Slave Masters – Some Good, Some Bad

Slavery played a prominent role in the history of the United States of

America. The antebellum south is specifically known for its dependence on the

institution of slavery. Today, Americans have access to numerous slave narratives

that contain first-hand memories of what the culture of this country used to be like

if they want to gain understanding about their heritage. The slave narratives of

Mary Reynolds and Walter Calloway illustrate that some

slave masters provided their slaves with the necessities of life, did not stand for

slave cruelty, and were concerned for their slaves' spiritual well-being, while

others did the complete opposite.

Mary Reynolds, who spent the first part of her life as a slave in Louisiana,

and Walter Calloway, who spent the majority of his life on a plantation in

Alabama, both spoke about how hard the work was on their master's plantations.

Walter worked in the field. He said, “Time I was ten years ole I was makin' a

reg'lar han' 'hin de plow” (Jordan 59). Children were taught at an early age how to

work. Mary also worked in the field. “The times I hated the most was pickin'

cotton when the frost was on the bolls. My hands git sore and crack open and

bleed” (“Mary Reynolds” 239). The days of a slave were long and filled with

heavy labor.

The work on the plantations was hard and tiresome. Walter's needs were

provided for on a daily basis, while where Mary lived the slaves were only

provided for at Christmas time. Walter says that “Dey treated us purty good, but

we hab to wuk hard... Marse John good 'nough to us an' we get plenty to eat”

(Jordan 59). Mr. John, Walter's master, saw to it that his slaves were provided for

and were well fed (Jordan 59). Mary's ...

... middle of paper ...

...lloway, Jim. “Perdue OK's New Ga. Flag; May Fly Soon.” Atlanta Journal-

Constitution on the Web 5 April 2003. 8 April 2003

08218do7500fl.html>.

Jordan, W.P. The American Slaves, Vol. 6: 51-4.10 August 1997. 8 April 2003

.

“Mary Reynolds.” The American Slave, Vol. 5: 236-46. 10 August 1997. 26 April

2003 .

Pain's Torch. “Grateful Slave.” 7 April 2003

.

Raboteau, Albert J. Slave Religion: The “Invisible Institution” in the Antebellum

South. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978.

“Slavery.” Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2003. 23 April 2003

http://encarta.msn.com/encet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761556943>