perspective+of+a+slave


 * Slavery perspective**:[[image:file:moz-screenshot-3.jpg]][[image:file:moz-screenshot-4.jpg]][[image:black_slave.jpg width="259" height="175"]]

I wah so glad deh ma mah and ma sis in Nebraska will be slave no moh…I ain’t no much ‘bout deh things dat go on ‘cuz I’m a slave heah in Kansas. But I ain’t dumb and I hears da news from ma people, from otha plantations in da south that troubling is brewin’. I hears from da songs we sing. They carry the messages only uhs can understand… It wuz assumed dat the Southerners would occupy Kansas and make it a slave state… Oh ma! How I wishes to be free! God make me slave no moah! And He answers ma call to da Lord and da next thang I noes the “Abolionists” so day calls them comes to Kansas and day tries to make people like us be slaves no moah. I cries ‘till dawn da next day and prays to da Lord and prays and prays. I overheahs from ma owner one evenin’ dat da anti-slavery organization called da Emigrant Aid Compny of Massamachusets are establishin’ anti slavery settl’mens in Topeka and Lawrence. Hallelujah! And befoah deys hear my cheerin’ I sneaks up into ma bayd and I pray some moah…Weeks ago I o’erhard from ma friend Jim that the proslavers (Border Ruffians) won da territory elections and I hears dat we no free no moah. I hears from Jim dat da proslavers don’t want no free Blacks runnin’ around and dat we shuld be where we belong. Oh ma! Why can’t I be free like you… I thinks ‘bout runnin’ way but I can’t leave ma friends here to die chained up to dere doom… And now I’m livin’ in da nightmare. Both sides is fightin’ like da mad dogs in ma plantation. Ma owners calls it the “Bleeding Kansas” and it’s bin goin’ on for months now. I wanders wen this will end cuz I dun wanna be slave no moah. Oh I dun wanna be slave no moah. If I can eva again see ma sis and ma mama… but I dun think dat is gon’a happen ‘cuz dere is no end to dis madniss. I’s been getting’ whipp’d for days now all ‘cuz I’s Black and ma owners says it’s ma fault dat dere is dis confli’t. I sometimes wanders ‘bout da motives of the slave-free people. I can’t imagin’ dat deys be helpin’ us all dis time without something in return. Das how people is. Dey’s always dirty and carin’ nothin’ but for them, like ma owners. Dey’s beatin’ me like da madman and I jus’ hol back ma tears cuz cryin’ ain’t gonna help nowhere. Only shows da white people dat I’s weak and I’s dun wan dat. I mus be tough like ma mama. OH! Mama. I prays for you night and day. I prays for ma sis and to ma Lord… Ma friend Jim died yes’rday from God-knows-wut. I’s think dat it’s from da hatred of the filthy White madmen. Deys always preachin’ to da Lord ‘bout salvation but I’s dun think God will help dem… The battle is worse now and I sees da killin’ ma self couple times now. I heard da streets are painted red now from da blood. But I’s keepin’ strong jus’ like ma mama. She dun wan see her son cryin’ even though i's jus' 13 years old…