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A Short Story About A Slave Named Sally. Satire Poetry Included
It never once occurred to Sally to protest. That's just the way it was in the south and other places during slavery.
Sally sat looking at the white cotton fields thinking, " How am I ever gona get home? "
She was pregnant with her first child. The year was eighteen sixty two. She was born on this southern plantation in West Virginia eighteen years ago. She knew nothing about the outside world except the stories her mother told her about their homeland Africa.
Sally yearned to be free and live in Africa. She wanted so very much for her child to be free from slavery.
Her master's son John impregnated her without consent. She hated the act but loved the child growing inside her big belly. She worked inside the sprawling plantation as a cook. She was a good cook and the master's family told her often how much they enjoyed the food she diligently cooked each and every day.
John had been watching her with a manly interest since she'd reached puberty at the ripe ole age of twelve. Sally was awakened often at night with a command to come to his room. John's father, the master had given her to him as a fatherly gift.
It never once occurred to her to protest. That's just the way it was in the south and other places during slavery.
Sally had another reason to flee to her homeland, she was deeply in love with Samuel her childhood sweetheart. He worked in the fields plowing and picking cotton. He was the illegitimate son of her master Willard. He was never treated like a son. He was raised solely by his slave mother Mattie. He was a light bronze color and very handsome. He worked in the house as a butler in the winter months.
He loved Sally completely. They dreamed the impossible dream of going home someday where they could raise the child in the proud traditions they both were taught by their loving mother's.
Slavery a time in our history when black people were treated like a herd of cattle
Bought and sold on the market
Like an old worn out saddle
Families sold, put on public display
Children separated, sold to the highest bidder
While mothers wept quietly hidden away
Fathers measured, muscles flexed on demand
White land owners smiling
Aware they'ed make strong field workers on their land
The disgrace, the stolen pride and shame
Seems the scriptures were overlooked
God's teaching of love toward the downtrodden and lame.
© 2015 Ruby Jean Richert
Comments
AUTHORHello Peggy. I have not written anything more on this subject. It hurt a black man who read it, and I don't want that. I saw a movie about slavery and I thought I had to write about it. Happy you thought it was shameful. Thanks again my friend.
That is a part of our history that is so shameful! It is hard to believe that such heartless people existed who saw no wrong in owning people as slaves.
- AUTHOR
Hello Greensleeves Hubs, I thought this hub had died. Thank you for bringing it back. Your comment is heartfelt and true. When I think of what they went through it saddens me. Thanks again..
Slavery - a very sorry and depressing episode in our history, and a sad commentary on human morality, which is still being played out to some degree in various parts of the world. I often think of the slaves when first brought to the New World, and what a horrendous experience that must have been - separated from loved ones and the culture they had known all their lives, deposited in a strange new culture thousands of miles distant, and with absolutely no possibility of ever returning to their former lives and families.
Well written prose and poetry Ruby.
- AUTHOR
Hello drbj. I truly agree with your beautiful comment. It is my hope that all races will be loved and respected. God must love color, or else we would all be the same. I like to think of us as a rainbow. Thank you so much for coming to read and leaving a thoughtful comment...
Dear Ruby - You have imparted grace and creativity into your prose and poetry regarding a sensitive subject. Our wonderful country has made many mistakes in the past regarding the way citizens are treated. Perhaps one day we will learn from those mistakes and all our citizens will finally be free.
- AUTHOR
Thank you again manatita. Your comment is beautiful and heartfelt. Peace my friend..
Gratitude .... much. I embrace you both with much beauty and hoping that our Lord continues to enfold you both with inner Light. Om Shanti!
- AUTHOR
Hello Manatita. You are a wise man. I never preach to him concerning God. I do pray that he will be enlightened to see the possibility of God's existence. He is a kind and loving father. You did send me pieces on yoga. I love to meditate and do yoga. Thank you so much for your gentle instructions. I appreciate you..Peace my friend...
- AUTHOR
Hello Ann. I was reading about slavery on wikimedia, they told stories of slave owners treating the people like cattle. Of course that angered me enough to write about it. I'm glad you came to read. Thank you..
So happy to hear that you pray for your friend. What is an unbeliever? It is such a sad way of labelling humans. I see this a lot.
Putting this to one side for a moment, watch the passion. You're my Friend, and I told you this before. Was it to you that I sent the two prose pieces on Yoga? If not, you can request them. When you can, increase your Silence. Do this for a few months and the internal pain will begin to dissipate. Be like the bottom of the sea, there may be ripples above, but the sea remains unaffected below.
When praying for your man, think of him as a child of Light, and send him much mehta (loving kindness). My love to you, my sister Ruby.
You've dealt with a difficult subject in an interesting way. It was matter-of-fact in those days wasn't it, even when not wanted?
Love the poem too. Great job here, Ruby.
