African-American Children in the North Think About Slavery in the South
1st Dear school-mates, we are going next summer to buy a farm and to work part of the day and study the other part if we live to see it and come home part of the day to see our mothers and sisters and cousins if we are got any and see our kind folks and to be good boys and when we get a man to get the poor slaves from bondage. And I am sorrow to hear that the boat Tiskilwa went down with two hundred slaves from up the river. [1] Oh how sorrow I am to hear that it grieves my soul that I could faint in one minute. -------------------, aged seven years.
2nd Dear Schoolmaster, I now inform you in these few lines that what we are studying for is to try to get the yoke of slavery broke and the chains parted asunder and slave-holding ceased for ever. O that God would change the hearts of our fellow men. -----------------------, aged twelve years.
3rd In my youthful days dear Lord, let me remember my creator, Lord. Teach me to do his will. Bless the cause of abolition—bless the heralds of the truth that we trust out God has sent to declare the rights of man. We hope that it may be the means of moving mountains of sin off all the families. My mother and step-father, my sister and myself were all born in slavery. The Lord did let the oppressed go free. Roll on the happy period that all nations shall know the Lord. We thank him for his many blessings. ------------------------, aged eleven years.
4th Dear Sir—this is to inform you that I have two cousins in slavery who are entitled to their freedom. They have done every thing that the will requires and now they wont let them go.[2] They talk of selling them down the river. If this was your case what would you do? Please give me your advice. _____________, aged ten years.
5th Let us look back and see the state in which the Britons and Saxons and Germans lived. They had no learning and had not a knowledge of letters. But now look, some of them are our first men. Look at King Alfred and see what a great man he was.[3] He at one time did not know his a, b, c, but before his death he commanded armies and nations. He was never discouraged but always looked forward and studied the harder. I think if the colored people study like king Alfred they will soon do away with the evil of slavery. I cant see how the Americans can call this a land of freedom where so much slavery is. -----------, aged sixteen years.
Questions to Think About and Discuss
- Why did African-American families migrate to Cincinnati?
- How do you think migration changed the lives of African-American children?
- What was most important to these students?
- What were their hopes and goals?
- What ethical values mattered most to them?
- Do these letters help you understand immigrants and refugees today? If so, how?
[1] Steamboat accidents happened often, and slaves being transported on commercial vessels were frequently killed.
[2] Some masters freed their slaves in their wills after they died.
[3] Alfred the Great was king of England from 871 to 899; he repelled a Viking attack.
