, an overseer came by and reprimanded her for being so slow—she gave him some back talk, he took out a long closely woven whip and lashed her severely." (John Hnery Kemp "Born in Slavery: Ex-slave Stories 3rd ed. Vol. XVI" Print)
SHACK THOMAS
"A whole lot of times they wouldn't sell 'em, they'd just trade 'em like they did horses. The man (plantation owner) would have a couple of old women who couldn't do much any more, and he'd swap 'em to the other man for a young 'un. I seen lots of 'em traded that way, and sold for money too." (Shack Thomas "Born in Slavery: Ex-slave Stories 3rd ed. Vol. XVI" Print)