Ann
- AUTHOR
Hello Manatita. So nice to see you again. I really do not know if reincarnation is an actual event. I like to believe it is. I enjoy living and why not live again. I hope we will always be cyber friends. I admire you as a soulful man and poet. I have a friend, his name is Tom. He is a good man but not spiritual. He is not well. I mention God to him but he is an unbeliever. I pray for him daily. Thank you so much for all you do to brighten people's path.
Thanks. Noted your answer. A passionate and beautiful Spirit! Would be nice to meet you one day. Illinois? I go to NY and Texas.
In passing, do you believe in re-incarnation? Won't tell you why I asked. He he. Guess? In Love and Light.
- AUTHOR
Hello Tess. Nice to see you. I'm happy that you liked my story and I firmly agree with your comment. Thank you for coming by...
Wonderful story. It seems to capture the aura of that time. One which was cruel, one which we should be ashamed of.
- AUTHOR
Hello Genna. I must say that after writing this and publishing, I felt like I should have let that part of our past rest, but I felt so strong about the horror I needed to vent. I do now think I will put it to rest. If you will read the above from Clive you will see the anger in his words. I do not blame him. I'm sure the anger is there in many whose ancestors had to endure this. I'm glad you thought I gave Sally a voice. Thank you for always making me feel better. Hugs.
- AUTHOR
Hello DDE. Being from Africa puts you in the forefront of this horrible era. I hope you will write about it someday. Thank you so much..
Millions of people enslaved for two centuries. What a terrible mark on our history. Many southerners deliberately misinterpreted the bible to defend and propagate slavery…much the same way radical, extremists misinterpret the Koran today. It took this country many years following the emancipation of slaves to acknowledge their Civil Rights as human beings. You gave the life and pain of slavery a voice, Ruby, and beautifully. Voted up and shared.
- AUTHOR
Hello manitita. I've warched two movies this month dealing in slavery. " The green mile and Twelve years a slave. " I must say that I was moved to write about the horrible era. I appreciate your complimentary comment. I am no different than many Amercians who feel shame about slavery. Wikipedia has a detailed history about the way slaves were treated. Thank you so much..
- AUTHOR
Hello Peg, I haven't seen that movie, but I want to. It's really difficult to understand people still selling children in the sex market today. How could they? They must not believe in God. I want to say that I pity them, but I do not. I'm happy that you came to read this piece and comment. Thank you so much...
Incredible! I know exactly what that meant like to have lived in South Africa. You brought on a delicate topic here and in such greatly told story.
I see that you're reaching out, Ruby. All in keeping with the many rainbows in your heart. I embrace you with the Light of the crescent moon and the heart of tomorrow's golden promise. Peace.
- AUTHOR
Clive, I know you do not look at color, neither do I. I have always felt that God had a purpose when he made different skin color, or maybe he just loves color, just think of a rainbow and how beautiful it is. There is much we do not know. Living is a learning experience. Thank you so much for your thoughts/ideas. They are valued my friend....
Your heartfelt story brings this woman's story to life. That was such a shameful time in our history and in the history of the world. As you've said, this went on in Africa as well as here and continues to go on in parts of the world that are surprising. (Liam Neeson in the movie "Taken") The abduction of children and sale into slavery goes on even today.
- AUTHOR
Hello Will. I read yesterday how many billions B. Gates has. I can't remember exactly how many, then the Waltons and the Koch brothers. It is so unfair, yet we can do nothing about it. I know that Gates gives to fight diseases and hunger around the world, maybe the Waltons and the Koch brothers do the same, I hope so. I believe there is no sin in having money, it is a sin to not help the poor and suffering here in America and around the world. I also read that they all give large sums politically to both parties. I believe there should be a limit, like it used to be. ( no loop holes. ) but who am I? One of the little people. I know you are correct when you said that it will never be like it once was. Working hard and saving money is hard to do in this economy. Thank's again for your thoughts..Smiles..
@ always exploring. Don't succumb your writings my friend. As long as your message is of complete positiveness and truth it will always be accepted. The past is the past but it is quite unforgettable with such an atrocity. If you however fail to move on then your purpose on earth is of no value as you continue to dwell in in a vacuum of despair. I love all humans on planet earth as when i look i have never looked at any man's color, but simply his heart. Thanks you always exploring.
- AUTHOR
Clive, I don't think I'll write about slavery anymore. It causes too much hurt. I watched the movie, ' Twelve years a slave ' and it hurt me, so this piece came from that. I hope you will try to forget the past and continue to move forward, as you are doing with your humorous writing. Thank you again. Smiles..
@WillStar....The few in this life seems to always either have more money or more power than the many and seems to call all the shots in life. The voice of the many is seldom unified and when the many speak it is nothing but mere chaos and noise my friend. This entire plant is controlled by just a handful of very powerful people. People who are often times evil and live to garnish riches and stomp souls.
