Synopsis
August 20th, 2008 | Uncategorized |
In Episode Two, life gets even harder for Kunta Kinte.
The slaves on the slave ship attempt a revolt that nearly succeeds, but is crushed. About a quarter of the slaves are killed, including The Wrestler.
The ship eventually reaches America, where the slaves are turned over to slave dealers who prepare them to be sold, then put them up for auction. Kunta Kinte, Fanta and the others are all sold like animals. White spectators stand around and make dirty jokes about them.
Kunta Kinte is sold to John Reynolds, a plantation owner from Virginia. Another slave, Fiddler, is given the responsibility of teaching Toby (Kunta Kinte’s new name) how to speak English and how to be a good slave.
Kunta Kinte/Toby swears that he will never give in or stop fighting. He manages to escape for a day or so, but is caught and brought back to the plantation, where he is beaten almost to death. He only saves his life by answering to his new name.
At the end of the episode, Fiddler assures Toby that it doesn’t matter what a bunch of white people call him, he knows who he is. It is a very sad and proud moment.
Hi I am Kunta Kinte, I am a slave on the slave ship back to America. I have be taken away from my family and friends an Africa. I have been put on a slave ship with lots of other black men and women, we are controled by white men. I was put on the ship with the wrestler from manhood training. He said that we are all going to learn the other tribes languages so we can work together to kill the white men and turn the ship around and go back to Africa. We learned the other tribe’s languages and then we had a plan. When the take us out to exercise we will grab the guy that has the key around his neck and unlock other slave so that they could help us kill the white men.
When they took me out to exercise we counted and then attack all the white men we could. All the white men were wiping us and punching us but we did not give up. We killed the captain of the ship and we almost got the key. We killed many white men and we almost got all of them. One of the bad guys fired of a cannon but the cannon was not one big ball it shoots little pebbles all over the place and they hurt so bad u just fall to the floor. They locked us up again and put us downstairs with the others, and they didn’t take us out for exercise as much now. They wrestler died and a lot of other people died with him. We almost won it but we didn’t. I am scared, I don’t now where I am going or when!
Kylie B-L
Block A
Rich man at the auction, who might buy a slave
I really hope I buy a good n-word today. He better be strong and he better listen to me, if I decide to buy a girl n-word then she better have a nice shape so she can reproduce for more n-words. (During auction), wow there are some good looking n-words, but I think a may buy the first good looking one I saw. All these n-words are a waste of my money, but who is going to care for the crops and who will care for the foul? Most important who will serve the meals and clean my house? It won’t be me of my family so it has to be those n-words. Well they don’t have anything else to do besides sit around all day doing nothing but making there own people and tribes, us whites need them more then they need each other. Oh, man I love them black people all because they will do anything because they are scared they will get punished, ha-ha I can do whatever I want…and I love that feeling of power.! This slave that I buy better be good or ill do him bad…he will obey me.
MirandaY
Block A
SLave selling crab cakes at the auction.
Why isn’t anyone buying my crab cakes? They’re so delicious, and I bet most people are hungry. It’s probably because they are all at that slave auction. All the white men want ‘em so they don’t have to get down and dirty, and do stuff that they don’t wanna do. They make ‘em work on their plantations, and if they do something wrong…they whip them. Hard, too. Until they suffer, and mostly likely to die. And, of course, they wont those, young, good looking girls that they can do stuff with. I think its pathetic. I just hate, how when a slave do something wrong, they whip ‘em until they suffer, or die. They need that slave, so why hurt or kill them? I’m a slave too, but my owner doesn’t do that. He wouldn’t be able to live without me. I do him good. He treats me good, so I do whatever he wants me to do…so I can stay alive. I hate watching them being sold. They’ve never been here before. They don’t know what’s going on. I bet they think, that they’ve entered a new world somehow. It must be terrifying. I remember, when I was one of those blacks. I was scared to death. The only time I sawed a white, was when they were capturing me and on the boat to here. But, that’s only like two-dozen of them I saw. But, when I came here…they were everywhere. I was crying. I thought it was a dream…I remember thinking, ‘I wonder if my family and friends knew if I were gone, and if they were looking for me.’ I thought it was going to be worse than what I’m livin now. I mean, I get food and water, don’t gotta sleep on the mud ground, and get more freedom then I know all those slaves wont be getting. I see all those whites over there. I know them…well I’ve seen them around my owners plantation. They are nasty fellow’s. They wont treat any of those slaves with respect. Maybe, just maybe…one of those slaves will have the guts and escape outta there. But then will never happen…
Allison B, block C
Slave in the slave pens waiting for auction(male)
The white people have locked us up in cages like we are animals. They try to keep us quiet while a huge crowd gathers around a stage. The people all point and stare at us, criticizing our strength and our posture. I don’t know what they’re going to do to us, but I’m really scared. The other men look sad, scared and sick from the journey too. I don’t think that any them will try to fight back if the white men take us out of the cage.
I hear commotion from the cage that the ladies are in. They take out one of the ladies, and bring her up onto the stage. Some white men get up and examine her.
“What are they doing?” I asked my brother.
“They are probably checking to see if she is healthy. Then, they will pay to buy her, and she will work for them. That is what they will do to all of us.” He sees that I am starting to tear up. “I’m sorry brother. There is nothing that we can do. They are in control of us now. If we don’t follow what they tell us to do, then we will be punished.” He replied.
They check the lady from head to toe, and then the guy behind her starts to yell. People from the crowd raise their hand or shout things out. After it’s all over, they do it again and again. They will probably do the same thing to all of us, and then give us away to those people in the crowd.
My brother and I stay close together. I don’t want to go out there in front of all those people, and be examined by those guys to see if I am strong enough for them. I don’t want to be controlled by them, and have to do work for them. They can’t make me do anything! I will fight them if I have to. They’ve already killed and injured enough of our people, and I will stand up for all the people of Guinea.
This place is nothing like Guinea, and my brother is the last thing that I have from home. We can’t be separated! They have already taken us away from our families, and shoved us into that ship for months. I will keep fighting, and I won’t let them control me. It’s just not fair. They can’t treat us badly. I just won’t stand for it. I will run away with my brother and we will find our way home. We will be with our family again. I WILL get out.
Josselyn J.
Block: B
Fanta (in the slave pen waiting to be auctioned)
It’s very crowded in this dark room. I look around and see all of the other women and wonder if they are thinking the same thoughts as I am. Last night, Kunta and I looked at the moon together through these cold, metal bars. Kunta is the only thing I have left from home and I am grateful that he is here with me. Though I cannot touch him, I know he is here with me and hearing his voice comforts me. Kunta and I wonder if the moon is the same one that our families are looking at in Africa. We miss them all so much.
I have no idea where we are. We all got unloaded from the wooden boat. A man took me out of the cell and looked at my body. Soon after, he put me back in. A few others got taken out, and then finally Kunta. The same man who was looking at me took a thick, black liquid and painted it onto Kunta’s back. I remember looking at the expression on his face. The hurt in his eyes made me want to cry. Kunta is so strong, and if they can hurt them, they can definitely hurt me or even worse. I will do whatever they want me to, as long as it keeps me alive. Kunta does not agree. He thinks it will be better to rebel against the white men until the day he dies. He may be right, but if anything happens to Kunta, and him and I get separated from each other, I do not know how I will live with my life.
The dark room that we are all in, is bearable compared to the ship. We have a lot more space and we can even walk around. There is no bathroom, and I wish it was a little lighter, but I am not greedy about it, I am thankful for my life, and that the white men did not take it from me.
Well today they brought us to these metal barred cages. It was so cramped with all of the other girls in there. I was so terrified because I didn’t know what was going on, but I did know that if I wanted to live I’d best do what they wanted. I was trying to push my way to the front of the cage so I could see what was going on. I saw a lot of white men looking at us and at the other cage, where the men were being held. They were speaking a language I did not understand, it was very different from ours. They where calling us words, and evan though I could not understand them I knew they were bad. I was terrified when they opened the door and took out a few of the other girls. I watched them as they were being looked at by the white men. They all got taken away by different men I didn’t understand what was going on. All I knew was that I’d probably never see any of them again.
