“How strange it is that anybody should believe any human being could be a slave, and yet be contented! I do not believe that there ever was a slave, who did not long for liberty. I know very well that slave-owners take a great deal of pains to make the people in the free states believe that the slaves are happy; but I know, likewise, that I was never acquainted with a slave, however well he was treated, who did not long to be free. There is one thing about this, that people in the free states do not understand. When they ask slaves whether they wish for liberty, they answer, “No”; and very likely they will go as far as to say they would not leave their masters for the world. But at the same time, they desire liberty more than anything else, and have perhaps all along been laying plans to get free. The truth is, if a slave shows any discontent, he is sure to be treated worse, and worked harder for it; and every slave knows this. This is why they are careful not to show any uneasiness when white men ask them about freedom. When they are alone by themselves, all their talk is about liberty – liberty! It is the great thought and feeling that fills the minds full all the time.” — James Bradley, ex slave, 1834.
Mrs. Mary Crane - 82 yrs. old ex-slave / between 1937 and ca. 1938 / Library of Congress
James Singleton Black, ex-slave, 83 years old / June 20, 1937 / Library of Congress /
Mollie Willams, ex-slave - 84 years old / between 1937 and 1938 / Library of Congress
Louise Evans, ex-slave / between 1937 and 1938 / Library of Congress
Attendants at Old Slave Day, Southern Pines / April 8, 1937 / Library of Congress
Minerva & Edgar Bendy, Woodville / 11 June 1937 / Library of Congress
Ben Kinchelow, ex-slave, Hondo / 22 May 1937 / Library of Congress
Mary Kincheon, ex-slave, Austin / 5 August, 1937 / Library of Congress
Mary Kindred, ex-slave, Beaumont / June 28, 1937 / Library of Congress
Johanna Lesley, ex-slave, Bracketville / 8 July, 1937 / Library of Congress
Annie Little, ex-slave, Waco / 3 September, 1937 / Library of Congress
Abe Livingston, ex-slave, Beaumont / September 10, 1937 / Library of Congress
Louise Mathews, ex-slave, Ft. Worth / 9 September, 1937 / Library of Congress
James Martin, ex-slave / May 30, 1937 / Library of Congress
Bill McRay, ex-slave, Beaumont / June 10, 1937 / Library of Congress
Charley Mitchell, ex-slave, Marshall / 3 August 1937 / Library of Congress
Andrew Moody and wife Tildy, ex-slave, Orange / May 26, 1937 / Library of Congress
William Moore, ex-slave, Dallas / 21 December, 1937 / Library of Congress
Margrett Nillin, ex-slave, Ft. Worth / 3 July 1937 / Library of Congress
John Ogee, ex-slave, Beaumont / June 28, 1937 / Library of Congress
Mary Ann Patterson, ex-slave, Austin / June 28, 1937 / Library of Congress
Geo. Simmons, ex-slave, Beaumont / June 28, 2021 / Library of Congress
John Smith, ex-slave, Waco / August 26, 1937 / Library of Congress
Walter Rimm, ex-slave, Ft. Worth / November 9, 1937 / Library of Congress
Will Adams, ex-slave, Marshall / 4 December, 1937 / Library of Congress
Bill Crump, Age 82 / between 1936 and 1938 / Library of Congress
Charlie Crump and Granddaughter, Age 82 / between 1936 and 1938 / Library of Congress
Anne Clark, Age 112 / between 1936 and 1938 / Library of Congress
Harriet Jones, Age 93 / between 1936 and 1937 / Library of Congress
Ben Kinchlow, Age 91 / between 1936 and 1938 / Library of Congress
Willis Winn, Age about 115 / between 1836 and 1838 / Library of Congress
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