“Hello I am a reporter and my name is Alex and I am writing an article on former slavery. I thought it would be best if I got a real slaves story. Do you mind if I interview you?” “Not at all.” “Ok thank you sir, you can start when you are ready”
“I am Jack Davis, I was born in 1837 and I was a child growing up during the generation of slavery. Being a slave was not fun, in fact it was awful. We were constantly being beaten, flogged, and whipped. We were provided the smallest to barely keep us alive. The worst part is, our family was not even allowed to live together.
When I was about 5 years old, my father was taken, and my mother would soon be too. My mother was allowed to raise me until I was 7, and then I was all by myself. It was very hard to live there for the first year, and then it got better from then on. It was much different without my parents around, but I eventually got used to it.
About when I was 13 years old, I was sold to a new owner. This life was much different. At my old owners, I worked inside the house and at the new owners, I was moved to working in the field. The field was much harder work than inside. I was beaten harder, the conditions were rougher, and we were out there during rain or shine. This life was much worse, and I hated it even more than my previous owner.
When I was 18 they signed the wonderful Emancipation Proclamation that freed me and my fellow slaves. I was paid $.15 about 3 weeks before I left the farm. This gave me enough to buy a ride on a boat over to the other side of the river, to freedom. When I got to the boat dock, I met a lovely lady that needed a nickel to get a ride on the boat and so I provided her one. We got to know each other and she was such a remarkable woman.
When I was 21, I jumped the broom with the lovely Miss Jane Walker. I loved her so much. She was my life. She was about 5'4” tall and was a skinny little thing. She and I did everything together. We went on many vacations, to places like Ohio, Virginia, and Florida. After living for a while in Indiana we moved with many other African Americans to South Carolina, a popular place for us to move to. We went through thick and thin together. We had someone rob our house, in the first 5 weeks we were married.
When we were in our 60s she passed away, and that was the worst day of my life. She wasn't killed or shot but she was very sick. I have been lonely for the rest of my life since. She was a wonderful woman and because of that I haven't gotten remarried and never will remarry. I will miss her forever.
I am starting to get up in age now, at 86, and am beginning to get sick easier. I am thankful for everything the lord has blessed me with. I have lived a full life and won't be disappointed if I were to die now. Thank you for interviewing me and I appreciate your interest.”
“That was an amazing story, thank you for sharing with us and letting me take your time.”
Disclaimer: Story is not real but experiences were. Written by Nolan Herrell.