Jenny D
Block A
Mr.Ames
Today John Reynolds has brought back with him a slave. The Fiddler says it the best of the group(I dought that). It my job to teach new slaves how to do their jobs. But John Reynolds has given this job to the Fiddler. I don’t see why he would give this job to him. After all it is my job to teach the new slaves. The new slave does not speak the kings language. So that would be the Fiddlers job to teach him. When I first saw him he says his name Kunta Kinte. Then Fiddler reminds him its Toby. So then I say ” Niger whats your name.”
He still responds to Kunte Kinte.
I ask him one more time.” Niger whats your name.”
He still says Kunta Kinte. Now at this point he has ticked me off. so then I think wait this isn’t mine job to teach it is the Fiddlers. So now I don’t have to worry teaching this niger the kings language or his name.
Now since this is a wild slave we have to have him in chains. You never know what a wild slave might do. So we have to have him in the chains. He only has six months to learn the kings language and learn to do his job. Because in six months it will be John Reynolds birthday. If the Fiddler can not do his then he will be down graded. So if the Fiddler messes up it won’t be my proplem.So I hope the Fiddler will be having fun with Toby(Kunta Kinte).
Mr.Ames
Sam K.
Block D
Aurelia
When I was hanging up my clothes with my mother, there was boy by the well that called me Fanta. I ran to my mother told her what the boy called me. I think Fanta was one of his native tribe member, I don’t know. All I know is that event was odd. Then a later on, I saw him again in the fields and again he called me Fanta. Then he fell down because he was tired and at me. Then he looked down to the dirt and I think he found some thing in the dirt. I think he found a piece of an old gardening tool. And the look I saw on his face, I could tell what he was thinking. He was planning on escaping. But just then Mr. Ames called me to tell Toby to get up. I to go see Toby that night to just talk with him and Fiddler. Then Fiddler left us two alone. But not too long after that Mr. Ames came in told Toby that he was going to be his. A few nights later though went to Mr. Ames’ cabin with my mother and I felt nervous and I know my mother felt upset. Mr. Ames brought me in and you can you believe it. I was getting raped. My mother must be pretty upset that her own daughter is getting raped. I also think this night was the night that Toby was escaping. I still can’t believe that I got rpaed. But another thing came over the camp. Toby got caught. And they were planning on doing something bad to him. I found out that they were going to whip him. That’s just terrible. I went with the others to see the whipping. I looks painful and sounds painful. He does like it. Neither do I. I don’t like seeing that but I had to. I just don’t like it.
Drew H
Block C
Kunta Kinte new at plantation (bad grammar is used to talk like Kunta due to just learning English)
I hate here
I hate it more than losing that mother and her lambs at my homes field back across the river where land disappears. Here I meet Fiddler, he nice enough, I thinkin’ to myself. He teach me this new language, which I hate. Fiddler tell me that my name is Toby, I spit at that name. I say to him “my name is Kunta,” but he just say master Rennalds give me new Toby name, it is good name for n***r like me. I spit at master Rennalds name giving for me. I have chains on my ankles, and they do give sores like nothing I have felt, they keep me in this room so I can’t get out. Room is square, like no house for living I have ever seen before, I do think that square means ‘not normal’ for it is not a normal place for living. Four walls! I do think to myself sometimes that this whole new side of the river is square. Square white men, square large canoes with cloth hangin’ down on it, square rods that make big loud noise and hurt other men. I do not like this square side of the river. Yes, the word square defiantly means ‘not normal’, this I am so sure of.
This place were I live is were other n***rs work for master Rennalds, it is big and they do so much work for him. He must be big evil man, for I never seen him but he must be to lock me up in horrible room with chains burning my legs and hay for sleeping. But yesterday, I did see Fanta! I know I did, I was getting water and I looked up and there she was! I say her name and she looked at me like I say the words of a new baby. Then she step away from me, I’m now so confused. It was her I know it but she has no answering to her name. It is that evil master Rennalds! He has taken her name to, but only she has forgotten it and its meaning. I hate this place with all the power of Allah, I hate it. And I swear with all the power of him that I will fight the white man and get home to the other side of the river! I will! I will!
Samantha M
Block C
Fiddler
*New one
After Toby had got Beaten so badly I felt sorry for the kid because, he knows what his name is and his name is what he is. I wanted to help him out but I would get beaten.
I didnt want to fill the pain and I didnt want him to get beat in the first place. If I had the power I would stop them from beaten Toby. I dont know how to help the kid. I just know that he can only help his self.
Toby made me see that your name is how you are. Seen him get beat lets us all know that hes not going to give up, hes going to fight to keep his name. I want to help him out let him know that we all want to help him out. He needs to know that he can keep his name but still be called Toby. Seen him get beat remimed me of the freedom that was taken from us and what it means to use. When Toby was layen on the ground it think we all new that he was going to help him self out by going by the name of Toby. I still fill his pain.
Hi, my name is Jeb and I live on a plantation in the south. This new male slave was brought from Africa. He is a guinny man. He needs to try working harder or they are going to whip him. It must be really hard for him to be taken from his family and home and brought here. He does not seem to be able to give in to his fate of being a slave. He is a slave and he needs to do what the Massa says. It must be so hard fro him to work with the chains around his ankles but chains or no chains they make us do our share of the work. He always seems to be looking for a way out. Massa has given him the name Tobi and he won’t use it he keeps saying his name is Kunta Kinte. I feel so bad for him because he is so proud to be who he was. He was a free man. This is his life now and he must learn to live with it. He is also going to make Massa Ames angry and then he is going to take out on us as well. This new guy is just another man trapped in something so evil.
Man who helps subdue Kunta Kinte at auction
Hey whats that? Oh its just another salve auction. I’m too poor to buy a slave. I’ll watch, see what the slave ships brought back from Africa. Well… whats this? Shes a fine youg female(fanta), purfect for working on the fields. Blah blah I hate the way the auctioner talks. Hey whats this? A male (kunta kinte). Hey what the heck! That slave is trying to get away. get over here you dirty Guine. Wow hes fast. Och he just hit me with is chains. Even when he is chained he is strong. Holy crap where did he go, he was right in front if me. Wow hes agile. Ha i got a grip on his back, so do the other men. Okay, we’ve got him.
Now that I think about it one has to respect the skills of this black man.
Jake C
Block D
Doctor of the slaves
I am not a typical doctor. I don’t tend to people. I tend to slaves. I tell you, those blacks from Africa aren’t exactly always in the best health. As much as I think it’s needed, those close quarters on the ship aren’t necessarily the best thing. The slaves always come to America in worst health than I’m guessing they were in that land of theirs. What good is a slave if it’s not useful for what its master needs it to do?
The blacks get all sorts of illnesses on the ride here. I’ve seen many different diseases. I often times come across scurvy. I don’t often have the remedies to all the blacks’ illnesses, but I try my best to make them presentable for the auction. To cover up the scars and bruises they get on the ride from Africa, I paint hot tar on them. They always scream extremely loudly when I do this, but I doubt that they really feel pain. They don’t have feelings, them blacks. I suspect it’s just animal instinct. They scream when they don’t like something. I remember this one black on the last shipment I had to tend to. He seemed pretty young, probably in his late teens. He screamed so loudly when I painted the tar on his back that I thought he was going to try to attack me. He was flailing his chains around. I think he called himself Kunta or something. That’s what some of the other slaves were calling him.
I almost felt bad about having to hurt that black boy. But then I reminded myself that God created animals for humans’ benefit. I was just doing what any good Christian man should do to help society.
(Fiddler talking about kunta kinte after 6 months)
Hey there I’m Fiddler.
Now my master bought a guinea man from Africa, at first he didn’t know any language I was speaking. But after Master Reynolds gave the guinea man to me I trained him to talk. I did a mighty fine job I think. Now kunta kinte (Toby) has always been a wild one, and in my opinion he’ll never accept the fact that he’s a slave now. I thought He’d always have that wild fiery look in his eyes. I guess something’s might change.