You can rest easy, Clive, because such people are now very few, while the rest of us are many. Those days are over, and we will never return.
when it comes on to slavery i am very emotional simply because black people were literally treated like cattle and now in 2015 we still have people who would want to go back treating black people cattle....sigh...white...black...brown....same organs, same blood.
- AUTHOR
Hello Will. Wikipedia has the history of slavery and the fact that the civil war was fought to end it. How sad that war was, state against state, brother against brother. Now we have the radical Islamists doing the same. I hate war but it seems there is no other way to stop these murders. What they're doing to women can't be tolerated anymore now than back in times of slavery. It seems there is always evil people who want to hurt the innocent. I hope we wipe them from the earth. God have mercy on them. Thank you for valued input....
- AUTHOR
Hello Frank. Thank you so much. I'm happy that you liked my story and poetry...
- AUTHOR
Hello mrslagibb. Nice to see you again. Thank you for the well written comment..
- AUTHOR
Hello Martie. Thank God it's against the law to own slaves in our country today. Oh Martie, I stopped counting birthdays at 39. lol. Thank you for remembering and for best wishes. I wish the same for you my friend. Hugs..
- AUTHOR
Hello Larry. Thank you for thinking this was a great read. Happy you stopped by..
Well done Ruby!
Yes, we had slavery for a time, but the words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence declaring freedom for all were just too powerful to allow slavery to continue, so thousands of young white men died in a war to end it once and for all.
The United States of America is the country that put an end to slavery, and only radical Islamists still buy and sell human beings today. In fact, they are selling captured Christian girls and women as we speak, and just like your story, they too are being sold as sex slaves.
it's sad that that part of history still stings like wasps.. a very gentle story though for the content.. I love the read and the poem added that little punch great hub my friend
I loved your input on slavery and how the coloured people suffered by the hands of their masters. well written.
Hi Ruby, the audacity of white people is a fact that makes me hang my head in shame.
Beautiful, heart-touching story.
How was your birthday on Feb 26? I hope it was a lovely day. I wish you only the best of peace, happiness and good health for the rest of the year and beyond :)
Hugs,
Martie
Very well written. Great read!
- AUTHOR
Hello ComfortB. I see from your picture that you are a black woman. I must say that we in this country and many other countries dealt in slavery, even the blacks in Africa dealt in it as well. It is evil. And yes I agree it is still going on all over the world. Prejudice knows no boundaries. The atrocities against the Jewish people, the Indian and the Muslim population is shameful. When are we ever going to realize that we are all one with different colors? Thank you for reading and leaving a thought provoking comment..
- AUTHOR
Hello Shauna. The history of salvery is an abomination indeed. I learned that slavery was done in all parts of America, not just the south, although they were the last to give in to the abolishment during the civil war. Thank you for coming by...
- AUTHOR
Hello John. So glad you liked this piece. I felt a need to tell their story in a small way. We no longer have slaves here in America but racism abounds, even here in the midwest. Thank you for reading and commenting..
- AUTHOR
Hello Sarah, so happy you enjoyed this piece. Thank you for stopping by....
- AUTHOR
Hello Cam. With all the turmoil going on in Furguson, Mo. and other places, makes me wonder if racism is growing. I hope not. The young people embrace every race. Why can't we? and yes, it's time for healing. Happy you came to visit. Thank you..
- AUTHOR
Hello Bill. I agree, but not just the black people. The Indian was treated badly and their land stolen. We still have a long way to go before all races are treated equally. I'm glad you enjoyed the prose and poetry. Thank you..
- AUTHOR
Hello Mike. I was reading about slavery on wikipedia yesterday. The article told of the horrors the women slaves had to endure from their masters. They were not considered human. The slave owners felt no remorse for the wrongs they did. Thank you for coming by....
- AUTHOR
Hello bigj1969. Nice to meet you. Glad you enjoyed. Thank you..
I enjoyed reading this. The story of Ruby, unfortunately still plays out in our society today with victims of abuse and sex slavery.
Thanks for a good written hub. Voted up and interesting.
Nice job, Ruby. Thankfully, slavery has been abolished but the pain and prejudice still lives on today. You did a nice job of imagining what might have gone on inside the head of a slave girl.
Great story Ruby. You handled the subject sensitively and it was an enjoyable read.
Such a strong storyline and sensitive subject broached… Indeed a great mix of poetry and prose. Loved reading it from the beginning till the end.
Ruby, Neither white nor black Americans have yet resolved what that period of history has done to us, as individuals and as races. Thank you for reminding us of the horrors of our past so that we can continue to grow and heal.
Slavery could easily be called the Original Sin of this country. Well done my friend. I love the mixture of poetry and prose.
Hello Ruby. Wonderful write. A source of shame for our country.
Great read,great hub.
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