My slave diary

Dear Diary,

I have been working in the cotton field every morning for as long as I can remember. Everyday I would walk out into the field before the sun comes up and go back to my house after sun goes down. Everyday I work, picking cotton out of their pods in the scorching hot sun. My back would hurt everyday after I get back from work. It would hurt because of hunching down to pick up cotton while my hands are in pain because of picking cotton out of pods. The cotton pods have thorns that pierce into my fingers. I am one of the unlucky slaves. Some slaves are skilled enough to work in the master’s house which looks a lot easier than working in the hot field every morning to night. -March 17, 1858

Dear Diary,

Finally I have time to write in my diary again. I have to describe the house of mine that I have to live in. The living condition is terrible. The cabins are built of logs and there are holes and bare ground in our cabin. We are only given enough food to last to the next day. I live with a whole bunch of other slaves. Crowded and packed of people in one cabin. The beds are uncomfortable, but they are good enough after a day of hard work for me. - May 28, 1858

Dear Diary,

Today I saw a very horrible sight. I saw a man run away, but was captured back to the master. He was whipped horribly and beaten as a sign to us other slaves to not run away. He is considered lucky. I have once seen another man run away as was tortured. The master branded his slave by himself. It was so painful just seeing that happen. I have heard of many different kinds of torture from my slave friends, but I have never seen any of those happen yet. - June 12, 1858

Dear Diary,

Today I went to church In the woods. We go to church without our owners knowing, because they do not want us to gather together. We would sneak and go to the woods and meet up. We would call this an invisible church, because it is not noticeable. We would sing hymns together and read the Bible together. We would do all this without letting our owners knowing. We would then carefully slip back into the owners land without him or her knowing. If we were ever caught, we would face brutal punishments. -June 21, 1858

Dear Diary,

Today, when I had the time for my leisure activities I tried making a quilt. I made only part of it because I don't have much of a leisure time. In my leisure time I don't always just make my quilt. Sometimes I like to make corn-husk dolls. I make a corn-husk man with a hat, I rarely have the time to play with them. When I have the time, I would usually make another corn-husk doll rather than to play with the one I have already made because I feel that making one is better than playing with one. -July 10, 1858

Dear Diary,

Today, while I was working in the fields I saw a mother crying and begging in front of our master. I was wondering what was happening until I saw that he was trying to sell the mother's son away to another family. Today, my father also told me that he and my mother never legally married because slaves were not allowed marry. Another thing that happened was that my mother came to spend time with me even though she had things to do. I love my family and I hope I would not be sold to another family. -July 25, 1858

Dear Diary,

Today, I got to listen to stories from my grandfather. He told me legends and African American tales. Sometimes, I would spend time to dance and sing songs that came from African American cultures. We would have fun while doing so. If we have the right amount of time, we would be able to do spirituals. -August 3, 1858

Dear Diary,

Today, at night when I was looking out the cabin door I saw a big African group of men attacking the white slave owners. The slaves owners looked scared. I have seen a lot of rebellion happening through this past week. Like yesterday, I saw people breaking fences and tools. Some slaves even refused to work. This reminded me all that has happened. Taking control of African Americans was unfair. I decided to join the rebellion and attacked a white slave owner. The whites came with guns and shot everyone including me. As I am writing this I am bleeding and I don't think that I can...