Saturday, December 1, 2018

Ex-slave Teshan Young, about 86, Christmas Memories


Teshan remembered, "When do chores am done on Sunday or Christmas, we'uns can have de music, dance and singin'. We'uns have some good ole times. De songs am de ole timers, sich as Swanee River, Ole Black Joe and dere am de fiddles and banjos dat dey play. We'uns sho' celebrate on Christmas. De women all cooks cakes and cookies and sich. De men saves all de bladders from de hawgs dey kill, blows 'em full of air and lots 'em dry. De young'uns puts dem on sticks and holds 'em over a fire in de yard. Dat makes 'em bust and dey goes 'bang' jus' like a gun. Dat was de fireworks."

Photos & quotes of former slaves used in these blog posts come from the Slave Narratives.