Only the White Man Knows How to Grow Cotton

I’s wouldn’t a believed dis story either if I’s hadn’t lived through it myself. One minute I’s lyin’ between da tall corn stalks, a soft summer wind kissing my cheeks as da hot Mississippi sun beat down on da fields. Da next minute my world were turnt ‘round.

“Boo!” he yelled, jumpin’ out from da corn. “Scared ya.”

“Cain’t scare me when I’s seent ya comin’, Harrible.”

His name were Harold, but I’s called him Harrible ‘cause his hands felt harrible from pickin’ cotton all day, and he smelt harrible, but his eyes and his smile weren’t dat harrible to my sight.

“Ya cain’t see me through da corn stalks, crouched all low as ya is, Mattie?”

“What ya want? I’s restin’.”

“I’s leavin’. Tonight.”

I’s sat up quickly, “You been sold?” I’s asked, concerned.

“Naw,” he said, crouchin’ down beside me. “I’s gonna run.”

“Run where?”

“North.”

“There ya go ‘gain, talkin’ dat mess.” I’s sighed, layin’ back down in da shade. “Ya don’t even know where North is.”

“Don’t need to know. They’s know. I’s just gonna folla.”

“Why ya leavin’?”

“Cain’t stay here. Cain’t be a man here. Da quarters be flooded in da summertime. Bugs eatin’ at ya and layin’ eggs in da soars of your flesh. Freezin’ in da winter with barely two strings of yarn to cover your bones for warmth. Last straw, Master treats his dogs better dan he treated Benny.”

Benny, a field slave, got his leg chewed up and broke in a machine a few days back.

Master come out to da slave quarters and commanded Benny get back out to da fields. Benny tried ta tell Master that he couldn’t walk, draggin’ his broke leg to da doorway as best he could. But dat made Master mad and he and some other men strung Benny up to a tree by his wrist and whipped him ‘til nothin’ but scraps of flesh were left on his back.

Da other field slaves worked twice as hard, dat day, ta make up for Benny’s missin’ work, but da next day Master come back out to da quarters callin’ for Benny to get out to da fields ‘gain. Dis time, Benny say nothin’. Master marched into Benny’s quarters, den da next t’ing we’s heard were ─ BANG!

“Ya has food here, don’t ya?” I’s asked Harrible.

“Rotted table scraps, pork, corn meal and what small animal I’s can fetch and kill,” he replied.

“Whatcha gonna have up North? Whatcha gonna do up North dat’s better dan whatcha can do here?”

“Have my own land. Grow my own cotton ta sell.”

I’s turnt ta him confused. “Dat’s crazy, Harrible. Only da white man knows how ta grow cotton.”

“Den I’ll grow somethin’ else, but I’s want my own.” He took my hands. “My own say, my own wife, my own family. Come with me, Mattie. Ain’t ya tired of dis place?”

“Mattie!” called Master’s voice from afar.

I’s pulled my hands back from Harrible and answered, “No. I’s ain’t goin’ wid ya. I’s fine right here.”

Master don’t like bein’ kept waitin’, so I’s ran up to da house fast as I’s could. He were standin’ on da porch.

“Yes, sir,” I’s said.

“Go to the barn and get my saddle ready.” He handed me a lantern, as it were getting’ dark, and I’s set off.

Master’s saddle sits in da back of da barn. I’s put da lantern down and went ta grab it when someone grabbed me.

A hand pushed me down into da hay. I’s screamed, “Get off! Let me go!” Den I’s started kickin’ as hard as I’s could.

“Shut up, girl!” I’s heard Master’s voice yell. He pulled my under garments down to my knees and dropped all his weight on me, pinnin’ my arms down so I’d stop fightin’.

When I’s feelt him slidin’ between my legs, I’s shouted, “NO!” usin’ all my strength ta heave him away from me. He fell back, and I’s stumbled ta get up and run but he caught me ‘gain from behind. I’s kicked and twisted, knocking tools over and makin’ as much noise as I’s could.

SMACK, slapped his hand hard ‘cross my face sendin’ me flyin’ into da wall. He were ‘bout ta grab me ‘gain, when I’s reached for da nearest t’ing ta me, closed my eyes, and swung at him. All I’s heard den were his god-awful scream.

I’s opened my eyes to see his fallen body lyin’ on da ground, his eyes lookin’ up at me, and a pitchfork drove through him. I’s ran out da barn smack into Harrible.

“Mattie! What’s da matter?” he asked, surprised ta see me.

Shakin’, my dress torn and my face swoll up, I’s tried ta get da words out, “He were goin’ rape me!” but I’s couldn’t stop cryin’, so I’s pointed to da barn. Harrible ran inside.

CRASH, went da sound of glass shatterin’. Den Harrible come walkin’ out fast.

“Come on! Ya cain’t stay here no mo’,” he said, pullin’ me through da darken grounds to da back of da slave quarters.

“But Harrible? Where I’s gonna go? Dis be da only place I’s ever known.”

“Shhh,” he whispered. “Stay here and they’s gonna hang you for killin’ dat man. Make no diff’rence what he tried doin’. Only matters what you’s did ta him.”

WOOSH, sounded an explosion behind us ─ da barn goin’ up in flames.

I’s turned to go back.