First couple months were hard and painful for me. I didn’t want no guinea man to take care of and train, for I had worked way to hard to have it taken away. He’s got the heart as big as the eye can see, and he’s always going to be an African man no matter the beating he gets. He reminds me of the horses the master brings in to train strait from the wild, full of passion and anger. After being with him for so long I kinda have learned a few things from him, sometimes it makes me wonder what his life was like before he got brought here to the white man land. After his beating I realized what I should have along time ago he was never meant to be broke to be a slave. He is as wild and free as the birds. He may have given in but boy when he’s better he’s going to a fireball to control. Him always talking bout that girl fanta. He’s got his site set on her, I wonder when he’s ever going to see her again… anyway he’d probley risk everything or a beating again if he could see her. To see him give in after the whipping shot a great pain through my heart. That boy has got more sprit than anyone I know and to see him give in made me want to loose hope. He is fierce and brave but I’m starting to wonder if maybe the white man will ruin him.
Georgia - block B
AmandaG
BlockB
Fanta (onboard the ship, after the slave uprising)
Hello, my name is Fanta. I am a Mandinka woman. I was captured by the white men. On the boat we were taken up to the top of the boat, I lost my Mandinka maiden, to the white man. They are cruel. I am embarrassed to think about it. One of the days much, much later in the voyage, some white men untied my hands, and two other women’s hands then unhooked the metal from our feet. We took our only chance to run. We ran up the stairs that they took us up and down on, and we ran all around the top of the boat. The men were yelling, but I don’t know what they were saying. It all sounded odd to me. I ran as hard as I could but was eventually caught. Kunta Kinte was on deck with some other men from our home when me and the other women where running. After I was caught the men dragged me over and right when they were about to push me down the stairs, one woman got away and climbed up the ropes. They dropped me and tried to get her. I fell to the ground knowing what she was about to do, and cried. Splash! I turned and she was gone. One man, who I’ve met before, became incredibly angry. He was beating on one man, because the girl left to live with Allah I suppose. I was down on the ground, curled in a ball, and Kunta came over to me. Because I was so upset, I don’t remember exactly what he said; but it was similar to don’t be down Fanta, we will go home; we will kill the white man; don’t cry maiden. That’s when I told him that I had lost that part of my life to the white man; he looked at me, a way I could never explain, but in a very upset, angry, and disgusted way. He backed up into the group with the other men.
“AHHHH!” they all yelled, all of the men from my native land, and tried to attack the white men. I ran back down the stairs to protect myself from the angry men who at this point where trying to kill each other. I knew that going back down was the only way to keep me safe even though I didn’t want to. After a few minutes, there was a loud bang, and many thumps. Me and the other women below wondered what it was but didn’t dare go up; although I was the only one who was able to walk because I was still untied.
After the uprising, the white men have kept a very close eye on everyone. Even the women, even thou we are weak and could never fight a man. The men and the women are kept separately, but I don’t understand why. We are fed piles of white mush, and sometimes my stomach comes out of my mouth. My back has been sore the entire time, but it gets more and more sore each and every day. My clothes were luckily the day I was captured ones that covered my whole body, not like some other girls whose clothes only covered half of their body. Their back’s from what I can see is much more damaged, and cut. My back is cut up and painful now, but from what I can imagine not as bad as the others. After the uprising, there have been more deaths, and many more people watching us. I suppose the people dying is from the wounds that the uprising brought, and I guess they do not want us communicating very much so they don’t have to worry about us trying to come up with a plan to try to go home. I hope we will eventually find the end of this river, and come to the end of this terrible voyage. I don’t know what will come to us after this voyage; if we ever get a chance to get off this boat. Kunta, my friend, keeps an attitude that we will kill the white man, and I want to believe him, but I know now that that will never happen. We can not defeat the white man. I have learned how to survive. I miss my village. I hope Kunta can learn how to survive before the white men take his life.
Aidan B Member of the hunting party sent to find Toby
Dear Diary,
Today the new Guinea man slave that fiddler was supposed to be watching ran away. So I two other slaves, me and the slave boss had to go catch him. He got away by chiseling at the chains on his feet with a piece of metal he found in the field and left in the middle of the night. So he already had a night of travel on us and we’re lucky he didn’t get a horse or we probably wouldn’t have ever found him. When we found out that he had gotten away the slave boss and Masa Reynolds were furious and immediately got fiddler and asked what happened he said he didn’t know. So then Masa Reynolds sent out a hunting party, to find Toby (Kunta Kinte). So we left with the dogs and two horses two go find Toby. We had the weather on our side it had snowed the night before so his tracks were clearly see his tracks. When the dogs found him he started to run and then we started to run faster to catch him. Well we were running we saw were he a slept the night before in a hallow dead tree. So when we found the dogs, one had grabbed Toby by the arm and had him pinned so we grabbed Toby and pulled the dog off of him and tied him up and tied him to one of the saddle and started home. When we got back we strung him up on the whipping pole and had to get all the slaves out to watch the whipping. The reason that he was whipped was partly because he had run away and partly because he wouldn’t answer to his new name of Toby and they just kept whipping him and didn’t stop until he said that his name was Toby. It was horrible and sick I almost wish we hadn’t found him and brought him back.
Nick G
The person who bought Fanta
One day I was at my house and I got word that there was a slave ship full with those n#@$%*&. I thought to myself that I could use a wench. So next thing I knew I was on my way to a slave auction. The day of the auction I was looking over the wenches and I found one to my liking. I think the slave auctioneer said her name was Founta or Fanta, something like that. The wench was from the Gambia river. The auctioneer started the bidding for her at about 60 dollars. I didn’t start bidding for her for a little bit, but when it got to around 90 I started to bid. Someone tried to out bid her from me but then it was up to who actually had the money to spend on the n*&$#@. I am very glad I bought th wench because now I won’t be so lonely at nights.
It has been one night and I definitely like this wench. She is very useful, if you now what I mean. I found that she listens very well to me and she hasn’t tried to escape once. I think everyone should have at least one wench because when you get lonely they sure no how to help you with that.
Cassidy M.
Block C
Mr. Ames
*new one*
My name is Mr. Ames. It is part of my duty to watch the slaves and see if they are working. Toby is very challenging and demanding compared to other slaves. He doesn’t give up easily and he tends to fight back. Toby is a new slave and I have been keeping a close eye on Toby. He seems to get into trouble a lot. Toby needs to learn to listen, not just to his name, but to listen to my commands. The other day Toby ran away. This was a behavior that could not be tolerated, and it deserved a whipping. When Toby was brought back everyone hurried over to watch the whipping. I could not get Toby to say his new name, but i would not tolerate that either. I wouldn’t give in. He would have to say his name. Toby’s back was dripping with blood by the end of the whipping, but he got what he needed. I believe that a good slave is one who listens and does what he’s told, when he’s told, with no complaints. After the whipping, I heard Fiddler mumbling something to Toby but I didn’t bother to listen in.
Juleah H
Block B
Aurelia’s Mother
When Fiddler come back from the auction he says we got a new guinea man, he says he’s all the way from Africa. Now I don’t know nothin about Africa but the guinea man speaks a whole nother tounge, I cant understand a word of it. He keeps calling my Aurelia something funny, he calls her Fanta. I don’t know anything about this guinea man so I be sure to keep my Aurelia away from him. She is interested with that new slave; she talks to him and goes to see him in his shed. I tell her to keeps away from him because we don’t know him. She says to me that he’s a good guinea man, a good slave. I’m still not sures about this new guinea man, Fiddler been set on him to make him a good slave. It comes out I was rights all along, the new guinea man, he try to run away. But we slaves know better we knows that we’ll get caught and that guinea man sure did. They mades us all come to see him get whipped, that guinea man, he was a screamin and a hollerin. And you ain’t never heard a sound like that before unless you’ve heard it yourself. Now Mr. Ames has been wantin to see Aurelia in his chambers, we alls know that this time was commin. No body likes it but we all know that it’s the ways things is around here. I know it’s the ways around here that if the overseer wants to see a slave that he sees that slave, I just haves a hard time when it comes my turn to give him my Aurelia. Aurelia comes out of Mr. Ames a changed girl, I ain’t never want her to go there again, but that’s not my decision is it now. I just pray and do pray to the lord.
[Moved from Introduction Page]
Jeff L
Block C
slave at auction not being sold
Rows. Rows and rows and rows of slaves is all I saw. They was in cages made from wood. Only the men was wearin’ shackles. Ah didn’t und’stand it a’ first, but aft’ askin’ me massah why, ah und’stood. Ah mean, men is strong’r than women. The women was wearin’ dresses. They look like an’mal skins. The men was wearin’ cloth’s ’round der waist dat also look like an’mal skins. The first women was brough’ out. Me massah sm’rked. The auct’oneer invited the men to come up and inspec’ the woman. Afta’ the inspect’on, the auct’oneer sta’ted the bidd’n. Afta’ a few minut’s the woman was sold to a rader rich lookin’ man sittin’ in his coach. He den made a r’mark tha’ ah didn’ und’rsant, but me massah an’ all the othe’ people ther’ laughed. Afta’ all the women had been sold, the men came out. The firs’ man to be sold young. A’ least he look young, young and pow’rful. Only two people bid on ‘im. A man on a ‘ orse an’ the man who had bought the firs’ slave woman. The slave was sold to the man on the ‘orse. The man’s slave went up to get the new slave. But befo’ the new slave got to his massah, he pulled a’ ‘is chain an’ got away! Abou’ seven white men group up to get him. Then he grabbed a whip from one of the men. Then another man join in an’ grabbed him. The slave was brought to ‘is massah an’ was given the name of Toby. Then they walked away. Unfortunately me massah wasn’ able to buy any slaves today. However we didn’ go home empty hand’d. Me massah bought some satin for ‘is wife which ah thought was nice. The trip back home was uneventful, however ah did get a nice welcome back.
[Student's last name removed]
Jason D
Block
Sailor watching other sailor being beaten
One day on our way back to America two of the girls got loose and Mr. Slater got pretty mad. I didn’t know what was happening until I noticed the girls on deck running around I tried to help catch them but I wasn’t fast enough and one went over board but we caught the other one.
When Mr. Slater started beating up that sailor I was glad that it wasn’t me but I also was worried that it might happen to me sometime. I think the sailor won’t let that happen again anytime soon because you don’t really want to mess with Mr. Slater at any point in one of his trips. Mr. Slater doesn’t want any slaves going over board because he thinks of it as lost money and he gets really mad.
After that the slaves used our confusion to start fighting and I saw a few men die but in those few I saw Mr. Slater dead on the side of the ship with a knife in his side. Then the big gun was fired and a lot of the slaves died right there but some survived though including this big guy which I’m guessing was a tribe wrestle and he went down as well.
After we got the slaves under control again it was quiet the rest of the trip to America. We brought the slaves up as usual but we needed someone to watch them from a far to make sure they weren’t going to do anything else.
[Student's last name removed]
Rachel M
Block A
sailor getting beaten by Mr. Slater
Hi I’m a sailor on the slave ship heading to America. I am one of many people responsible for keeping slaves in shape, and most importantly keeping the slaves on the boat. I guess I wasn’t doing a very good job because one of the woman slaves had managed to get there chains unlocked when the others were beating up the man with the key. (why couldn’t he have been punched in the face?) Since Mr. Slater is such a sick man who just needs the slaves to get money, he got so mad when she got loose. But then it gets worse, the woman seemed to get up on the sail and jump off. Mr. Slater got so mad that he started throwing punches at me. At the same time the slaves were all trying to get off the ship but then one of the white sailors fired a cannon so a large amount of slaves died. Also Mr. Slater had been stabbed by a slave named Kunta Kinte. The ship had gone completley insane and i had NO idea what i should have been doing. I knew when we reached America there wouldn’t be too many slaves to show at the auction. Wow I’m so glad that day on the ship is over, it was probably the worst day on it. Uh..my face hurts so bad! Thnaks Mr. Slater.
[Student's last name removed]
Kelsey H
Block: A
Sailor talking about the slave uprising,
Hi my name is Don and I am a sailor on the slave ship that is going to America from Africa. On this ship we have nearly 200 slaves. The captain of this ship is Captain Davies. However it is Mr. Slater who is the slave expert and who is in charge of the slaves. We have been on this ship for about a month now. At first the smell of the slaves was absolutely terrible. I couldn’t bear it. Surprisingly I got used to the smell very quickly. There are so many slaves down there at the bottom of the ship. They are being transferred to America for money. These slaves are supposed to be delivered in good conditions for the rich white men to buy them. The slaves have to sleep on the hard wooden boards so their backs get all scratched up so one of my jobs is to poor salt ocean water on their backs so their cuts can heal. Another one of my jobs was to take the slaves out for daily exercise. I took the slaves out just as I normally did. We made them dance like always and they did. Then, however, all of a sudden they just went crazy. They started breaking out of their chains and coming towards us (sailor’s captain).It was completely madness. It was like something had come over all of them. I had never seen anything like it in all my years of sailing. Nearly half of the slaves were killed however which was not going to be good for the profits. Also one of the slaves killed Mr. Slater with a knife. It was just absolutely sincerely crazy. It was not the very good safe voyage I had hoped for. We lost our slave captain, we lost half the slaves and our profits were far lower then what we had hoped for. Maybe next time we will have better luck.
The sailor
[Student's last name removed]
Catherine Z. Block: B
In point of view of- Slave on slave ship ( female )
Right now it’s time to come up from below the deck so thoughs filthy, dirty minded, white men and the backstabbing, African men can r@pe us again. I’m one of the female slaves (I could tell you my name but it’s not worth it, it’s a waist of my breath and a waist of your tome, you don’t care about me and I don’t care about you) who is heading to America to be sold as slaves. When the white men came down and unlocked my chains they expected me to be able to stand up and walk but my back hurt so bad along with my stomach ( from puking up the white mans food) and when I was going up the stairs they pushed me pulled me and yelled at me to go faster. When I got above the deck I saw all of the male slaves being whipped (it was hard at first to see because the sun was so bright) and I was dragged past then to the other side of the boat with the other females. I was so scared that I was going to get r@ped again, I could see that I was going to still be r@ped again because all the white men were coming over smiling (I know that face, it’s about the sixth time I’ve seen it since I was stolen, even thought I was r@ped six times I’m still as scared as ever) with a whip. As I was being pushed into one of the cabin rooms I heard someone yell and then I heard voices yelling so I was let go and the white men who were around me ran away to the other side of the ship I thought to myself that now was the only time I could escape I wasn’t thinking about where I would go, I just didn’t care I wanted to go somewhere where I wouldn’t get caught and r@ped again. As I ran to the back of the ship I saw all the male slaves and the white men fighting. I was so surprised and scared that I just stood there watching them fight. All that went through my head was “ Is this really happening, am I going to get out of here and not have to go through the pain and suffering anymore? “ As thoughs thoughts were running though my head I felt something hit me and again and when i came back to what was going on I saw everyone getting pelted with something, they were killing everyone and injuring them. Boom boom boom that’s all I felt hitting me and they hurt so bad but then I fell and landed on something wet and red. I looked over and saw the white man that was going to r@pe me, he was laying on the ground with one of thoughs sharp pointy things and that’s it, everything went blank and my head hit the ground. (Do you know what it feels like to be so close to your freedom again and then have it ripped out of your hands because of one person I don’t think so, it feels horrible, I could be at home right now with my baby but one mad gets to make the decision on what happens to me. How is that fair?)
[Submitted by email]
Catherine,
This is AMAZING! Wow! What a great piece of writing.
- Mr. Fladd
Jeremie S. Block C
Fiddler at the Slave Auction
“Master Reynolds told me to see if the slaves for sale are sick or not. I think there are some healthy ones in the cages. I’m looking for someone who is strong and brave, someone who won’t stop working and who will not be scared to try things. I’m looking for someone who is not shy and someone who listens.
Looking at them I feel sorry for them because they don’t know what’s happening. I’m going to teach them how to talk and give them food everyday. I don’t want the slave to run away because Master Reynolds will loose money.
I saw Kunta Kinte. He seems like a strong boy who could do a lot of work. He looks scared. Maybe after he settles in, he will like me.”
[Submitted by email]
Erik F
Block A
Fiddler talking about Toby (Kunta Kinte), when he was first put in charge of him.
I think that he thought that Toby (Kunta Kinte) was not going to learn very well and he thought that he would be punished if anything had happened to him. Then again though I think he was not happy about being in charge of another slave. He probably felt that he wouldn’t be able to teach Toby (Kunta Kinte) and if that happened then he would be punished and get some of the privileges he worked very hard to earn taken away from him. He probably felt very bad for Toby (Kunta Kinte) because he was caught by the slave hunters. He was probably very nervous about having a new slave on the plantation thinking he would do something bad and they would have both been punished. Which later on in the movie he does something bad and that’s what Fiddler was probably afraid of and he would get privileges taken away from him like a bed, food, being in charge of a slave and so on. He also thought that he was a dumb African boy because he did not know English and didn’t know things Fiddler was saying at all. He also did not know his name and Fiddler was getting mad at him because he would not learn his new name that was given to him by his owner. So overall I think that he was nervous to be in charge of a slave because of what ever happens to Toby (Kunta Kinte) would happen to Fiddler.
[Student's last name removed]
Jesse D.
Block D
Captinn davis before the slave uprise.
I thin his thoughts about the slaves were not what he really thought. Im pridy shere he just said thoes things to get on MR. Slaters good side. But he had his limits. He didint think that they were ent people. He thought the slaves were cared and not being treated right.
[Transcribed]
The point of Jon Reynolds after Kunta Kinte ran away
Hello I’m Jon Reynolds, I previously bought a n!ggr from across seas, at an auction, who I named Toby. The other night he escaped from his chains and bunk, my reaction was furious I thought that he had learned just to stay here, its better for him. There had to be a reason for him to leave, he seemed awfully close to one of the girl n!ggers at the auction. I noticed that he was gone and immediately went to Fiddler. I had no idea how Toby escaped, there were no tools to saw through those chains around his ankles. If we do not find him in the jungle, I am going to beat on Fiddler until death for loosing a n!gger. Toby was his responsibility, I told him to train him so that he can be a strong, healthy, good working n!gger. It is beginning to be winter out so we should be able to find him pretty easily. If indeed we do find him trampling through the woods he is going to get a nice-n-good beating with the bull whip, in front of the whole plantation. I cant afford to loose another n!gger, I bought him because I knew that he was going to be another Fiddler. The fact that he doesn’t go by his name bothers me and I shall make him go by his name, Toby. I own him now and there’s no way that he is getting out of this. Fiddler will be sorry, I know he had a part in this, I just know it, he will face his consequences.
Kuna Kinte before the slave uprising
My names Kunta Kinte, and u cannot even imagine what I’ve been through since the day of my capture. My back hurts so much, and yet I can do nothing about it. It looks like its been chewed by a warthog. But it hurts even more when the white men water us down from the river with no shores. My stomach is empty all the time, and when its not, it hurts from the white mans food. I feel so alone. Yet I have the wrestler with me. At least he speaks the same words I do. I’m hot, all the time. Tired too. I feel so weak and helpless against these white mans chains. But most of all, I miss my family. My mother, my father my little brother and grandma too. I wonder sometimes if my family even knows if I’m missing. But there is a glimpse of hope to returning to them. The wrestler has asked the men chained to us to teach each other our words. We’ve been trying to conquer the white man. With that I feel almost eager to defeate the white man and to return to my village. But I will have to gather what ever strength I have left to kill the white men. Sometimes I wonder if its even worth it. Sometimes I feel like I’m so weak that it will only get me in more pain then I am already in. Why are they doing this to us? Isn’t it bad enough that we have to spend the longest times down here? In this pit of rotting smells, cries of hurt men and the darkness? I am troubled with the many thoughts I have. Should I fight or not? Does my family miss me the way I miss them? Will the pain I feel ever go away? But the one I think most of is ‘where are we going?’
Maddi D
Block: B
Slave When Kunte Kinte is Being Brought In
The new African has just come today. Fiddler said stay away from the guinea man from Africa. He says his name is Kunte Kinte but Mr. Reynolds gave him the name Tobby, and I don’t think he likes that he doesn’t answer to Tobby. Tobby has a crazy look in his eye like he is going to run from this place or hurt someone. With Fiddler watching over him and making him a good negro I think he will turn out good, because Fiddler is a good man.
Mr. Ames didn’t seem happy at all to find out that Fiddler (another negro) was going to be watching over Tobby. When I walked by Mr. Ames was speaking to Mr. Reynolds about it and he looked very angry. I think myself that Fiddler will make this man a great slave.
Tobby kept calling a girl here Fanta and no one knows what he is talking about. Fiddler said that she’s a girl he new from the slave holding.
Tobby best not act up or he’s going to get him self a whipping. I don’t think he understands that its our job to make the white men happy and do as they say. I hope Fiddler teaches this guinea man to learn to speak our language soon or Mr. Reynolds will become mad.
I guess in 6 months from this day we will be able to see the progress that this so called guinea man has made. Guessing it will be a dramatic change because he’s bad now I don’t think he can get any worse.
Lauren F.
Block B
John Reynolds, talking about the new African slave he has just bought.
Hi, i’m John Reynolds and I am a plantation owner in Verginia. I own quite a good amount of n*&%$s that work very hard for me. I have just bought myself a new n*%@! who i named Toby. I pick Toby because he was well well fit, young, he had good teeth, and he was strong so i feel that he would be able to do a pretty great amount of work for me out in the fields.
When i bought Toby he didn’t say a word, so i had Fiddler (one of my best n*%@!s) teach him how to speak english, and work hard like him. From what i have scene, Fiddler hhas been teaching Toby pretty well, he is coming along. Unfortunetly all of that was thrown away when Toby escaped. I wasn’t really expecting this, because i had one of me best n^%#@s working with him. A few people and some slave dogs when looking for Toby, the dogs picked up his sent almost emedetly, and they led us right to him.
I brought Toby back home where he was then tied up and whiped almost to death. Fiddler was also punished by having his privlidges taken away, because he was suppose to be teaching Toby how to be a good n*&#@ which doesn’t include rinning away.
I for one thought that this epesode had its ups and downs with a weird ending. Fiddler was havig some sypathey for kunta kinte, how ever you spell his name, notice he said”lord help that boy”. Dont get me wrong i would want to holp him to, but fidler almost loves that boy like his son. Now that would be cool if somthing like that happend.
Mahra L
Block B
Dr. Reynolds
Hi I’m Dr. Reynolds, I was sitting the at the piano teaching songs to my brothers lady. She was laughing with that beautiful laugh and her smile, oh her wonderful smile. As our fingers gracefully moved across the piano keys and the sound almost as wonderful and lady playing the lovely tune. When my brother walked in we moved away from the sounds of music and we listened to what Mr. Ames and my brother had to say. When his lady turned to me and asked “Do the slaves have feelings to, like us?” My answer wasn’t yes nor no, I told her that the slaves don’t have the same feelings we have per say, the do have needs: they have hunger and thirsts; but they don’t hurt like we hurt, they don’t feel pain like we feel pain.
I have a view of those n!ggers just like the rest of us, we all have our views, thoughts, and feelings. Some people think of them as animals and some people think of them like humans, but whatever they are they aren’t like me. To me yes they do have feelings all animals have feelings, but I think the feelings of a n!gger are different, not the same as ours, they may feel pain but not the same emotional pain we feel, they don’t have hearts they don’t love like we love, honestly I don’t think n!ggers are real humans.
I cannot wait for my brother to leave again off to Boston, because then it is so much easier to be with my lady ((his lady)). Our relationship is more than theirs has been or ever will be. She is not right for him and he knows it, I’m just doing then both a favor, giving her what she deserves and by doing that she doesn’t expect as much from him. Besides it’s a secret no harm done to any one.
Kunta Kinte at slave auction.
I stand there watching Fanta’s face, she is terrified as the white men drag her so the other white men can look at her. They seem to be laughing at what ever horrid language they speak. They go up to Fanta and stare at her like she is animal not human. It is so hard not to be able to break these chains and run away back to home land with Fanta. So I have to sit back and grind my teeth. Then, they take Fanta away.
