LifeAsASlave

A slave named Bubba. Hello, my name is Bubba Jones. I'm 14 years old & I've been a slave ever since I was born. My parents also was slaves, my father worked in the field & my mother worked in the house cooking and cleaning. When I was only 9 years old, I watched my father being beat to death. There was nothing my mother or I could do to help him, we had to sit & watch. Once when I was telling a younger boy how my father died, and he said "why didn't you help your father?" And I honestly didn't know what to tell him. I've questioned myself about that ever since that day. I asked my mother, and all she could say is "That's how things are". She told me that's what he would want. I miss my father a lot, but I tried not to think about him a lot because then I wouldn't focus on my work. I've worked in the field picking cotton since I was only 8 years old. Before I was 8 I would play with Mr. Browns, that's our owners son's name, son James. James and I was best friends, we did everything together. Sometimes he was a little bossy, but we also had fun. Papa told me that I had to be nice to him so Mr. Brown wouldn't sale me. I never found out who he would sale me to or why, but I've seen many other people like us being "sold". But I never found out where they go, momma said down south to the richer folk. But I never saw any of them again, so I never had a chance to ask.

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Slavery Facts  House Slaves:
 * many were cooks, waiters, butlers, maids, and nannies
 * the slaves often poisoned their masters food
 * the house slaves had most contact with the white family
 * they had better clothes, food & other things like that than the field slaves
 * had little contact with the field slaves

Field Slaves : Punishments :
 * women would leave their babies laying on the ground or a stump while they worked
 * the slaves were usually divided into groups depending on their physical abilities.
 * plow gang- usually men or strong women would plow fields
 * hoe gang- usually the women used the hoes that was considered easier
 * trash gang- usually children would sweep yards, drive cattle, pick cotton & carry water.
 * they would sale them to owners/plantations down south.
 * most punishments were physical, such as whipping, beating with paddles etc.
 * whipping was the most popular type of punishment.
 * thumb screw- thick wrist band that pulled the thumb back
 * bell- an iron collar that rung every time the person moved
 * gag- iron bar placed across the mouth to the back of the neck

Food:
 * slaves ate simple food. corn, pork, fat, and molasses etc.
 * some slaves were allowed to grow their own garden.
 * slaves only ate two meals a day, breakfast at 12 noon & supper at the end of the day when they finish their job.
 * but during harvest they allowed 3 meals a day.

Clothing:
 * overalls, cotton and woolen shirts, and hats to protect the sun and the rain
 * the smaller children wore nothing but a shirt.
 * older children wore pants or gowns according to their gender.
 * a pair of shoes was provided once a year.
 * hats were provided every two-three years

Education: