When I Was a Slave Quotes

“Lord.” Trustin’ was de only hope of de poor black critters in dem days. Us just prayed for strength to endure it to de end. We didn’t ’spect nothin’ but to stay in bondage till we died. I”
― Norman R. Yetman, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection

“Slaves were never allowed to talk to white people other than their masters or someone their masters knew, as they were afraid the white man might have the slave run away. The masters aimed to keep their slaves in ignorance and the ignorant slaves were all in favor of the Rebel army. Only the more intelligent were in favor of the Union army.”
― Norman R. Yetman, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection

“I didn’t have no sure ’nough weddin’. Me and Julie just jumped over de broom in front of Marster and us was married. Dat was all dere was to it. Dat was de way most of de slave folks got married dem days. Us knowed better dan to ask de gal when us wanted to get married. Us just told our Marster and he done de askin’. Den, if it was all right with de gal, Marster called all de”
― Norman R. Yetman, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection

“Ole Massa always see that we get plenty to eat. O’ course it was no fancy rations. Just corn bread, milk, fat meat, and ’lasses, but the Lord knows that was lots more than other poor niggers got. Some of them had such bad masters. Us poor niggers never allowed to learn anything. All the readin’ they ever hear was when they was carried through the big Bible. The massa say that keep the slaves in they places.”
― Norman R. Yetman, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection

“There never was an overseer on the whole plantation. The oldest colored man always looked after the niggers. We niggers lived better than the niggers on the other plantations.”
― Norman R. Yetman, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection

“and they starts biddin’ on me. And when they cried off and this Mr. Crosby come up to get me, I just pulled out my papers and helt ’em up high and when he sees ’em he say, “Let me see them.” But I says, “You just look at it up here.” He squints up and say, “This gal am free and has papers.” And tells me he a legislature man and takes me and lets me stay with his slaves. He is a good man.”
― Norman R. Yetman, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection

“You know, the nigger was wild till the white man made what he has out of the nigger. He done educate them real smart.”
― Norman R. Yetman, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection