Being An African American Family Essay

Raising a family while in slavery was a very tough task in the 19th century. Families were constantly concerned with whether they would be able to stay together. Mothers worried how to give their children the best quality of life possible even though their life on the plantation was not always so pleasant. Being an African American family in the 19th century in the southern states was a time when you had to be strong-willed, and motivated. Otherwise the family unit would fall apart. They did not have any right in their life, even though the religions, or schools. The union of slaves through marriage was not accepted by American law back in the 19th century. Henry Banner, was a slave in Russell County, V.A during the war, shows, “If a woman didn’t breed well, she was put in a gang and sold. They married just like they do now but they didn’t have no

Adeline Aunt was born 1848. At the time was interview, she was 89 years old. Her master was Parks John. Aunt points out, “We colored folks were not allowed to be taught to read or write. It was against the law.” Education is so important for the kids later on; however, in this period of time the kids went to school because their master forced them to go to take care the white children. Walter Calloway was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1848. He response, “…, we didn’ git no schoolin’ ’cep’in befo’ we got big ‘nough to wuk in de fiel’ we go ‘long to school wid de white chillum to take care of ‘em.” Some slaves might lucky that their master would teach them the alphabets only. Victoria Adams was live in plantation of Samuel Black in Cedar Creek; she was ninety years old. She expresses, “White folks never teach us to read nor write much. They learned us our A, B, C’s. and teach us to read some in de treatment. De reason they wouldn’t teach us to read and write, was ‘cause they was afraid de slaves would write their own pass and go over to a free