Taste of Freedom

Being a slave was what I was, that was my identity, not by choice but by birth. Total submission was forced upon me… this was not decided because of the choices I made, but rather the mother that I was born to. Both my mother and my father were black slaves, which meant when they produced me, I also 'inherited' that role.

I had to learn what hard labor was at a very young age. I was taught to wash laundry, clean houses and tend fields before some the other white children even learned to ride a bike. I was forced to be nothing but a mere lump of life, meant to work like an animal for someone else's profit...

Can you imagine working like a dog and not being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor? You could see yourself grow angry if someone took credit for something you have meticulously worked on... but envisage working sixteen hour days without adequate equipment or clothing for most all of your life, and knowing that when you die you didn't own any of the land you've worked on, none of the animals you've tended and even the children that you bore!
Life as a slave was hard, but as a female, slavery had its own list of problems...not only did we have to be the planter, the cook, the maid...we also had to give ourselves. Many of you couldn't imagine yourselves being forcibly raped every time a man lusts you and you having to submit to him. Most of the time the master decided to choose a young female...we don't even truly understand our bodily changes at that time, let alone having to deal with the misery of continually being sexually, physically and verbally abused: How many of you women had to endure nine months knowing that the child you are carrying was created by rape?

Rumor has it that childbearing for black slaves is a 'cake-walk'. But is it a 'cake-walk' to a woman who has delivered five children and only one got the chance to taste life... And after giving birth to her only living child, seeing it sold away like cargo?

With the constant fear of death, abuse and being sold, I had to find ways to deal with those facts...many a time, slaves dealt with the daily atrocities in ways that led to insanity!

So many slaves in the south would give anything to be where I am right now, no matter what the costs...and I have to say I am grateful to those people who felt obligated to take me in and help me in my time of need; I always thought myself to be a strong woman, but everyone needs help sometimes (and in my case I needed a lot of help)! I did this speech only to help inform you that there are countless other slaves, seeking freedom that needs your support, aide and encouragement!

When I was blessed to have the taste of freedom, I felt that after experiencing freedom I could never go back to slavery...never! With freedom, the land that I farmed on could be mine, the animals I tended could help profit me, and if I were blessed to bear a healthy child, that child would be mine.

And I leave you with this thought: If I were still a slave and someone...'promised me freedom, even for a minute, but I would have to give up my life after' I can boldly affirm that I would accept that offer!