“Cain’t go back! We’s need ta leave, now!” he turned me back ‘round and we’s continued headin’ to da quarters.

“FIRE!” A voice yelled in da distance, den a bell rang loud for others ta come help.

Left and right, slaves were runnin’ past us from their quarters ta get to da burnin’ barn, but Harrible kept leadin’ us out to da end of da fields.

When we’s got to da end of da fields, Harrible led us through a crack behind da old church. Gathered in da darkness were eight or ten mo’ people.

“Everybody goin’ needs already be here,” said a tiny body wearin’ lots of clothes. I’s couldn’t tell if it were a man or a woman speakin’. “Dat fire be a good distraction, but we’s got ta leave right now, ‘fore we’s get caught.”

We’s started walkin’ to da woods. I’s didn’t say a word, just followed and held tight ta Harrible’s arm.

“Harrible,” I’s whispered.

“Shush!” demanded da tiny person, in a low voice. “We’s got ta get past dese woods and ‘cross da river ‘fore da men on horses come dis way ta get mo’ water for da fire! Keep quiet! All y’all!”

A beam of light from da moon glowed cross da water showin’ a path of rough rocks leadin’ to da other side and another set of thick dark woods. I’s tugged on Harrible’s arm ta stop him and stood froze in my tracks.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

“I’s cain’t swim. I’s ‘fraid of water.”

“Move!” screamed da tiny leader, in a low shout.

“She froze with fear, “ Harrible explained.

“Den leave her!” ordered tiny person.

Suddenly, a twig snapped.

“Ya hear dat?” stated tiny person, turnin’ to da sound.

It were silent other den da sound of crickets, frogs, and da river; den horses came chargin’ out da woods at us.

“RUN! “ yelled tiny person, bouncin’ cross da river off da rocks like they’s weren’t even there. Harrible tried ta guide me ‘cross, but I’s missed a step and fell into da water ─ my head hittin’ a sharp rock.

I’s blacked out as da rushin’ water pulled me under and I’s thought I’s dead. Just as well. Weren’t much meant for me in dis life no way. All we’s were ever gonna be in dis world were slaves.

“Lady, sings the blues.”

My eyes woke to a new light and da sound of a beautiful woman singin’ in front of a crowd.

“She’s got ‘em bad,” she wailed. “She feels so sad.”

I’s didn’t know what world I’s were in, but I’s were drawn to da lady. She wore a long dress with bright stars drippin’ down it and a white flower in her hair on da left side.

When she finished, da crowds clappin’ roared like thunda. Da curtains closed and she walked to a door in da back.

“I brought wine for our first date, Billie,” said a tall handsome man wid a deep voice as she entered da room.

“Merlot from my family’s reserve,” she answered, smilin’ and took da bottle. “Great great grandma Mattie’s favorite.” She put da bottle on da table and started ta walk away when I seent it. Harrible’s face were on da bottle ─ and so were mine.

“Wait! Who are you?” I’s asked, reachin’ for her, but a splash of water hit my face sendin’ me back into darkness.

“I have a dream,” spoke a boomin’ male voice.

Dis time I’s woke ta see another beautiful woman holdin’ a sign, standin’ in a large crowd of people gathered in front of a man speakin’ to dem all.

“Bet you’ll never forget this first date, Maya,” said da man standin’ next ta her. He pulled her hand to his heart. “Listening to Dr. King speak, calling for our civil and economic rights and an end to racism.”

“Yes, I’ll never forget this day,” she said. “I brought a bottle of Merlot from my family reserve so we can celebrate.” She pulled out da bottle and ‘gain Harrible and my face were on it.

“Wait! Who are you?” I’s asked, reachin’ for her. But ‘gain I’s were splashed wid water in my face ─ sendin’ me back into darkness.

Da third time I’s woke, I’s were in a fancy office standin’ in front of a large desk. A beautiful woman swung ‘round in da chair opposite me and said, “Hello. Can I help you? Are you lost from your White House tour?”

I’s didn’t know what ta say, den I seent da wine bottle on her desk with Harrible and my face on it. I’s pointed to da bottle.

She picked it up and explained, “This is a bottle of Merlot wine from my family reserve. Every woman in my family has shared a glass of Merlot wine on their first date with the man they eventually married and had a family starting with the original makers of the wine, my grandparents seven generations back Harold and Mattie. That’s a picture of them on the bottle. It was with my ancestor Billie after she sang at Carnegie Hall, my ancestor Maya at the March on Washington, and I shared a glass of it with my husband on our first date, the evening before my inauguration as President of the United States of America. It’s said Harold carried Mattie all the way into freedom after she hit her head crossing a river. And she was the one who suggested they grow wine grapes on their land.”

As she went to clean da cut on my head, da water touched my face and I’s were sent back into darkness. Dis time when I’s woke, I’s seent Harrible sittin’ next ta me on a bed. He had carried me ta freedom ─ after I’s passed out in da river.

He took care of me and made a home for us. From da visions I’s understood dat in da generations ta come we’s would be mo’ dan just slaves. We’s could be singers. We’d have rights in dis country. We’s could even become da President of da United States.

“What should we grow on our new land, Mattie?” he asked.

“Wine,” I’s said. On our first date, we’s shared a glass of Merlot from da wine we’s made together.

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