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Biscoe, Arkansas
Age 81
I was born in Mississippi. It wasn't far from Memphis, Tennessee. I heard em talking bout it then. When I first
knowed enything we lived way down in Mississippi. It was on a big farm not close to no place much. My mas and
pas master was named Thornton. Seems lack it was Jack and her name was Miss Lucretia. They show did have a big
family, little ones on up. I have three sisters and a brother all dead - ma was a farm hand. She left us wid a real old
women - all the little children stayed right wid her. We minded her lack our mas. She switch our legs if we didn't.
She carded and sewed about all the time.
I don't know much about master and mistress; their house was way over the field. They lived on a hill and had the
finest well of water. It was so cold. They had two buckets on a chain to pull it up by. The cabins down closer to the
creek. There was two springs one used mostly for washing and the other for house use.
I don't know how many cabins they was scattered. He had a lot of hands about all I remembers - on Saturdays we
get to go up to the house to fetch back something; some provisions. They tell us if we be good we could go. They
done their own cooking. When they work their dinners was sent to the shade trees from white folks house and the
childrens was sent too. We would all stand around Miss Rachel (white) when she bring it then we go sit on the steps
and eat. We show did have plenty to eat.
We wear the dresses new in cold weather then they wear thin for summer. They be lighter in color too when they
fade.
I remember when the white folks left an went to war. They worked on. They had a white man and a colored man
boss. When freedom was declared nearly all of them walked off so glad they was free. I don't know where they all
went. My folks went to another big place. We had a hard time. We all farmed. I don't know what they expected
from freedom. Nobody didn't ask for nuthin. I remembers when some new hands was bought and put on the place. I
think they sold em off in town.
After de war at the church they talked bout if they didn't get freedom they would clang together for der rights but
they never did do nuthin. Times was so hard they had to work harder than before.
The Yankees nor none of the soldiers ever come to our cabins - I seen them along the roads. They show did clean up
Miss Leucretia's calves and hogs. Took em all off at one time. Rations show did get mighty scarce.
They sing, I recken they did sing, go off to work singin and the men whistlin. Mostly sung religious songs. Master
Thornton hed a white man preach sometimes. Down in front of the cabins in the shade. Sometimes somebody get to
go to white church with the family. They held the baby. They didn't have no school.
I seed the Ku Klux Klans in the road light nights - when they pass we all peep out the cracks. They didn't bother
nobody I knowed. We was scared they would turn in an come to the house.
I farmed all my life, hoed cotton and corn. No maam I aint never voted - I jess lives wid my children here and my
son in Memphis and my other daughter at Helena. My daughter do farm work and my son railroads. He works in the
yards.
I don't know what to say bout the generations comin on. They is smarter in their books and sees more than older
folks, but they ain't no better. You kaint depend on what they says. I don't know what to say would make the
country better lessen the folks all be better.
I never heard of no rebellions. I jess lived in Mississippi till I comes here and Memphis and stay around wid the
children and grandchildren. They all do fairly well for the fast times I guess.
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
