Master Richards Maid

Cotton fields

In the year 1845 on September 19th at 3:33 am Jane Wright was born on a slave farm house. Her mother surrounded by cattle, chickens and horses. It was moderately drafty in the barn and the slave owner's other servants had came to her aid. She received the best birthing support possible in this era, which would be typically one person letting the mother squeeze their hand to help while she's pushing. Another servant with scissors to cut the umbilical cord and keeping the lobes of her vagina open with their bare hands, while the last holds the knees open. Jane's mothers name is Lucy, Lucy Wright. it was the name her slave owner gave her when she was born on this farm. Lucy was a young mother, giving birth at 18, things would've been hard for her but in this age..technically this new baby was a bag of money to the slave owner. Lucy was not allowed to name her daughter, that was the rule here...if there was the birth of a child they were to raise the child to good common sense and health but that the child belonged to the owner. Children where put to work as soon as they were old enough to do so...and was treated equally to the adults. So the slave owner named her Jane Wright, giving her the right of her fathers last name, 3 days after her birth.

By the time Jane was 6 she had learned to 'earn her keep' on the farm with helping to pick cotton with the older kids and adults. But even with her working so incredibly young Jane's personality burned bright like sunshine and was very happy to be supporting who she considered friends and family. On the plantation everyone ate together, and sometimes slept together to comfort one another during difficult night when the slave owner wasn't happy. Sitting together and singing in old gospel and jazz tunes, this is what created unity amongst each other and help build bonds they all needed to stay strong. Jane learned from this, she was very connected to everyone on the farm even those who were sold away. Jane had a young strong spirit and would never forget those people through her life.

In 1863 After Jane turned 18 she had already mastered her life as a slave and simply learned her place. At this point it was strategy to do her job and to be the best at it. She would even do the work of the elderly or the injured to keep the slave owner from whipping them into shape.  Carrying the burdens of those less fortunate was something she was passionate about. Jane would work from sun up until sun down, day in and day out. So did the others on the plantation. Jane loved everyone equally, blood or no blood these people where her family.

Every Sunday Jane's mother would braid her hair with shea butter maid from the goats milk. It was during this time when they especially had the time they needed to talk about their week. Jane's mother was relentlessly sad, even though she didn't say it, Jane knew she missed her father. Jane's father died of illness when her mother was pregnant. The slaves at this time had unknowingly been fed spoiled lunch with mushroom. Some rumors even still would say that the slave owner becomes spiteful if they would speak out of turn and do something like that on purpose. The community spoke of their slave owner like he was the boogeyman. Jane never got to meet her father but her mother spoke so honorably about her father, she could tell she loved and deeply respected him.

  "Mama...when you gone stop lookin so sad, it's hard for me to see ya so low...have you been talking to sherry again about the pigs sty again"? Jane was exaughsted from trying to lift her mother's spirits up so much that she could even tell what was ACTUALLY bothering her. The southern accents were thick "Chile I'm still tired from all that dinner we made last night. Ya gotta worry about ya own self now punpkin....and sherry gonna have something to say no matter baby, ion let her get under me no more" says Lucy finishing another corn row in Jane's hair. Jane reaches to her shoulder to place a gentle hand on her mothers and squeezes it. "I love you mama" "I love you too baby" says Jane's mother.

Today was judgement day and all the slaves talked about it for days before it actually happened. It was another slave trade that the slave owner had twice a year. Jane was glad she and her mother made it to be together as long as they were. Apparently you were picked unknowingly and sold for a price. What most slaves experienced was emotional distress because they were immediately being taken away by a stranger, away from everything and everyone they've ever known. And today Jane would know what it felt like for the first time without even realizing it.

   It was early afternoon around 11:30 and everyone on the farm was in the cotton fields. Jane wore her dress and apron as a normal day on the fields would intell. A large shady sun hat on her head because it was July, and the only places in Jane's body receiving any form of fresh air was the bust of her cleavage and the skin after her elbow outside of her dress. She was not allowed to check on the other workers, nor were the others allowed to check on her. The sky was clear but the sun was beating down on them especially hard today, maybe there was a reason. Master Leonardo rode in on his horse today with his whip like it was his badge of honor. But today his hand wasn't firm on it, it was clear today he had other intentions rather than to just discipline. His accents was thick " look here now, y'all know what time of the year it is so ya best be ready to say goodbye to some of yous folks. Now I only could afford to sell off three of yus. Jane, Estella and henry come with me into the farm house if you know what's good for yus".

The look on Lucy's eyes when she heard Jane's name was shattering to see from across the field. It was her greatest nightmare, her biggest fear coming true. All they could do was stare at each other as the space between them grew larger and larger. Jane could not accept not giving her mother just one last hug. Bolting towards her mother as fast as she could she threw herself into her mothers chest and hugged so tightly her mother would loose her breathe. "I'm sorry mama I don't wanna leave, I'll miss you everyday forever", Lucy smiled and let a few soft tears leave her eyes as she kissed her daughters forehead "baby I know my love for you will live on inside of you, so baby I know I'm always with you, so I'm not afraid to see you walk away. Baby you gotta be STRONG the way I've always been strong for you. Can you do that for me"? She rubs Jane's head, "c'mon nah we ain't got all day, time is money on this farm dammit" as he places his hand in his whip in threat. Estella and Henry pull her off to fend off her potential fate with the master. "I will mama I swear! I promise mama you ain't got to worry about nothin! I promise"! Jane continued to say across the field, despite her masters orders. Jane showed no fear as she knew what pain could potentially follow, but to her it was worth the sacrifice as there was so greater pain than being separated from her mother.

   Inside of the farm house Estella, Jane and Henry stood in a straight line with their heads held high in between the new master in the living room and the old master behind them. "My name is Simon, I look forward to working with you". He says respectfully. He held his hand out in the form of a truce but little did he know they had no idea what his gesture was supposed to be. The look at him with confusion and insult. "I see," he says putting his hand away behind his back. "Simon these here folks don't know they left from they right for a reason son. These are the best on the farm! And I'm hoping you've got the money"? Says the old master. Simon nods peacefully " indeed and the paperwork confirming ownership." He says reaching into his leather brown satchel and handing him a small wooden box with a roll of paper tied in a red ribbon. Master Leonard takes it, "this is for you to sign confirming you have traded your slaves given by the names of Estella, Jane and Henry, and that you forfeit all authority to their well being, and their health". Simons voice was so gentle, there was something about his voice that was smooth like pancake mix...or a fresh cup of morning tea. His demeanor was incapable of inflicting or enforcing the authority or pain she feared would be her journey. There it was...like singing gospel music around the fire with her family in friends. But now it was over..because of him.

Jane could hate him, these wounds would never heal.