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“…she compared the waffle…”

Narratives of Allen Sims (goobers), John Crawford (whipperwill peas), Mike Genes (crackling bread), and Lina Hunter (okra coffee).

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Alabama Narratives, Vol. 1, pp. 343 (Sims), 15 (Genes); Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 3, p. 256 (Hunter).

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiography: supplement, series 2. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 3, Texas, p. 968 (Crawford).

“…hunt after sundown…”

Narrative of Henry Barnes and Georgia Baker.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Alabama Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 22; Georgia Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 41.

“…stink up the meat…”

Narrative of Anthony Dawson.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Oklahoma Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 70.

Anthony Dawson

“…a cotton checked dress…”

Narrative of John F. Van Hook.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Georgia Narratives, Vol. 4, p. 76.

John F. Van Hook

“…a balmoral petticoat…”

Narrative of Minnie Davis.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Georgia Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 256.

Minnie Davis

“…a pair of brass-toed brogan shoes…”

Narratives of Mary Reynolds and Irella Battle Walker. The woes of the brogans occur through the narratives.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 3, pp. 241-42; Vol. 4, p. 123.

“…better to go barefoot.”

Narrative of Ann Hawthorne.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Texas Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 121.

Ann Hawthorne

“…Anarcha became a helper…”

There is virtually nothing in the record about Anarcha’s life on the Westcott plantation. I have made her a helper to the “Doctor Woman,” Pheriba, for several reasons. First, later records from Montgomery and Virginia establish that Anarcha was a trained nurse, which is more or less in keeping with what Sims said about the women who were part of the Alabama fistula experiments. Also, as will be described shortly, Anarcha was likely sent to the Lucas plantations in Mount Meigs, where she first encountered Sims as a young girl. At this point, she was already assisting with the care of malaria patients, so it seems likely that she would have had some form of training prior to leaving the Westcott plantation for a time. Last, Anarcha later attested to not having other skills (see “…she never learned to cook…,” above).

“…the mother had broken a leg.”

Narrative of George Pretty.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Florida Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 269.

George Pretty

“…Pheriba had important papers…”

Narrative of George Pretty.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Florida Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 269.

George Pretty

“…chunks of fire…”

Narrative of Laura Thornton.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 6, p. 327.

Laura Thornton

“…inexplicably, an ax.”

Narrative of Julia Brown.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Georgia Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 143.

Julia Brown

“…for stopping bleeding.”

Narrative of Marion Johnson.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 6, p. 116 (Johnson).

Marion Johnson

“In this way…”

These images are from the 1841 estate inventory of the Westcott plantation, held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama. The Westcott plantation grew dramatically between 1828 and 1841, and the children named here do not appear in the 1828 documents, indicating that they were born in this time. Being valued alongside their mothers suggests that they are still infants.

“….miseries in their backs…”

Narrative of Emma Hurley.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Georgia Narratives, Vol. 2, p. 277.

Emma Hurley

“…a daily dose of bitters…”

Narrative of George Lewis.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Georgia Narratives, Vol. 3, p. 50.

George Lewis

“a dirt-and-stick fireplace…”

Narrative of Jasper Battle.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Georgia Narratives, Vol. 2, p. 277.

Jasper Battle