Mack Augustus

I was born a slave. The son of a slave. My mother was a slave and my father was the Master. Many times I questioned my life and its importance. I knew I was born for a reason but I could not figure out the reason. My mother worked all her life trying to be something. She worked hard in the fields and she did not fail to do her part. She taught me perseverance. She taught me love. She taught me respect. At times I was confused about who I was. I am the son of the master yet I am a slave. Each passing day, it begin to eat me up and tear me apart. Mother knew how to console me. She knew how to keep me in my place. She knew how to talk to me. She knew how to comfort me. My mother was all I knew. She was everything to me. She was the glue that kept me going each day. I don't know what I would do without her. I don't know if I could be stable without her. I wanted to learn. I wanted to read. I wanted to do what other young kids did. But mother told me that I have everything that I needed. She told me that things would come in time. That I Mack would be something someday that nobody could talk down and that nobody could oppressed. And I believed my mother. I believed her dearly. I did not see my father much. He was usually away and the slave-drivers were harsh upon us. And they would be vexing and provoking. I would pay no attention because I knew how to work. I knew when to work. I was smart. I was strong. I was able. And I did not need a slave-driver to curse at me and beat me to submission. I had friends and relatives on the plantation. And some of them stood and some of them left. I didn't know about freedom. I didn't understand why people wanted to free. I didn't know myself that well. All I knew was on this plantation. Then as I aged Momma was shocked at the news from the Master. She overheard him saying from the slaves in the Master's house that he was gonna sell a slave. And something left Momma that day, she was never the same. She was stricken and tired. She was not the same. I caught her just before she fell down walking toward the field. And Momma told me what freedom was. She told me what freedom was like. She told me to read the Bible. And she told me that a man must fight for freedom. That people are not meant to be slaves. That people are not meant to oppress. That people are human beings with minds, thoughts, and free will. And Momma died that day in my arms. I cried like a baby. I was angry. I was mad. I was fed up. I wanted to be the man that my mother raised. I wanted to be the man that my mother created. And the slave-driver pulled me away from Momma's dead body. And now I was alone in this world. Mack was the only name I knew because my master did not think fit for me to have any full name like a human being. The Master came to my cabin and he called me by name. And he had a slave-driver with a gun. And he proudly said Now that my mother died that I can move on. And that he had business with me. He wanted me to sell off to his daughter who was getting married. I didn't say anything but kept my head low and didn't look him into his eyes. And he asked me to speak, he said speak boy. And I said My mother loved you enough to give birth to your child. I am your son. Why do you treat me like a slave? Why do you called me out of my name? Why do you speak to me like I am nothing? My mother was all I had. She was everything. I don't want to go. And the Master said so you speak like a man. Then he turned and laughed with his slave-driver and said slaves are not human beings and they must be taught obedience. Strap him up. This boy needs a whipping. And the slave-driver took me and stretch my arms in the barn tied up and stretch my legs and tied them up. The slave-driver was just about to start whipping when the Master took over and said I got to teach the boy that he is no man and that he will obey me. As the Master starts beating, I cried and started getting angry. The Master beat harder and harder. And I yelled and torn the straps and the Master was shocked. I took the whip and shouted So you wanna beat me now that Momma's gone. I will show you and he put the Master into a deep sleep. And I looked for the slave-driver but he was in the Master's house. And I grab a horse because I worked with all of the horses and slowly but surely rode miles away quietly and cross rivers with what I had. I came to a ship and said that I was a freedman. And I moved with the ship as a worker up North. I was able to purchase a bible and taught myself to read. And I added my last name Augustus for my safety. For I was freed and happy. I became a man and Momma would be proud up in Heaven. For I escaped and was never ever gonna turn back. I would rather died than be a slave.