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1601 Saracen Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age 81
"Good morning. Come in. I sure is proud to see you. Yes ma'am, I sure is.
"I was born in Chicot County. I heerd Dr. Gaines say I was four years old in slavery times. I know I ain't no baby. I
feels my age, too--in my limbs.
"I heerd 'em talk about a war but I wasn't big enough to know about it. My father went to war on one side but he
didn't stay very long. I don't know which side he was on. Them folks all dead now--I just can remember 'em.
"Dr. Gaines had a pretty big crew on the place. I'm gwine tell you what I know. I can't tell you nothin' else.
"Now I want to tell it like mama said. She said she was sold from Kentucky. She died when I was small.
"I remember when they said the people was free. I know they jumped up und down and carried on.
"Dr. Gaines was so nice to his people. I stayed in the house most of the time. I was the little pet around the house.
They said I was so cute.
"Dr. Gaines give me my age but I lost it movin'. But I know I ain't no baby. I never had but two children and they
both livin'--two girls.
"Honey, I worked in the field and anywhere. I worked like a man. I think that's what got me bowed down now. I
keeps with a misery right across my back. Sometimes I can hardly get along.
"Honey, I just don't know 'bout this younger generation. I just don't have no thoughts for 'em, they so wild. I never
was a rattlin' kind of a girl. I always was civilized. Old people in them days didn't 'low their children to do things. I
know when mama called us, we'd better go. They is a heap wusser now. So many of 'em gettin' into trouble."
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
