This was so horrible! I know that not all slave owners were like this, that this was an extreme, but still this was an extreme and horrible. I think that it takes a lot of courage to run away after that treatment and a great deal of courage to go the camp and ask for help.  The Union Camp did not have to help her, or even listen to her so to even go and tell her story is incredible. –Kayle P

This was so horrible! I know that not all slave owners were like this, that this was an extreme, but still this was an extreme and horrible. I think that it takes a lot of courage to run away after that treatment and a great deal of courage to go the camp and ask for help.  The Union Camp did not have to help her, or even listen to her so to even go and tell her story is incredible. –Kayle P

What really hit me was the thought of imagining living in constant fear of being beaten in such away as Clarissa Burdett describes. I continue to be amazed and disgusted by what humans can and will do to each other. --Jennifer S.

'''What really hit me was the thought of imagining living in constant fear of being beaten in such away as Clarissa Burdett describes.''' I continue to be amazed and disgusted by what humans can and will do to each other. --Jennifer S.

== Fanny Berry, in Weevils in the Wheat, 1937 ==

== Fanny Berry, in Weevils in the Wheat, 1937 ==

I think that this woman had to be strong throughout her life. She knew she was free but continued to stay for the children, her bond with them must have been great.  The part of her story I found intriguing was that she used the power to "walk away" in stopping the children from being mistreated from their stepmother.  The former master even knew that the children visited their old nanny after she left and gave her food, clothes and money, he must have known how important she was to his children.  --Remy B.

I think that this woman had to be strong throughout her life. She knew she was free but continued to stay for the children, her bond with them must have been great.  The part of her story I found intriguing was that she used the power to "walk away" in stopping the children from being mistreated from their stepmother.  The former master even knew that the children visited their old nanny after she left and gave her food, clothes and money, he must have known how important she was to his children.  --Remy B.

I agree with Remy that this Tennessee nanny was a very strong figure and it comes through in the text. When looking back on emancipation the common perception is of slaves getting out as quickly as possible from the horrors of living under their masters.  This article defies all of that and shows a slave who not only had a strong connection with the family that owned her (minus the stepmom) but was willing to sacrifice her freedom for a time just to be with them.  Through this a unique relationship is defined and is apparent when she talks back to her master and openly acknowledges she knows she is free without fear of repercussions. This is a unique point of view and insightful into the experience of newly found freedom. -- Rachel T.

I agree with Remy that this Tennessee nanny was a very strong figure and it comes through in the text. ''' When looking back on emancipation the common perception is of slaves getting out as quickly as possible from the horrors of living under their masters.  This article defies all of that and shows a slave who not only had a strong connection with the family that owned her (minus the stepmom) but was willing to sacrifice her freedom for a time just to be with them.''' Through this a unique relationship is defined and is apparent when she talks back to her master and openly acknowledges she knows she is free without fear of repercussions. This is a unique point of view and insightful into the experience of newly found freedom. -- Rachel T.

== Mary Anderson, NC ==

== Mary Anderson, NC ==

== Katie Darling, in TX ==

== Katie Darling, in TX ==

Darling describes a lot of kind of scary things - forced marriages by masters and whippings like we've talked about, even after the war before they were released, but also just how close the front was and how much it frightened her mistress. Imagine what a tense situation that would have been, with violence getting closer every day and the woman who has complete control of your life freaking out about it! -- Katie C.

Darling describes a lot of kind of scary things - forced marriages by masters and whippings like we've talked about, even after the war before they were released, but also just how close the front was and how much it frightened her mistress. '''Imagine what a tense situation that would have been, with violence getting closer every day and the woman who has complete control of your life freaking out about it!''' -- Katie C.

== Sarah and Lucy Chase, Teaching the Freedmen, 1866-1868 ==

== Sarah and Lucy Chase, Teaching the Freedmen, 1866-1868 ==

== Susie King Taylor, Reminiscences of My Life in Camp, 1902 ==

== Susie King Taylor, Reminiscences of My Life in Camp, 1902 ==