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Marianna, Arkansas
Age 77
"I was born in Greene County, Georgia. My owner was Jim Jackson. He bought my mother's father. She was raised
on Jim Jackson's place. I rec'collect a right smart about slavery times. He made us dress up and let the nigger traders
see what little niggers I got. We thought it was nice. What fine limbs we had. Aunt Judy---some called her 'big
mamma'---lived down under the hill. She was old and seen after the children. The biggest children took care and
nursed the little ones. On Wednesday and Saturday the cook made ginger cakes for the little children. The house girl
called us. She was Aunt Teena's girl. Aunt Teena was a housemaid. See little niggers coming from every direction
to get our cakes.
"Jim Jackson's wife was named Mariah. They lived in a big fine white house. When it was freedom a soldier come,
brought a paper and Massa Jim was settin' on the porch. Tom Chapman was his overseer. They rung the big farm
bell and had the oldest niggers stand in a line and us little ones in front so we could all see. Tom Chapman read the
paper and stood by the soldier. He had two big plantations. Massa Jim got sick that day and vomited and vomited.
He lived a week or two weeks. They sent for Dr. Ducham but he couldn't do him no good. He died. Massa Jim told
them they could take the teams and go to town, all he ax of 'em was to feed and take care of 'em. Every one of the
grown folks went and left us at home. Aunt Judy seen 'bout us like she been doing all the time. They went over to
Greensboro to celebrate. They all come back. They was all ready fer their breakfastes. It was twelve miles from
Greensboro. Then the next day Massa Jim or Tom Chapman one called the grown folks to the house and told them,
'You can stay and I will pay you or you can go. I pay no more doctor bills. I don't feed you no more nor give you no
more clothes.' Some moved and some hired to him. Some went to his father-in-law's place and some to his brothers'
place and around. His wife was rich. She was Dave Butler's gal. No, I mean Massa Jim's wife---Miss Mariah. That
big place was what her pa give her. Massa Jim had five hundred little niggers on that place and lots more on the big
plantation. He had about two thousand little niggers. We went in droves is right.
"I never went to a table in slavery time. We had our plates and cup and took it to the pot and they put some victuals
in 'em, then we went and at where we pleased. We had all the meat we could eat and all the milk we could drink all
the time. Aunt Teena sewed and grandma would weave cloth. They made white aprons. My hair was nice and old
mistress would tell Aunt Judy to curl my hair. They rolled it up on cloth and on little light cobs. If they wet it, it
would stay curled.
"Massa Jim sold his niggers when he wanted to. He sold my grandpa and Uncle Steve. Grandma wanted him to sell
her and he wouldn't do it. I don't know what become of grandpa. After freedom Uncle Steve come back to us all.
Grandpa was crying. He come to our house and said he had to go. We never seen him no more.
"Some of the slaves wouldn't be whooped by Tom Chapman. I heard them say since I got grown he tacked 'em. It
caused trouble. He couldn't whoop 'em then. Old master whooped some of 'em. Some would say, 'I take ten licks
offen you and that is all.' Then he would sell them the first chance.
They would go to the woods if he beat them too much. He didn't abuse his niggers. He said his niggers was his
property. Aunt Sarah tended to the cows and Aunt Clarisa raised geese, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and churned.
"The Ku Klux come to our house, called Uncle Billy---that was my papa. They got him up out of bed. One man
said, 'I ain't had no water since the battle of Shiloah.' He had pa draw water till daybreaking. He had a horn he
poured the water in. We was all scared half to death. Next morning there was a branch from the well done run off.
Something took place about a well. Uncle Neel Anderson and Uncle Cush dug wells for their living. They come
after them. Aunt Mandy had a baby. They pitied her and Uncle Neel got so scared he run upstairs in his shirt tail and
stuck his head in the cotton. They found him that way. Uncle Cush said, 'Come on, Neel, and go with me.' They
whooped Uncle Cush in his shirt tail. If you didn't open the door they would break it in.
"I worked in the field in Georgia and Arkansas both. I cooked since I was twelve years old. I married when I was
twenty years old. I cooked here in Marianna eighteen years and I have cooked three Sunday dinners on Saturday
and Sunday together. I would make three dollars when I done that. I had five children and I raised one boy. I
washed and ironed. I get some help from the Welfare but I saved and my good old man saved so we would have
plenty when we got old. Folks burnt up two of my houses. I got three more not fitten to live in till they are covered.
I got good property in Stuttgart but couldn't pay the tax on it and 'bout to loose it. I tried to get a loan and never
could. We niggers have a hard time."
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