Then suddenly the white man comes and starts to tell me something I don’t understand and tries to pull me out of the cage I am in. I try to run, tugging at these chains but I doesn’t help. There are too many white men, I am out numbered. They then drag me to have the other white men stare at me. They look in my mouth and I am restraining my self from not biting their fingers. Another white man looks at the marks on my back, the one they covered in hot burning tar. ( I hate the white men.) then they start talking in those words again, the words my people don’t speak while they keep raising their hands or making gestures with their hats.
After the last man raised his hand another man that look like me came and took the chains of my hands. I knew that then was the time to run. I ran as fast as I could, the white men could not catch me. But, then I was out numbered again. The man that looked like me said his mane was “fiddler” he took me to the white man, and to my new house.
I will not let this stop me. I will get away. You see.
Chris .R
11/13/08
Block D
Character: Captain Davies :after slave up rise.
Captains log: Captain Davies
I was below decks in my gallery, going over my studies when one of my crew members burst into the room. At first I was outraged that he had come in without knocking on the door, but then he told me the most unexpected thing. He said ”the slaves tried to escape or take over the ship , we lost some our crew, including Mr. Slator… he’s dead Sir. I was astounded, words had failed me. I went above decks to survey the damage. They were still cleaning up after the up rise. The damage was just dings and dents, but when I came to the middle of the horrible scene of the aftermath I saw that there were splinters of wood all over the place. One of my officers came up to me and said we had lost three men and a few of our cargo. I went below back to my gallery, I told my men I didn’t want to be disturbed. I sat down at my desk and said,” God help us all”. When we reached port this man came in to my gallery and had invited me join a slave auction, I did not go to the auction, and yet I do not know why. After the slaves were all off board I went to where they were all held. The smell, the odder It was horrible, and I knew that I might half to do it all again.
{From email]
Hi I am a female slave for the slave pens waiting to be auctioned off. I hate being here when I could be at my house eating yummy food and not the bad food that the white people are giving us. I feel really sick to my stomach because I am cold and i have been raped many times and i really really hate it. I am hoping that I get sold to a good white person because I got treated really bad on the way to the auction. I saw my friends get beaten and killed and hurt real bad because they needed to look good for that auction. I am good friends with Kunta Kinte. I hate to see him go away when he has helped me with everything. All the other girls hate being here to because they got raped. They thought it was the worst thing that every happened in there life. When i got sold I was really scared because I thought the white people would kill me if they didn’t like me. I hated it when they all had to look over me to make sure I was a good Niger. They always when for my boobs and I didn’t feel great. I wish I was never here.
Mr. Renald’s Daughter
By: Nate M
Block A
Hello, I am Mr. Renalds daughter. Today is the day that my father comes from the trade auction with Fiddler. I am hoping that father will bring back some British lace from the gift shops. I am not sure if father will bring back any new slaves, or as father calls them, n#@$%^&. Mother is also much exited to see father again. She thinks about him day in and day out. She can’t sleep without him, but today she is happier than a free slave. She is so happy because she knows that father shall return today.
I am hoping that my new lace is red, for this is my favorite color, all though I am very fond of the orange also. Father said he may not be able to get what my heart truly desires, because we are having a disagreement with England. if I don’t get the ribbans, I guess it will be okay. OH YES! Fathers home! I ran outside to see him. Father did you get me any ribbons? “Hold on dear, mother I bought the most peculiar African n&^%$# today. He will not speak to any one. Well father, he probably doesn’t speak the kings English. Why mother you must be right, Fiddler! Yes sir. Teach the slave some proper English. Yes sir. FATHER! What? Did you bring me any ribbons? No dear, the the English would give any to us. The were to busy fighting us, JUST KIDDING! I got you red, your favorite color, thank you father!”
[Student's last name removed]
I am the auctioneer. When I was auctioning off the black slaves I noticed Kunta Kinte was fighting. He didn’t look comfortable in this situation. Most slaves wouldn’t be though. I enjoyed watching the slaves be sent to their new homes. Not because of the pain in their hearts, but because it is interesting to see the high amounts bid on for just one person. The woman are a bit more interesting though. In a weird way I hate this job. I hate the high speed I have to talk in. And I dislike when the woman slaves are sold because they are just used to be “played” with. I couldn’t imagine being one of the slaves. I wouldn’t be able to handle being put into a completely different atmosphere and having to abandon my family. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with the fact that I have no idea where my relatives are going to be put. But luckily, I am not a slave. I am just an auctioneer. The prices people pay for these slaves is amazing. A lot is spent, and so is a little. Most of the time they are very high prices. I feel horrible having to watch these slaves be separated from the ones that they love. I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I have sometimes wondered what it would be like to own a slave. I do not own one. But sometimes I look forward to having one. Not to put them through the work in the hot hot sun, but to raise them and see what I can do to change them and how well I could do with the slaves.
One thing that I think is wrong has to watch little ones be auctioned. I think its wrong for people so small to be torn away from their families at such a young age. A character that caught my attention during the auction was the slave Kunta Kinte. He was not ready and never will be ready to be a slave. He seems like the type of person that sticks to something and doesn’t give up. No matter what the consequences are. To see the fear in the eyes of many slaves is kind of hurting to me. But I cant do anything about it. Some of the people who come to these auctioneers don’t even come to have slaves. They come to watch them be harassed and to just laugh at them all. I don’t enjoy watching it but it’s my job and I need the money, so I’m going to stick with it. It took me many years to be able to speak as fast as I can. It took hard work and lots of patience with myself. It’s a job I am proud to announce to the world. I just wish that these slaves were sold to better raising farms. They don’t need to have cuffs around their necks and feet. They aren’t idiots, they know just as much as we white men do.
Sage M
Block A
Anne Reynolds
I am Anne Reynolds. Wife of Mr. Reynolds. I was so happy to see my husband come home! I missed him quite terribly, and so did the girls. I think it’s hard with their father always being gone, they barely see him. But now that Christmas is near, I’m so happy he will be with us for a long time. I did not like how he came back without presents for me and the girls. It is not fair, not seeing your husband for a long period of time and then he comes back with no gifts for us! I sure did miss him terribly, and the girls did as well. But I didn’t like that. Living on the plantation is not hard work at all, I like having all of the workers. But even though my husband approves of the slavery, I sometimes feel bad for them. I do not approve or disapprove of slavery, it’s just I wish it wasn’t so cruel. I’m too afraid to tell my husband what I think of slavery because I know what his reaction will be. It’s not always easy living on the plantation. I love it, but I’m sick of the slaves being treated badly by Mr. Ames. I definitely do not approve of whipping or hurting the slaves. If they misbehave I think that they shouldn’t be punished in that way, it’s inhuman. I do love how the slave women in my home cater to me, I love when they bring me tea, but I feel bad for the children. If only we women had rights like the men do, I would say so mething to my husband about it. To continue what I was saying with the slave women working in my house, I sometimes do wish that I could prepare my own tea and food, and clean, like a real housewife. I’ve always wanted to ask my husband about his opinion on the slavery; it seems like every time they chat about it, I never get his opinion on how he feels. I do think he feels the same way that it’s not right, but you have to get the work done on the plantation somehow. Fiddler came in today, telling John about how Toby ran away, I assured Fiddler that John was busy, but I guess it was so important he needed to talk to my husband. Fiddler better do a well job teaching that slave how to act like a slave and not some animal from Africa. He’s in America now, and he better learn fast, or he’ll get punished severely. I feel bad for him, because he came from Africa, not knowing where he was going and he was brought to America to work for nothing. But I guess my husband will never know how I really feel about slavery, and I never intend on telling him until I feel confident enough and until I find out his opinion, I think it may be the same as mine.
[From email]
Alex H
Block B
Slave auctioneer
today was the first day of the slave Auction, i thought that it went good. some of the slaves werent active at all and of of the teenage males who went by the name of Kunta Kinte he was screaming and wouldnt stand still. he looks like a man who is going to keep a promise to someone if he makes one he is on a mission to do something. the females were a bit more interesting in a sick kind of way. because of the way they are treated. For some odd reason i feel bad when i see the the little kids being auctioned off. it takes alot of practicing to speak at the auctions in the very fast high voice for long times. it is very odd how to rich men pay large amounts of money for people that they treat very badly. i hope one day i will gather enough money to get a few slave for myself to see what it is like. i wouldnt put them through hours of back breaking labor from sunrise to sun down. i would treat them differnatly. i would see what they know and i think that black people are real people just like us and can be taught the same things we can. i dont think that all the chains are neccasary i think they only need chains around there hands and legs to make sure they dont run away and try to destroy our town and the people who live in it. some of the people who go the auctions arent even there to buy slaves they only go to mock them and make crude jokes at them.
