Up From Slavery: Chapters 1–3

But I do not find especial fault with him.

I presume, however, it was procured from our owner’s farm.

If such a thing were to happen now, I should condemn it as theft myself.

It was no sham sorrow, but real.

They unconsciously had imbibed the feeling that manual labour was not the proper thing for them.

Was it any wonder that within a few hours the wild rejoicing ceased and a feeling of deep gloom seemed to pervade the slave quarters?

But there was a feeling that “John Hatcher” or “Hatcher’s John” was not the proper title by which to denote a freeman; and so in many cases “John Hatcher” was changed to “John S. Lincoln” or “John S. Sherman,” the initial “S” standing for no name, it being simply a part of what the coloured man proudly called his “entitles.”

It was a motley mixture.

The fact that the individual has behind and surrounding him proud family history and connection serves as a stimulus to help him to overcome obstacles when striving for success.

I have been made to feel sad for such persons because I am conscious of the fact that mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless he has individual worth, and mere connection with what is regarded as an inferior race will not finally hold an individual back if he possesses intrinsic, individual merit.

This was the first time that I had ever heard anything about any kind of school or college that was more pretentious than the little coloured school in our town.

Nothing must be sloven or slipshod; every door, every fence, must be kept in repair.

When she found that she could trust me she did so implicitly.

The General would usually pay a visit to the tents early in the morning, and his earnest, cheerful, encouraging voice would dispel any feeling of despondency.

General Armstrong, however, very kindly got Mr. S. Griffitts Morgan, of New Bedford, Mass., to defray the cost of my tuition during the whole time that I was at Hampton.