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Route 2, Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age 85
"Yes ma'am, I was raised a house gal. Me and another cousin and I was borned in Georgia. My old master's name
was Edward Maddox. Yes ma'am.
"I had a good master but I didn't have such a good missis. Her name was Fannie Maddox. We belonged to the old
man and he was good to his niggers. He didn't 'low 'em to be cut and slashed about. But when he was gone that's
when old mis' would beat on us.
"I've seen a many a one of the soldiers. They used to march by our place.
"I can remember one of my old missis' neighbors. Her name was Miss Phipps. Old mis' would send me there to
borry meal. Yes ma'am, I'd go and come. She'd always send me. I met the soldiers a many a time. I'd hide behind a
tree and as they'd go by I'd go 'round the tree--I was so scared.
"But thank the Lawd, we is free now.
"I heered old master pray a many a prayer that he would live to see his slaves sot free. And he died the same year
they was sot free. He sent for all his hands to come and see him 'fore he died. Even the little chillun. I can remember
it jus' as well as if 'twas yesterday. Old mis' died 'fore he did.
"Our folks stayed on the place two years. Old master told 'em he wanted 'em to take care of themselves and said, 'I
want you to get you a place of your own.' He said, 'I raised you honest and I want you to stay on the place as long as
you live or as long as the boys treat you right.' "I seed the patrollers all right. I 'member that old song 'Run Migger
Run' and a heap of 'em run too.
"Them Ku Klux was hateful too, but they never bothered my father's house. They beat one man--Steve
McLaughlin--till he couldn't get back to the house. They beat him from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
"We had a plenty to eat in slave times. They fed us good. I never did work in the field--I was raised up a house gal.
"After freedom my father had me in the field.
"I used to cut end split a many a hundred rails in a day and didn't mind it neither.
"I used to like to work--would work now if I was able. And I'd rather work in the field any day as work in the
house. The people where I lived can tell you how I worked. I didn't make my living by rascality. I worked like my
father raised me. Oh, I haven't forgot how my old father raised me.
"Never went to school but one day in my life. I can't read.
"I didn't come to Arkansas till after I was free. I been livin' here so long I can't tell you how many years.
"I married young and I'm the mother of six chillun.
"I think a heap of the colored folks is better off free, but a heap of 'em don't appreciate their freedom.
"Heap of the younger generation is all right and then they's a heap of 'em all wrong.
"I can't remember nothin' else 'cause I was too young then and I'm too old now."
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