Hello there, I am fiddler, I am A slave for Mr. John Reynolds. About 6 months ago we’s went to A slave tradin’. Mr. John Reynolds did not know wat to buy a for A African. I had a good feelin’ about that young African i saw up for sale. I knew In my gut that he would be a fine worker. So I whispered to Mr. John Reynolds “Sir, Think you should get that one.” So He listed to me and bought that African. He told the African that his new name was Toby We were out in a big open field and i was workin’ on the horses. Mr. John Reynolds said that since it was my idea to get the African i had to train him. I had 6 months to make him a good farmhand. I was not likin this idea one bit. Of course I listen to the masta, so I went to him and said ” Your name Is toby” and he was sayin’ some African gibberish sayin something like his name was kuntakinte. I said to him boy you will not mess it up for me and every thing I been through, now you will listen to me or there is going to be a whipen for the both of us! I brought him to the masta’s house. The other slaves we amazed by the newcomer. So after about 23 months I really thought I had this African made to real farmhand but old fiddler had it wrong. One night when I was comin’ back to the cabin i saw kuntakinte with his chains off. He must have chiseled through it with something. AHHH I knew he done it now. He had no choice but to leave the cabin make a new life for him self. So I told him to leave and run as fast as he can. He offered to have me come with him. Old fiddler could never keep up with kunta. So he was off, and i knew it was the end of me and him. About 5 days later I saw a lot of white men on horses and on one of those horses kunta was tied up. They brought him to where they whip people. I ran into the masta’s house and begged him to let the African go but he would not listen to me, and the next thing I knew I heard kunta screaming. I went out side to see and was being brutally whipped. Mr. Ames was tellin’ kunta to say his new name Toby but kunta would just keep sayin’ his name was kunta this went on a few times more and then kunta finally replied “my name is Toby.” I could defeat in his eyes. When they brought him down i cleaned him up a little. I knew something had to happen and that this could happen to kunta.
myles t-
Block A
kunta runing away…
my name ismkunta kentay and i will not give up on trying to get out of here untill i die! i have this piece of shrap metal and i am going to use it to cut my chains off and escape. ihave now cut my chains, but fidler walked in. it takes some talking to get fidler to understand and help me but he did eventually.
i got away and ran untill i couldn’t run anymore, so i than went to sleep. when i woke up the next morning there something that i had never seene before, it was snow. all the sudden i heard dogs, and i knew that they were coming to find me! i ran even more, but a rottwiler got me. they brought me back to the plantation and whiped me so hard i was delarious. findler layed there with me and gave me water while i was done being beetin.
[moved from introduction page]
Angelina MacDonald
block B
Male Slave
I am a male slave from Africa. I am currently aboard a long torturous journey, if I could even call it a journey. I’ve been on this ship for I don’t know how long. The white men laugh at us and speak in a language that makes me stomach churn every time they speak. I know that their words aren’t words of kindness but hatred. The white men black slaves working for them too that won’t help us, it seems that they don’t mind being told what to do. These black slaves do not have to go below deck like the rest of us. I doubt that they have to sleep on a wooden board that slashes your back with cuts and rubs the skin raw till it bleeds; I doubt that they have to eat the same food we do and that their stomachs get this unusual feeling and after get sick.
Sometimes they bring us on deck and the sun burns my eyes that I can barely see . The first time they brought me on deck I was confused and scared, I couldn’t see the other side of the river or sand, it’s like we left the world and all that was around us was this unusual water that had a sickening smell to it. They always splash us with water that stings my skin and makes me writhe in pain; the water is ice cold and salty. They everyone stay in motion while the chains rub against my ankles and rub it raw everyone time they bring us on deck. They whip us with whips too which just add to my raw skin. I’m not sure but I think that my skins been rubbed so raw that my back bones are showing. I don’t even think you know the pain of that and even if you did there’s nothing you could, or would do about it so I’ll tell you how bad the pain is; it’s like having 1000 nails scraping down on your back, it’s like having your skin rubbed off with erasers rubbing back and forth back and forth in the same exact spot. The white men are terrible while we’re dancing they drag the women above deck. Most of them crying and screaming and trying to get away from the white men, some of them crying but not trying to fight back probably knowing that it would do no good at all knowing that no matter what they do they are going to get raped and all the white men can do is smile and be filled with glee knowing that he’s going to have a “good sleep” tonight; not even caring that he just stole the woman’s honor and dignity, making her dirty and filthy instead of clean and pure.
We plotted to take down the white men. I learned my neighbor’s language and I taught them mine. Thousands of vicious thoughts came into my head. All the things that I could do to get my revenge. All I wanted to do was make them feel the pain that I, myself is feeling. I wanted to them to suffer slowly and painfully . I want them to beg for forgiveness and writhe around helplessly. I want to hear them scream and cry! At this point I don’t even care if we lose as long as we try and make some of them, hopefully most of them suffer.
It came the time to make our plan alive. They brought us all on deck and two things came to my mind, Finally they get to suffer and will I survive? Before I knew it white men were dying and fighting and grabbing us trying to pin us down. I went to grab the woman from being. At first we were winning and than I heard “Boom! Boom! Boom!” and I came to look what happened, almost all our men were down, dead, or dying. We lost. Than all of a sudden another bang and all these tiny metal balls went everywhere and a shocking pain flowed all over my shoulder and thigh, I was down on the deck useless and dying. I knew my last breath was coming so I said which was more like a whisper “Alah, we tried and at least most of them suffered.”
[from email]
Angelina,
This was worth waiting for!
- Mr. Fladd
Hi my name is Mr. Renolds, i bought Toby a little while back. Toby was a very healthy, strong, young, slave hand but hes a handful of trouble. I put one of my more trusted slave hands in controll of him. Fiddler is one of my slaves that is more trusted, he knows how it works and how it hurts. Toby tries to do things he really shouldnt. Toby is a late releaser he hasnt even gotten his chains off. Chains are very, very nessacery for them blacks who dont know what they’re doing. They try to run and they get the whip. Them blacks need to be punished, thats where Mr. Aims comes in here one of my advisors he is punishing blacks who misbehave. Toby will turn out in the end to be a good slave.
Lindsey
Block C
Fanta (after the auction)
Once the boat arrived to the main land the white men took all of us of boat. They kept us in a slave pen until they decided to pull the first group onto the stage in front of a big crowd of white men. There big eyes were gleaming up at us, It was a groups of three goin up there at once. I was in the first group, I didn’t know what to think of it, I had no clue what they were doing with me and what would happen afterwards. I was scared because I would be leaving the only person I knew on the boat(kunta kinte), and I wouldn’t get advice from him anymore. Also because I was scared the white men would try to r@pe me again, I didn’t like that.
The auctioneer called the scary white men up to look at the girls on the stage. The white men checked our teeth, our hair and our posture. The strong white men behind us made us stand up straight and then they pulled our arms behind our backs to look at our chests. I thought for sure they would r@pe me once more. The auctioneer had the men then step down from the stage we were on, he started speaking loudly and very fast. I couldn’t understand anything that were talking about. I was very worried, I wish I had known what I no now. Next thing I know I’m being dragged down to a white man. He brings me over to a wagon, and I try to sit down. “No” he says “Stand up”
So I stand up. The next group to come up was Kunta Kinte’s group of younger men, The auctioneer called the white men up to the stage to look at the young men. They do what they did to me, they check there posture, there muscles, there teeth, there hair, and there backs for scratches and cement to cover scratches. Kunta was dragged was to a man who was old and had a beard.
The auction was almost over and the strange man took me on a wagon to a place he called home. I saw many other black people working there, that’s when I knew I’d never see me one and only friend from my tribe Kunta Kinte.
Amanda and Catherine GREAT JOB!
They were amaaa-zing! I couldn’t stop reading them . It was a really good flow of words too. Your introduction caught my eye and mind which kept me reading on, and Again GREAT JOB guys!
