Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"

by Zora Neale Hurston

All these words from the seller, but not one word from the sold.

“So you unnerstand me, we give our chillun two names. One name because we not furgit our home; den another name for de Americky soil so it won’t be too crooked to call.

Oh Lor’! I good to my chillun! I want dey comp’ny, but looky lak dey lonesome for one ’nother. So dey hurry go sleep together in de graveyard.

When de spit goes from de mouf, it doan come back. When de earth eats, it doan give back.

But he is full of trembling awe before the altar of the past.