- Angelina : )
Austin m
Block: c
The old man at the auction was a man that didn’t seem to care about the slaves although no won though slaves where import tent back then but the old man just didn’t seem to care because in the auction now one else called the black slaves merchandise.
The man was just not telling the people all the stuff about the slaves and when kunta came up to be bid on he had tar on his back because from being wiped he had a bunch of cuts and they put hot tar on his back so when the auction was going to take place they hoped that the bidders would not see the marks on there backs.
When kunta was perched the man that bout him had a another man slave and he got to go with the man to town because the man trusted him and didn’t think that he would kun.
The slave was in town one day and he was looking at the merchandise. The other slave going back to the house and kunta was chained to the wagon and had to sit with chains on his leg well he was hanging his feet of the wagon.
Fred M
Block C
The Wrestler
I yell that we will be one bribe, that nothing will stop us from being free. The Mandinka tribe yells in response. I look around and see Kunta Kinte and think that he has potential and that though he just finished manhood training a little while ago, he is a man. I also think that he will one day be free. I look over and try to teach the man next to me my words, but he doesn’t understand. I lay there and try to think about the last fresh breath of air I had. Someone nearby pukes as the boat rocks harshley. The other Mandinka have stopped mumbling and trying to teach the men next to them. The room around me tets very dark. I hear young women screaming, but I only understand a few screaming, “No!” repeatedly.
As I lay there the creaking of the ship never seems to end. It seems to drag on for an eternity. I only hear it now except for the loud moan of the rest of the men and the boards.
The next morning I was dragged out of my bunk. The deep cuts on my back over the wood has rubbed it off. Then the white man forced me to my feet. I was forced towards the sky and then there was water - nothing but water.
There were more men up on the top of the big boat with me, but they looke3d very scared. Then, the white men forced us to jump. Then Kunta Kinte attacked one of the white men. There was a huge fight, then there was a huge boom.
I saw black, endless darkness.
[transcribed]
Hello, I am one of the poor men who were watching the slave auction. There were a lot of slaves at the auction and they looked scared as they were screaming in terror. I thought the wenches were very beautiful and if I had enough money I would r@pe them all the time. If I could afford the slaves they would do everything for me like: serve food, help with crops, bring in wood for my wood furnace, and probably about everything else they can do and I would just sit back and watch in amusement. But I wouldn’t like going through the trouble of teaching it English I mean I’m no teacher or anything. At the auction there was this one slave who was a wild one he even tried to escape, if I had bought that one I don’t know what I would do, he was crazy. Some rich man bought the wild one and I think he named him Toby. I don’t know why but sometimes I feel bad for the slaves being whipped especially when they don’t deserve a lot of lashes for doing something little. Actually some of those Africans deserve it for not listening to their owners. If my slave weren’t listening I’d probably whip him too. I’m not cruel enough of a person to whip a slave for not knowing his name because they just came from Africa and they had their own names.
Anyway these are my feelings for if I had enough money to buy a slave.
-Poor Man Watching the Slave Auction
[transcribed]
Hi, I’m Kunte Kinte, not Toby. Fiddler says white man boss of me but I think that no white man can be boss of me. So when I was work in the fields I tripped over my chains and fall to the ground. I hit this sharp metal piece and put it in my pants, so that I might be able to cut the chains. So that night I worked hard and broke them. Fiddler comes in and yells at me and tells me to be free. It was night so I ran as fast as I could so I wouldn’t be caught. I got so tired that I fell asleep and when I woke up there was this white stuff all over the ground. I heard the white mans dogs, so I ran. They caught me and I had to walk back all the way. Then white man tied me up to a tall plank of wood and a black man whipped me until I said my name was Toby. He kept saying “What’s you name n****r” I wouldn’t give. So he kept whipping me until finally I gave in. Fiddler told me not to listen to the white man and gave me water while I was bleeding on the ground.
I will not stay here anymore. Nobody should be held in chains. I will fight until I die to get away from the white men. I found this sharp metal item and I am going to use it to cut my chains off so I can get out of here. I miss my Mandinka tribe. I miss my family. I am going to fight to get back to them. I am tired of eating the rotten, gross food that they feed me. I am tired of being beaten and whipped. My back looks like it has been chewed up by a tiger. I sleep on the ground with some hey under me locked up inside of a small place. Hopefully they don’t catch me. I will miss Fiddler because he is the only one that even does anything for me. I wish he would go with me. I am very nervous. When my chain came off I felt like I was almost free. All I have to do is somehow sneak away from Master Reynolds land and then run as fast as a cheetah chasing its prey. Hopefully I will see my family again and be Kunta. Not Toby, the name Master Reynolds gave me. My family named me Kunta Kinte for a reason. It fits me right and thats who I will always be. My father thought long and hard to give me a good African name. Toby is no name for me. N****r is no name for me. I sometimes think about not running away. What happens if I get caught. Even more important, what about Fanta. I know I saw her. I know it. I can’t leave her here with the horrible white people. I also think maybe I can come back for her later once I know what I am going to do with myself after I get away. I don’t know. I am no animal like they treat me. I must get out of here.
I am impressed with the writing that this class as a whole has submitted here. The emotion expressed in many of the writings are quite moving. Putting yourself in the place of another, especially in such horrible conditions can be quite a challenge. Keep up the good work!
Haley M
Block D
Mr. Ames
I am Mr. Ames, overseer of Master Reynolds farm. I am in charge of the punishment of the slaves if they get out of line. I have seen a most interesting slave lately. His name is Tobby, but his African name was Kunta Kinte. That’s not his name anymore. I had to beat him into saying it. He really needs to learn that he’s not in Africa anymore, and will learn to know the rules on Master Rynolds farm. I have a journal that has everything Tobby done that I will kee until he becomes a real helper around the farm. Not just some
Monday
Tobby is helping Fiddler around the farm today. I do not think that Fiddler should be allowed to keep Tobby till Master Reynolds birthday. I think that I should have Tobby until the time comes. I do not feel that Fiddler will be able to teach Tobby the skills he needs when the time is right. I must go, I have to go check on Tobby.
Tuesday
I checked on Tobby last night and he still doesn’t know his name. I told him that Fiddler may have him now, but he’s mine later. He must learn sooner or later that he must stay in his place and learn the rules around here.
Wednesday
I really don’t know if e should keep Tobby here anymore. He really doesn’t know his place. I have to teach him now or later. Today I’m going to talk to Master Reynolds about me teaching Kunta Kinte and not Fiddler. I feel that I can do better than him. I know I can.
Thursday
Tobby ran away during the night. I think Fiddler had something to do with it. When I find him, I’m going to teach him a lesson so he wilnever try to run away again.
Friday
We found Tobby out in the forest. When he saw th snow, he looked like a lost rabbit trying to find food. When we went back to Master Reynolds house we had to teach Tobby a hard lesson, that I didn’t enjoy doing but he has to learn sooner or later. We wiped Him until he said his name. It took him a little while to say it but he did. Then we cut the rope and left him there on his bloody back. I’m pretty sure that Fiddler helped him after he fell and we walked away.
[Transcribed]
Lauren M. Block D.
Kids on the plantation seeing Kunta Kinte for the first time.
A new slave just came here from auction. He came with chains around his neck, ankles, and hands. He came in a wagon with Fiddler. That’s how all the new slaves come. Fiddler says that he put up quite a fight before he got in that wagon. He told us his name was Toby. Fiddler tells us that he is different from all of us. He doesn’t know all the king’s words yet like we all know even though he’s older than us. I don think master will like this to much. He seems like he will do great in the fields though because he looks really strong. Fiddler has to teach Toby the King’s language in just a few months. I think he has until master’s birthday. That’s always a big celebration for him. But back to Kunta, he spoke in a weird way. Fiddler calls it “African talk”. I don’t know what Africa is, and I don’t think any of the other slaves no either. He looks a little sick too. They say it’s a mighty long time from Africa. Maybe he got sick on his way over here. There is a dark black circle on his back. I wonder what it is because sometimes when we get a new slave, they have them. It looks like it hurts. I’m hoping that I never get sold away so I have one of them.